Fault stroke in snooker (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: MISCUE (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Fault stroke in snooker" with 6 letters is "MISCUE".Miscue refers to a fault or error in snooker (or other cue sports) where the cue ball is struck incorrectly, often causing an unintended spin or poor shot execution. It typically results in a misalignment between the cue ball and the target ball, leading to a loss of position or an illegal stroke.
Why “Miscue” Fits
The clue asks for a word (6) meaning “fault stroke in snooker.” The answer, MISCUE, fits exactly:
- Fault stroke in snooker: A “miscue” is the term used in cue sports (snooker, pool, billiards) when the cue tip fails to strike the cue ball cleanly, often slipping off or contacting it incorrectly, producing a faulty, mis-hit shot. That bad contact is precisely a “fault stroke.”
- Direct match: MISCUE has six letters, matching the (6) enumeration, and is the standard technical word players and commentators use for this specific type of stroke error.
A Bit of Background
- In cue sports, a miscue happens when the cue tip is too close to the edge of the ball, the tip isn’t properly chalked, or the player’s action is off, causing the cue to skid and the ball to shoot off at the wrong angle, jump, or barely move.
- It is recognised as a clear stroke fault and can lose position, points, or even foul, depending on the rules and outcome—making “miscue” a textbook “fault stroke” in snooker.
Crossword Solving Insight
In quick crosswords, clues like “Fault stroke in snooker (6)”:
- Point straight at cue-sport terminology; while “foul” or “error” are too generic or the wrong length, MISCUE is both specific and exact.
- The strong association between snooker and the word “miscue” means that once solvers think of cue errors rather than general faults, MISCUE emerges naturally as the perfect answer.
