Fluke Meaning in Billiards

A fluke is another word for a ‘slop shot’ or a ball that goes into a pocket purely by luck. This happens when a player misses their intended target, but the ball bounces around and falls in anyway. While it counts in some casual games, most serious matches require shots to be ‘called’ to avoid winning by a fluke. For example, a player misses a bank shot, but the ball hits three rails and accidentally falls into the opposite corner. The player might offer a small wave of apology to their opponent after such a lucky fluke. It is a reminder that luck can play a role even in a game of skill.