a.)  General:  to use english, just put your mouse pointer over the white “ball” to the upper right of the table.  Right-click (left for the lefties) some point inside the black circle. This will put some sort of english on the ball.  The upper area is for top english, lower area for bottom, right and left for the right and left side english, respectively.

b.)  Bottom english:  when you use bottom english, it is as though you are striking the cue ball below center with the tip of the cue.  This will cause the cue ball to have a little back spin, making it either stop or reverse direction, depending on how much you use, the power used and the distance to the object ball.  Practice will make this very valuable to you.  In fact, bottom will probably be the english you use most when shooting pool.  One point to remember when using a lot of bottom english in conjunction with a little side, is that the english will be applied if and when the cue hits a rail.  It is tough to describe, but a lot of fun to watch and use.

c.)   Top english:  this is used to give the cue ball a little forward spin.  This will cause the cue ball to “follow” the ball which is struck by it.

d.)  Right english:  this is used to make the cue go in an angle further right than it normally would after having struck either another ball or one of the rails.

e.)  Left english:  makes the cue ball go in an angle further left than normal.

A Note About Using Side English:  If you are shooting a very tight cut shot (barely hitting the side of the object ball), using a lot of side english can make you miss your aim entirely.  A smart player uses this when you just can’t seem to get the exact angle of connection, because the ball will have a touch of “masse”, even though the popular belief is that this is impossible.  In other words, full side english on a long green shot will cause the cue ball to go slightly left of straight – in an actual curve! 

Use of English

Using english will take a lot of practice to master.  Even the “pros” are constantly learning new ways to use english and how it can help them become better shots.  It is strongly recommended that you start your practice by making a training room.  Set up a shot and shoot it with no english.  Then set it up the same way again, using different english.  After a few practice shots you should be able to start a training game and play using english.  Use the basics you have learned and you will improve as you practice it.

Glitches

There are a few glitches that occur when playing Yahoo! Pool which Yahoo! is (supposedly) trying to fix.  These should be reported when they occur so the webmaster can more accurately find the solution.  Here is the link to report a bug:

Yahoo! Games Feedback

(You must be logged in to Yahoo! to use this link)

One glitch occurs when you make at least 1 ball in on the break of both groups.  You will be given Ball In Hand.  Since everyone who knows that this is NOT appropriate, is would be discourteous to take advantage of it.  SO, If you are given ball in hand when it should not have happened, be nice.  Please leave the ball where it is.

Another glitch occurs when the server is busy you will not get your stick, no matter how long you wait.  To get your stick back, please right click on the table.  It should appear momentarily.  If it doesn’t reappear, there is no solution.  You must cancel the game and start all over again.

On occasion, you will be given “ball in hand” when you should not, and other times it will give your opponent the ball when you should have it.  Please don’t take a shot if you don’t deserve it.  Ask your opponent if he (or she) wants the ball back.  If so, just miscue on purpose (draw the cue stick back VERY slightly and release it to hit the ball VERY softly) and then your opponent should return the ball to where it was to continue play.