Pivot application of English is an advanced subject, but I'm addressing it now as this is something new in VP4. I realized we needed to discuss this when I read a post by deraltefritz on the Celeris forum, (http://www.celeris.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2385). So thanks to deraltefritz for a this nice post.

The forum post has a pretty good evaluation of pivot English. But this statement is made:

“I know that this pivot technique is known, but I can't recall having seen many professionals on TV actually use it.”

That statement is not entirely correct. It is true that Pros don't typically use the exact implementation in VP4 which is also knows as backhand English. But many do use a pivot method with essentially the same idea and results.

Let me first say that no aiming systems actually work, in any situation. Some are acceptable as long as English is not used, none work well with English.

Many good players (Pros and top amateurs) use a pivot, they just don't use it in the form known as backhand English. In backhand English you keep the bridge stable and move the back hand.

I use an English pivot when I shoot, but I don't do backhand English. Here are some reasons why:

• When the arm moves to apply the English, it changes the relationship between the body and the arm. This reduces consistency in the stroke. Having the arm body relationship as close to being the same as possible every shot is better.

• Pivoting on the bridge means the proper bridge length is required to match the deflection in the shaft. This is not always desirable as many times there are situations where that is impossible because other balls or the rail are in the way.

• The backhand English method, like all other methods for applying English and adjusting aim, does not work perfectly. Because the cue ball curves, speed becomes important. Therefore the pivot amount needs to adjust based on shot speed, butt angle, and vertical tip placement. The bridge length can change to account for this but as mentioned above that is not desirable.

The way I pivot to compensate for English deflection is the same way I aim, with my body, and I do this before I get down on the shot. This is not just a change in aim line, it is a pivot of the cue stick and the result is the same with my view not down the cue line anymore. The net result, and what I see when shooting, is very similar to doing backhand English, but I don't have to use a certain bridge length and my arm body positions are more consistent. I do some fine tuning when down but most of the aiming, application of English, and pivot to compensation for deflection, is set by my body before getting down on the cue ball. Discussion of body aiming will be in another blog post. This is a critical RL pool concept, and has some connection to VP4 with the Standard Distance Aiming setting that is new for VP4.

Not all players do what I do and some don't use a pivot at all and prefer to keep their head centered over the cue stick. There is more than one way to adjust for English deflection.

Obviously in VP4 we don't have a body to worry about and we also don't have to place a bridge hand. So the backhand method of applying pivot English works very well.

Steve Chaplin

Virtual Pool 4 Online