Pool Instruction: CueTips #15 - Aiming with English

 
By NYC Grind Instructional Columnist, Mark Finkelstein

In this column, I’d like to look at how to aim when using English.  Before we do that, let’s get some vocabulary straight.  Deflection is the bending of the shaft of the cue.  Squirt is the pushing of the cue ball off the line of aim.  The shafts we use today are technically high deflection, low-squirt shafts!  By making the ferrules and the ends of the cues lighter, the shaft bends more on contact with the cue ball, squirting the cue ball less off the line of aim.  

These wonderful sticks lessen the effects of squirt, but, there is still some squirt of the cue ball.  I have found the following technique useful in teaching others how to aim.

To view the following diagrams from CueTable.com, the free plugin Adobe Shockwave is required. Click Here to download it for free and utilize the CueTable tool if you don’t already have it installed.

 

Look at the one ball in this diagram.  By using the left point of the pocket as the aim point, the cue ball squirts to the left slightly, pockets the one ball, and then rolls two rails out of the corner.  Likewise on the two ball.  By aiming for the left-most point of the pocket, the cue ball squirts to the left, pockets the ball, and follows smoothly to the rail.

I’d like you to realize though that this is an approximation.  Each player and cue stick has a unique amount of squirt that will alter this aim point a little to either the left or right.  

The key point I want you to take away from this article is that you have to consider this effect in your aim.

 

Look at this diagram.  Most players will use low right english on the eight ball and use a hard stroke to bring the cue ball down the table for the nine.  What happens though is that the squirt pushes the cue ball to the left, causing us to undercut and miss the eight.  Instead of aiming for the pocket, aim to hit the left point of the pocket.  The squirt moves the cue ball to the left, pocketing the ball and bringing the cue ball down the table for the 9.  

How do you learn exactly where you have to aim for?  Practice, practice, and more practice.  Good luck and see you on the road.

Mark Finkelstein is the House Pro at Slate Billiards on 21st Street in Manhattan.

If you have questions, or would like to see a particular topic addressed, you can email Mark at mark@nycgrind.com