"Squirt," also known as cue ball deflection, is a subtle but significant phenomenon that occurs when you hit the cue ball with sidespin (English). Instead of the cue ball launching exactly in the direction your cue stick is pointing, it will deflect slightly in the opposite direction of the applied spin. For instance, if you apply right English, the cue ball will "squirt" or deflect slightly to the left of your aim line. This deflection happens because the side force from your cue tip causes the cue ball to push away from the cue's central axis during contact. The amount of squirt depends on the amount of sidespin used and the construction of your cue shaft (low-deflection shafts are designed to minimize this effect). Understanding and compensating for squirt is crucial for accuracy when using English, as even a small deflection can cause you to miss your intended contact point on the object ball, especially on longer shots.