Knowing the proper English in pool is critical to a good game. You can make mistakes when playing English, but you can learn to compensate for these mistakes to win more games. There are many ways to accomplish this. These are Right English, Left English, or Reverse English. You can also learn to play the Call-shot.
Right English
The wrong English is a shot which causes the cueball's normal trajectory to change. This shot, if executed correctly, will cause the cueball to travel in the opposite direction from its normal trajectory. Normal shots follow a straight path. You can alter the trajectory of a normal shot by using many techniques in English. This shot is also known as a deflection, or squirt, and is much more common in the United States.
Left English
English is the term used by pool enthusiasts for the side spin of the cueball after it has made contact with an objects ball. You can do it in one of two ways. Either you hit the ball slightly off center or you hit it harder. English can be combined with bottom and top spin. Side spin is sometimes called "English" by some players who are trying to improve their skill. Most novice players use English to improve the quality of their shots but they are not familiar with the terms. Their shots can end up being too wide.
Reverse English
Reverse English, also known as pool, is a shot in that the cueball makes a deflection (or side-spin) on its way towards the target. This shot is extremely useful, especially when playing in a match. It helps to align your cueball with target and stops it from moving too far to the side.
Call-shot game
A common variant of traditional pool is the call-shot game. Before making a shot, the shooter must choose a pocket and indicate his choice to his opponents. The shooter must also decide between solids or stripes. After making a choice, the shooter then calls the 8 ball and sinks it.
Scratched object ball
Scratched object balls are balls that are not legal to touch with a pool cue. They scratch the table. If the ball is in an open hole, it will stay put. However, the ball can be thrown into a hole or hit another object ball.
Drawing stroke
There are many types of drawing strokes in English pool. A draw stroke is a shot that requires the cue ball to reverse its path after hitting the ball. You need a cue with a loose grip. Each player will have a different force requirement. For example, professional players break at a speed of 36 mph, whereas an amateur player can achieve a similar result by breaking at half speed.