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How to Put Spin on a Pool Ball

Pool players have to not only hit the balls they&'re aiming at with a cue ball, they also need to get the cue ball to stop in a good spot to take the next shot. Some of it is luck, but it&'s also a matter of hitting the cue ball in just the right way for it to strike the object ball and then "spin" where you want it to go.

Things You'll Need

Pool table
Pool balls
Pool cue
Chalk

Instructions

- 1
  Hit the cue ball below the horizontal axis in the center of the ball to add bottom spin, or draw, to your shot. This will make the cue ball roll backwards after hitting the object ball.
- 2
  Strike the cue ball above its horizontal axis to add top spin, or follow, to your shot. Top spin makes the ball keep rolling forward after it hits the object ball.
- 3
  Hit the cue ball to the right of the vertical axis in the center of the ball to add right english to the shot. This should cause the ball to curve to the right after it strikes a rail or an object ball. Hitting it to the left of the vertical axis will add left english to the shot.

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