Italian billiards shots

In 5-pin billiards shots have precise Italian names, which depend on how many cushions the ball touches and which ball touches them. Here you will find the most common ones, together with the basics of the stroke you need to play them. The names are the ones used in Italian billiard halls.

Direct shots and kick shots

In a direct shot your ball hits your opponent’s ball straight away, and it then goes onto the pins, sometimes via one or more cushions. In a kick shot (indirect shot, “di calcio”) your own ball touches one or more cushions first and only then your opponent’s ball. Kick shots are used when the direct line is blocked and, in goriziana, they double all the points.

Direct shots

Filotto

Your opponent’s ball, hit full or almost full, goes to the short cushion and comes back onto the castle. It is the first one-cushion shot you learn.

Traversino

Your opponent’s ball goes to the long cushion and crosses the table to the pins. It is used when your opponent’s ball is close to a long cushion, level with the castle.

Striscio

A two-cushion shot: your opponent’s ball first touches the long cushion, then the short one, and from there comes back onto the pins.

Rinterzo

A two-cushion shot in the opposite order: first the short cushion, then the long one. It is one of the most used shots when your opponent’s ball is far from the castle.

Rinquarto

Your opponent’s ball touches three cushions before reaching the castle. It needs power and precise aim: a small error at the start becomes a big one after three cushions.

Kick shots

Candela

Your ball goes to the short cushion and from there hits your opponent’s ball, sending it onto the pins.

Traversino di calcio

Like the candela, but your ball touches the long cushion before hitting your opponent’s ball.

Due al volo

Your ball touches two cushions before reaching your opponent’s ball. It is used when the ball is hidden behind the castle or the red ball.

Rinquarto di calcio

Your ball touches three cushions before hitting your opponent’s ball: a difficult shot, for experienced players.

Ball fractions

The ball fraction tells you how much of your opponent’s ball you cover with yours, looking along the line of aim. It is measured in eighths and decides in which direction the struck ball sets off.

Spin and stroke

Right and left spin

Striking your ball to the right or left of centre gives it a spin that changes the angle at which it leaves the cushions. Billiard schools measure it in tips (“tappi”): one tip of spin shifts the exit by about one diamond (the marks on the cushions).

Draw (“retrò”, low hit)

Striking the ball low makes it come back after contact with your opponent’s ball. It is used to keep your ball away from the castle.

Follow (“colpo a scorrere”, high hit)

Striking the ball high makes it carry on after contact, in the direction of your opponent’s ball.

Centre ball

On a full-ball shot your ball stops almost on the spot or comes back slightly. It is the starting stroke of every lesson.

Where to learn them

At the Cinque Birilli Billiards Academy these shots become 25 lessons in five levels: from the centre-ball stroke and the right power (Beginner), to ball fractions (Student), spin (Player), one-cushion shots such as filotto, traversino and candela (Expert), up to rinterzo, rinquarto, due al volo and positional play (Master). In every lesson the coach shows the shot, points out where to strike the ball, and then it’s your turn.