Aim Points and compensating for English - Easy Pool Tutor

How do you need to aim to compensate for "throw" when you use english?

I will explain several methods of this technique, starting with a simple positioning and aim point determination for a shot. This is where being able to imagine a "ghost ball" (in this case the 1 ball behind the 9) is helpful.

If you place the "ghost ball" directly behind the object ball (OB) on the same line that the object ball needs to follow to go into the pocket, then all you have to do is aim for the center of the "ghost ball", the 1.

What happens is that the CB, if aimed this way, hits the 9 exactly in the right place to cause the 9 to go into the corner.

Basically the aim point is the center of the ghost ball.

The exception to this is when you use English on the CB, which will "throw" the OB (cause the OB to track opposite the applied English). How much it tracks off, depends on the amount of English and how hard you hit the CB. Throw is the process of "imparting spin" or "gear action" between balls when one (the CB) is spinning and the other (the OB) is hit. This also works between 2,3 or 4 balls in succession, in reverse direction for each new ball hit. Of course the effect diminishes as more balls are hit in sequence, but the effect is there.

If you have an angle that is greater than 90 degrees on the shot, or you need to hit the OB off angle (to get around another ball) you can use "Throw" to put the OB back on track toward the pocket. This, of course, is a more advanced playing technique you will need to practice before becomming proficient. See the next diagram for this example.

In this example the 1 is the ghost ball, the 9 the OB. This shot has the CB at 90 degrees or slightly greater to the 9. Your "aim point" is the center of the 1 or slightly (a hair) left of center).

If you hit the CB with no english the probable result will be the 9 tracking on the green line, missing slightly. If you put outside (right) english on the CB, it will impart or throw the 9 back to the left along the orange line.

Without English, you will probably scratch, with English you will end up hitting the cushion at "A"...Of course, as I mentioned this is not an easy shot.....I make it about 50%...