The Physics of Throw, Squirt, and Swerve (and How to Compensate)

Every pool player has experienced it: you line up the perfect shot, apply a little spin, and suddenly the cue ball doesn’t go where you aimed. Instead, it skids, curves, or pushes the object ball off-line. What happened?

The answer lies in three often-overlooked forces: throw, squirt, and swerve. These effects are at the heart of advanced cue ball control, and understanding them is the difference between a casual player and a precision shooter. In this article, we’ll break down the physics behind them and show you practical ways to adjust your game.

1. What Is Throw?

Throw is the sideways motion of the object ball caused by friction between the cue ball and object ball when spin or cut angles are applied.

  • Left English (spin): pushes the object ball to the right.

  • Right English: pushes the object ball to the left.

  • More cut angle = more throw, up to a point.

👉 Example: On a slow shot with left spin, the object ball can drift half a ball’s width to the right of your intended aim.

Why it matters: If you don’t adjust for throw, even perfect aiming will miss.

2. What Is Squirt?

Squirt (sometimes called "deflection") is the sideways movement of the cue ball itself when struck off-center.

  • Hit the cue ball with left English → the cue ball immediately squirts slightly to the right.

  • Hit with right English → it squirts left.

This happens because the cue tip pushes the ball slightly sideways before it starts spinning.

👉 Important: Squirt is instantaneous—it happens at the moment of contact, before swerve or spin takes effect.

Cue technology role:

  • Traditional wood shafts produce more squirt.

  • Low-deflection carbon fiber shafts (like BIZU Mars Impact & Moon Speed) drastically reduce squirt, making aiming adjustments simpler.

3. What Is Swerve?

Swerve is the curve of the cue ball’s path after it has been struck with spin, caused by friction with the cloth and cue ball rotation.

  • On soft or medium-speed shots with side spin, the cue ball bends in the direction of the spin.

  • The effect is stronger with:

    • Softer shots

    • More cue elevation (downward stroke)

    • More spin applied

👉 Example: Shoot with left English at slow speed → the cue ball starts right (squirt) but curves back left (swerve).

Throw + Squirt + Swerve interact: sometimes they cancel each other, sometimes they combine—making them tricky to predict.

4. How These Effects Work Together

Imagine hitting a soft cut shot with left English:

  1. Cue ball squirts slightly right (immediate effect).

  2. As it travels, swerve curves it back left.

  3. At collision, throw pushes the object ball right.

Depending on shot speed and tip offset, these can either balance or exaggerate each other. That’s why players sometimes feel like the game is “mysterious”—but in reality, it’s physics at work.

5. Practical Compensation Techniques

a) Adjusting for Throw

  • On slow, spin-heavy shots → aim slightly opposite the expected throw direction.

  • On firm shots → throw is minimized, so aim closer to the natural contact point.

b) Adjusting for Squirt

  • Learn your cue’s squirt “signature.” Every shaft is different.

  • With high-deflection wood shafts → bigger aiming adjustment is needed.

  • With low-deflection shafts like BIZU carbon fiber → less adjustment, more intuitive spin play.

c) Adjusting for Swerve

  • Reduce cue elevation → flatter stroke = less swerve.

  • Increase shot speed → faster shots bend less.

  • Plan for natural swerve when kicking/banking with spin.

6. Drills to Train Your Feel

Drill 1: Squirt Line Drill

  • Place the cue ball on the head spot, aim straight down table at a diamond.

  • Shoot with maximum left/right English, firm stroke.

  • Watch how far the ball deflects from the line.
    👉 This shows your cue’s squirt characteristic.

Drill 2: Throw Awareness Drill

  • Set up a half-ball cut shot.

  • Shoot with center ball, then with left spin, then with right spin.

  • Notice how the object ball path changes.

Drill 3: Swerve Curve Drill

  • Place cue ball mid-table, aim at a long rail diamond.

  • Shoot with extreme side spin, medium-soft stroke.

  • Watch the curve develop.
    👉 Repeat with higher/lower cue elevation to feel swerve differences.

7. Cue Choice: How Technology Helps

Modern cues can’t change the laws of physics, but they can minimize unwanted effects.

  • Low-deflection shafts reduce squirt dramatically → easier to play with English.

  • Carbon fiber technology adds consistency:

    • Same response regardless of humidity/temperature

    • Durability (no warping)

    • Smooth, predictable spin transfer

At BIZU Billiards, our Mars Impact (11.5mm, 12.5mm) and Moon Speed (12.5mm) shafts are engineered to reduce squirt while maintaining crisp feedback. This means your only focus is adjusting for throw and swerve—two variables you can control with practice.

8. Mindset for Mastery

  • Don’t fear these effects—use them.

  • Professionals often intentionally use throw to hold an angle or cheat a pocket.

  • Swerve can help you “bend around” interfering balls.

  • Squirt awareness lets you confidently use spin without second-guessing aim.

Conclusion

Throw, squirt, and swerve aren’t mysterious forces—they’re predictable, learnable, and manageable. Once you understand how they interact, you’ll gain the confidence to use English more effectively and control the cue ball like a pro.

With the right practice drills and the right equipment—such as BIZU’s low-deflection carbon fiber cues—you’ll minimize surprises and maximize precision.

Master the physics. Control the table. Play with BIZU.