Why use English at all? You may think you're playing just fine without all these special effects, and you may be right about that. You don't have to use English to play a good game of pool, but there are times you will certainly find that it comes in handy. For example, the time to use English is when you are playing for position (meaning getting the cue ball to a certain place on the table that will put you in a better position for your next shot) or if you need to scoot around a ball to strike an object ball you can't otherwise pocket. Imagine the control you can have over a shot when you learn how to use English correctly.

One of the most common reasons for using English is to change the direction your cue ball would take off of the object ball. The natural path might not be what you need in order to play position on your next shot. Applying English will allow you to adjust the path of your cue ball to make a shot work for you. You might be wondering, Why shoot that shot if you have to do something extraordinary to get position for the next shot? Well, sometimes you don't have a choice. Take the game of nine ball for instance: You have to shoot at the lowest-numbered ball on the table, so you really don't have much choice other than to play a safety shot or to try to keep your run going and apply English to change the path of the cue ball.

In the early nineteenth century, visitors from England introduced Americans to the art of spin, which is why sidespin is referred to as “English” only in the United States. It's also referred to as “spinning the rock.”

The reason not to plunge right into using English is because without practice and understanding of the technique, you will find yourself missing your shots. The key to using English successfully is to not overuse it. Once you start practicing it, you're going to want to see it in action, but don't get addicted. Using English is a special technique that should be used when absolutely necessary, or you're liable to find yourself looking like a rank beginner, missing the simplest shots.

Using English will dramatically affect the aiming point and movement of the cue ball. The time to start practicing English is when you start to feel really comfortable with the cue stick, the stance, and your ability to recognize the collision and aiming points. In fact, you can use the guideline that once you're able to pocket all the object balls on the table consecutively, it's time to step it up a little and practice your English! If you use English without fully understanding the technique and physics behind it, you will miss shots.