How does squirt impact a pool shot?

Answer 1

Squirt refers to the deviation of the cue ball's path from the aim line due to using side english. This can impact a pool shot because the cue ball will not be traveling where you are aiming exactly, and so you will not execute the shot as intended.

If you are hitting the cue ball with right english (on the right side of the cue ball, as you are looking at it down on the shot), the cue ball will have a tendency to squirt to the left as you stroke through the cue ball. The amount of squirt depends on how far to the right you hit the cue ball (vs a center ball hit on the aim line) and how hard you hit the cue ball.