What is English in Pool? A Simple Explanation

If you’re new to pool, you may be confused by the term “English” that’s commonly used among pool enthusiasts. Along with English, you may have heard the term “squirt,” “left English,” or “right English.” Well, if you’re confused by English, don’t worry. This article will clear everything up for you by answering the question: What is English in Pool?

What is English in Pool?

In short, English is the spin you put on the cue ball when hitting it anywhere but dead center. Whether you know it or not, English is used all the time in pool and is one of the main ways to control where the cue ball ends up after coming into contact with an object ball. 

English is Sidespin

When you hear people talk of sidespin in pool, they’re talking about English (sometimes spelled english) under a different name. Any time you hit a cue ball even slightly off-center, you create English or sidespin. The further away you get from center, the more pronounced the English. 

Most novice players, once they learn the fundamentals of the game, start to experiment with English to improve their game. They often do this instinctively, even if they don’t know the term English. This is because it’s such a large part of the game. 

Other novice players find themselves suffering because of unintentional English, which causes their shots to go wide.

A Breakdown of English in Pool

You can get a lot of cue ball control when using English correctly. You may think of English as something to use to make the cue ball travel left or right, but you can also use it to make the ball roll forward or backward. Here are some of the most common uses for English in pool.

Setting Up Your Next Shot 

Ever wonder how players run the table, making shot after shot? They use English to position the cue ball for the next shot. Meaning they put spin on the ball to make it go where they want after sinking an object ball. This is hard to do at first, but you can master it with practice. 

Playing Defense

English is also a great tool for playing defense. If you don’t have a way to set up your next shot, you can always position the cue ball to make things harder for your opponent.

Hitting Partially-Obscured Object Balls

English can also curve or “swerve” the cue ball around a ball in your way. If you want to hit a ball that’s slightly behind another ball, you can master “swerve” (which we discuss below) to develop this highly important skill. 

Changing an Object Ball’s Direction

You can also transfer English from the cue ball to the object ball when done right. This, sometimes called “throw,” is hard to master, but it can be very useful during the course of a game. Keep in mind that the direction change transferred to an object ball is very small— usually 5 percent or less. 

Rail Shots

Rai or bumper shots can also benefit greatly from English. If you’re doing a bank shot, you need to not only hit the rail at the correct angle, but you need to put the correct amount of English on the ball so it goes where you want. This is perhaps the most used tactic for English.  

Other Terminology 

I mention the terms “throw” and “swerve” above, which I define below. “Squirt” is another term you should be familiar with in order to understand English. 

• Throw

  • When an object ball moves in a sideways direction due to the cue ball’s spin and impact. Essentially, throw is the effect that the cue ball has on an object ball. Great players can avoid or create throw on their shots. 

• Swerve

  • When the cue ball curves during travel due to spin, force, and cue impact. Essentially swerve is used to circumvent balls in the cue ball’s path. This is called a massé shot, and is done by elevating the cue stick and hitting the cue ball on its side. 

• Squirt

  • Also known as deflection, squirt happens when using English on a shot. Since the cue tip hits the ball off-center, physics states that the ball will deflect or “squirt” in the opposite direction. So left English will result in right squirt, and vice versa. When you know how squirt works, you can compensate for it and use it to your advantage. 
  • You can reduce squirt by using a low-deflection pool cue. 

To learn to use English properly, you must first understand what it is. 

Understanding and Learning English in Pool

If you imagine the cue ball with different markings, it’s easy to understand English. In fact, pre-marked training cue balls are available for those who want to get better at pool and learn to use English to their advantage.

This Aramith Jim Rempe training cue ball is marked for beginners on one side and more advanced players on another. The various markings tell you where to hit the cue to get a specific type of English or sidespin.

Aramith Jim Rempe Training Cue Ball

Cue balls like this are very effective teachers. Once you get used to using a marked cue ball, you can then imagine the same markings on a regular cue ball, allowing you greater control during gameplay. Practicing with one of these marked cue balls is the fastest way to master English. 

Tips for Accurate English

• Make sure your cue tip is always properly chalked.
• Consider a low-deflection cue. 
• Practice English first across the width of the table and then across the length. It’s important to understand how English works across different distances.
• Practice English first without object balls, and then with object balls.
• Practice English forward and backward spin in addition to right and left spin.
• Unless you plan on practicing swerve, keep the cue stick level when applying English.
• Practice English with different power strokes. Slower balls tend to present more drastic spin and movement than faster balls.