Inning - Billiard Term Definition

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Definition of Inning

Inning is a billiards term that is a part of Game Rule Terminology.

In cue sports, the term "inning" has two commonly used meanings:

1. An inning refers to a pool player or doubles team's turn at the billiard table.

   An inning may include several shots, but always ends when the player either wins the game, misses a shot, safeties, forfeits, or fouls.

   There are normally several innings in a frame, unless one player runs the table.

   However, there are some games where a player's inning is exactly 1 shot regardless of the result or the intent of the shooting player.

2. The term "inning" in cue sports commonly refers to both player's or team's turns at the pool table (similar to how an inning is defined in baseball). That is, the basic inning is comprised of both players' or teams' shots at the pool table until the second player's (or team's) attempt has ended.

See: visit for more on the meaning of "Inning".

Inning - Usage

Did you see the great play Robin made during her 4th inning in the 2nd snooker game?

Billiards - Inning

• Billiard Rules Glossary of Terms
• Billiard Terms Glossary

• Title: Inning
• Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
• Published: 3/13/2006
• Last Updated: 10/9/2020 4:41:43 AM
• Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Inning Comments

1. RayMills from Seattle, WA on 8/19/2020 5:54:46 PM

   I thought that, like baseball, each basic inning is comprised of both players' or teams' shots at the pool table until relinquishing the table when the second player's attempt is ended.

   Handicap systems need to know how many innings were involved in a frame and match, and this is one number, not one for each side.

   Safeties' effect on handicap might be computed by subtracting each one from the inning total, however, but the declared inning total wouldn't change.

2. billiardsforum from Halifax, NS on 10/9/2020 4:35:29 AM

   I think we're both correct. There is evidence of common usage of the term "inning" in cue sports in both contexts.

   The Wikipedia cue sports glossary defines a cue sports inning as follows (emphasis ours):

   A player's (or doubles team's) turn at the table, usually ending with a failure to score a point or to pocket a ball, depending on the game, a foul, a safety or with a win. In some games, such as five-pins and killer, a player's inning is always limited to one shot, regardless of the intent and result of the shot.

   [The term inning is] usually synonymous with visit, except in scotch doubles format.

   The term is sometimes used to mean both players'/teams' visits combined, e.g. when referring to the inning in which a memorable shot occurred.

   I've adjusted the definition to reflect both usages.

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