Applying Top Spin to the Cue Ball in Pool

Richard Rinaolo is an established construction and property acquisition executive who guides Phoenix Venture Capital, LLC. An avid golfer and backgammon player, Richard Rinaolo also enjoys the game of pool.

One of the intricacies of shooting the cue ball is applying top spin. This is accomplished through striking the cue tip above the cue ball’s center spot. The higher the strike occurs, the more top spin, or “follow,” will be applied. The latter term reflects the fact that the cue ball follows through, or continues to move, once it has struck its target. This extra forward spin allows the cue ball to keep traveling when a straight shot would have come to a halt. This often occurs following a moment where the cue ball appears to stop.

With top spin, the angle of departure from the object ball or cushion is also widened, which can be useful in setting up the cue ball for the next shot. A straight shot might have resulted in the cue ball coming to rest on the pool cloth behind a ball, which would have obstructed a clear shot on the next ball.