Question about running english

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bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
Another newbie question:

Please define "running english" in the context of using it on kick shots. It's one of those terms that people use all the time, but us beginners aren't exactly sure what it means.

For no particular reason, I assumed it was high-right english (when kicking as per the diagram below). But then I realized that maybe it's high-center, or center-right, or ???

Thanks.

runningenglishdiagram.jpg
 
bdorman said:
Another newbie question:

Please define "running english" in the context of using it on kick shots. It's one of those terms that people use all the time, but us beginners aren't exactly sure what it means.
Click to expand...
Here's the definition from my online glossary:

running english (AKA “natural english”): sidespin that causes the cue ball to speed up after bouncing off a rail, also resulting in a wider (longer) rebound angle. The spin is in the direction that results in “rolling” along the rail during contact.

Also, some illustrations and demonstrations can be found here:
english (sidespin) terminology resource page

Regards,
Dave
 
Right, top right and low right is "running english" from there. The cueball will pick up a bit of english from that angle also, so it will have a bit of spin off the rail naturally if you hit it center ball.

I think most kicking instructions that use the diamond system say to shoot with a 1/2 tip or running english with no high/low.
 
In your drawing, right english is running and left english is reverse or check. High/center/low doesn't affect whether the english is running or reverse, although it obviously does affect the CB path in various ways.

-Andrew
 
When hitting a rail, if the natural rebound angle is to the left, then left english is running english. If the natural rebound angle is to the right, then right english is running english.
 
Neil said:
When hitting a rail, if the natural rebound angle is to the left, then left english is running english. If the natural rebound angle is to the right, then right english is running english.
Click to expand...
Here are some illustrations of english terminology from my resource page:

English_inside_outside.jpg


English_running_reverse.jpg

Regards,
Dave
 
Running english is as described, whatever makes the cue ball pick up speed and want to continue traveling around the table naturally. This can be either inside or outside english depending on the relationship of the cue ball to the object ball.

Running english is used in various kicking systems and is a mainstay when playing 3 cushion. It's typically done by using 1/2 tip (which some people call 1 tip) of side english as well as 1/2 tip of follow. The follow is not 100% necessary, but it promotes the ball rolling naturally more quickly as opposed to skidding and then rolling, or worse yet accidentally hitting a little below center and spinning backward and/or curving slightly.

There are times where a center or below center hit with running english is necessary, but when I think of a "standard" running english shot in 3 cushion (or pool for systems etc.) it would be with a naturally rolling ball and the application of proper side english as well.

Scott
 
Once again, many thanks for all the replies and help.

I think what I'll do is set up kick shots with "known angles" such as from center-table to the long-rail 2nd diamond and see if the CB hits the second diamond on the short-rail and the 2nd diamond on the opposite long-rail. First with center CB and make adjustments from there to see what happens.

I'm mostly concerned with why I'm missing 2-rail kicks that should work, but I'm missing by a ball-width or two. I suspect it's because I'm actually contacting the first cushion with stun since I'm hitting hard enough to go two rails with speed.

kickshotangletest.jpg
 
As everyone has stated running english is center side spin. Neil explains if the ball is traveling to theleft it is left english if traveling to the right it is right english. A good simple explanation.

Now the bad news. :) The cue ball isn't a light beam reflecting off a mirror that affords the same angle of rebound that the angle of incidence provides.

Take a very close look at the cushion when a cue ball hits it. It isn't any longer a flat surface. It collapses in and the speed of the hit greatly effects the angles as does all the englishes, top and bottom as well as side.

These kicks are greatly a matter of feel and they will change from table to table.
 
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