The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word MISCUEING
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "fluff on the table" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case fluff on the table = miscueing.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MISCUEING mean?
MISCUEING verb- To give an incorrect cue.
- To mishit, strike incorrectly.
- An instance of something being miscued; a miscue.