Kitchen Meaning in Billiards

The kitchen is the area of the table behind the string line. It sits at the head of the table. Some rules require the cue ball to be placed in this zone. Players must sometimes shoot out of the kitchen after a foul. The kitchen limits where certain shots may begin. For example, after a scratch on the break, a player places the cue ball in the kitchen. They must then hit a ball outside that area. The kitchen adds structure to specific rule situations.