Cushion - Billiard Term Definition

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Definition of Cushion

Cushion is a billiards term that is a part of Pool Table Terminology.

A cushion is a raised ,cloth covered rubber bumper which surrounds the playing area or bed of a billiard, pool, or snooker table. The cushion is mounted to the table's rails. The cushion material is elastic, and the elasticity is lost over time. Cushion material is typically a rubber or a synthetic rubber. The cushion condition and quality play a large part in how the billiard table plays overall.

See: rail for more on the meaning of "Cushion".

Cushion - Usage

I love how the cushion plays on Roger's new home pool table.

Billiards - Cushion

Forum questions and answers mentioning the billiard definition of "Cushion":

Is Hitting the Jaws of a Pocket the Same as Contacting a Cushion (for Safety)?

Title: Cushion
Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
Published: 3/9/2006
Last Updated: 1/6/2008 2:49:03 PM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Cushion Comments

stilbil from Beaumont, TX on 5/11/2013 6:04:57 AM
When shooting a straight-in shot and it touch the rail one inch from the pocket and goes in, is this considered a cushion shot?

billiardsforum from Halifax, NS on 10/25/2016 9:25:12 PM
Informally, I think of a cushion shot as either:
1. A shot where the cue ball is frozen to the cushion and you must shoot from there
2. A shot where the object ball is frozen to the cushion and you need to have it hug the cushion on the way to the pocket.
e.g. the cushion adds complexity to the shot.

But there is no official definition of a cushion shot in cue sports that I know of. For example the following are pictures from three separate tutorials on "cushion shots"...

Someone correct me if I am wrong...

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