While English, the angle of the shot, and the point at which the cue ball is struck have profound affects on the direction of the cue and object balls, the speed at which the cue ball is struck at which is moves it also important and often overlooked. The speed of your stroke can change the direction of the cue ball after it strikes the object ball. Knowing where the cue ball will travel after it strikes the object ball is important for setting up your next shot or playing defensively. The cue ball will travel away at different angles when it hits the same spot on the object ball depending on the speed in which it is traveling.

When the cue ball is struck in the center, unlike a masse shot, it will follow a straight line towards the object ball and then deflect away at an angle. The angle at which it travels away will change depending on the speed in which it is traveling. Hitting the cue ball softly so that it is traveling slowly will make it travel away from the object ball at a smaller angle relative to the path of the object ball. It will also travel away from the cue ball slowly and cover a shorter distance.

Hitting the cue ball with medium force will give it more speed and cause it to travel away from the object ball at a slightly greater angle relative to the object ball’s path and with a little more speed. Hitting the cue ball with great force will give it a lot of speed and will make it travel away from the object ball at the greatest angle relative to the object ball’s path and will allow it to cover the greatest distance.

It is important to pay attention to the cue ball’s path after a center hit to learn how much force is needed to get it to travel at a specific path and distance. Knowing what path and distance to expect form the cue ball after it strikes the object ball will allow you to set up your next shot, put your opponent in an awkward position, or avoid scratching. Being able to control cue ball speed and direction is important to play a successful game of billiards and because speed impacts direction, practicing the speeds needed to cause specific cue ball direction is important.