Cue Ball Spin Explained: Top, Back and Side
The point where the cue tip meets the cue ball decides how the white behaves after it hits the object ball. Hit dead centre and it behaves “plainly”; hit above or below centre, or left or right, and it does not.
The cue-ball picture
Imagine the cue ball as a clock face. Where your tip lands on that face is the spin you give it.
Topspin (follow)
Hit above centre. The cue ball keeps rolling forward after contact, so it follows the object ball. Use follow to get position further up the table.
Backspin (screw, draw)
Hit below centre. The cue ball spins backwards, so after striking the object ball it comes back towards you. This is the shot to use to avoid scratching on a straight pot, and to recover the table position.
Side spin (English)
Hit left or right of centre. Side spin barely changes the line to the first ball but alters how the cue ball bounces off the cushion: right side makes it run to the right after a rail, left side to the left. It also slightly throws the object ball.
How much?
Stay within about half the ball’s radius of centre. Aim further out and you risk a miscue (the tip slipping off). Chalk the tip often: that is where the name comes from.
Using spin in Cue & Chalk
Drag the dot on the spin ball on the right of the screen to choose where the tip will strike. The physics is simulated with friction and cushion spin, so a drawn cue ball really does come back, and side spin really does change the rebound. Try a straight pot with the dot low, then the same shot with it high.
See also how to aim and 9-ball position play.