Correct name for cushion oppo baulk?

[PatBlock]

I've always called the cushion opposite to the baulk cushion the 'top' cushion, but I noticed that throughout today's match between ROS and Trump, Ken Doherty kept refering to it as the 'bottom cushion', and occasionally the 'back cushion'.
I would assume that a once world champion would know his way around the table, but I'd have bet my sister-in-law's house that I was right.

So, have I been wrong all these years, or is Ken going a bit do-lally?

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[jrc750]

It's got to be top cushion surely, as in billiards it's always referred to as top of the table play, or something like that, you know, where they do all the tippy tappy stuff around the black spot area

[Terry Davidson]

They refer to the 'top' cushion as bottom since that's how it appears on the TV screen. Every once in awhile you will hear on of the commentators say 'the bottom cushion as it appears on your screen'.

According to the rules the black cushion is properly called the 'top cushion' (comes from billiards originally where top-of-the-table play meant the player was near the top spot and potting the red off the spot (black spot in snooker). The cushion in baulk can be called either the 'baulk cushion' or else the 'bottom cushion' but of course it is at the top of the tV screen

Terry

[PatBlock]

They refer to the 'top' cushion as bottom since that's how it appears on the TV screen.

Well if that's the case, they'd be better off pointing out the correct names, and if necessary occasionally explaining why, rather than renaming everything just for TV. That way, they might actually be educating the viewers about the game, rather than just filling our ears with so much monotonous waffle, as is usually the case these days.

According to the rules the black cushion is properly called the 'top cushion' (comes from billiards originally where top-of-the-table play meant the player was near the top spot and potting the red off the spot (black spot in snooker). The cushion in baulk can be called either the 'baulk cushion' or else the 'bottom cushion' but of course it is at the top of the tV screen

JRC was right then. Thanks for the explanation Terry.

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[Acrowot]

Long before snooker was on TV, it was always called "The top cushion" and still is the top cushion!
Now I am getting sick of hearing the commetators of saying it flicked the (whatever ball). Whenn did you see a ball flick anything? What is wrong with saying one of the olders terms, like it cannoned or kissed the ball, or even touched it?

[The Statman]

Yes, definitely the baulk cushion is the bottom cushion and the 'black' cushion is the top cushion.

It does survive in the rules of the game, where the markings are concerned - for example:
Section 1 (Equipment)
Rule 1(d) Baulk line: "A straight line drawn 29in from the face of the bottom cushion..."
Rule 1(f) Spots "(i) The spot, 12¾in from ... the face of the top cushion..."

And it is referred to again in Section 3 Rule 7 dealing with the spotting of colours - if no spot is occupied it is placed as close to its spot as possible [towards] the top cushion.

[roykay]

Well if that's the case, they'd be better off pointing out the correct names, and if necessary occasionally explaining why, rather than renaming everything just for TV. That way, they might actually be educating the viewers about the game, rather than just filling our ears with so much monotonous waffle, as is usually the case these days.



JRC was right then. Thanks for the explanation Terry.

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I couldn't agree more. Why not get it right instead of pandering to the lowering standards across the board in the world today.
A very irritating comment from some is "he is playing a safety" sometimes from CE who knows better.

Roy Bacon

[roykay]

It's got to be top cushion surely, as in billiards it's always referred to as top of the table play, or something like that, you know, where they do all the tippy tappy stuff around the black spot area

Have you ever tried to do that "tippy tappy stuff" ?
Roy Bacon

[jrc750]

Have you ever tried to do that "tippy tappy stuff" ?
Roy Bacon

Not really Roy, but i do fancy getting a proper set of billiard balls soon and giving it a go. Would need to read uo on the basic rules tho as to be honest not exactly sure what's allowed etc

[cally]

Not really Roy, but i do fancy getting a proper set of billiard balls soon and giving it a go. Would need to read uo on the basic rules tho as to be honest not exactly sure what's allowed etc

Yeh, give the 'tippy tappy' stuff a try..

I't;s ridiculously difficult, the old guns used to make it look so easy.

I played a lot of billiards with my old man from a young age.

Great game but the 'tippy tappy' stuff as you put it is the hardest part to master IMO.