Displacement of the cue ball’s path away from the parallel line formed by the cue stick’s direction of travel; occurs every time english is employed. The degree of deflection increases as the amount of english applied increases. It is also called squirt, typically in the United States.

In simpler terms, deflection is simply how far off the ball goes from its intended path when you put english on your shot.  Deflection is one of the biggest issues for any pool player, as you need to be able to at the very least know where your ball is going to travel when you put english on your shot.  Generally speaking, there are two ways to deal with deflection.   The first is to simply practice and get a consistent feel for how much the cue ball squirts when you apply english.  Your other option is to get a cue with a low deflection shaft.

Low deflection shafts like the Predator 314 shaft effectively reduce the amount of cue ball deflection, giving you a truer roll and more control.  Some cues like the Lucasi Hybrid or Mezz Cues come equipped with low deflection shafts.  Ultimately, a low deflection shaft makes the game of pool a little easier, as it adds that extra level of control.

If you have any questions about low deflection shafts, don’t hesitate to email or call us at 866-843-3294.