'Bending' a shot

[WHolmes]

While watching snooker I have heard commentators saying a player will 'bend' a shot with a little bit of side when a shot is tight.

What does that really mean and how do you 'bend' a shot?

[Catch 22]

Hitting the cue ball with bottom left or bottom right with the butt of the cue raised in the air will swerve the cueball in an arc . Bottom right will swerve it to the right and vice versa . The higher the butt the more the swerve

[Byrom]

You can also play a soft swerve if there is a ball slightly obstructing the potting angle aiming with side without digging down can make a soft swerve around the obstructing ball enabling you to pot something that is not quite on.

This is an explanation of the swerve.

[WHolmes]

You can also play a soft swerve if there is a ball slightly obstructing the potting angle aiming with side without digging down can make a soft swerve around the obstructing ball enabling you to pot something that is not quite on.

This is an explanation of the swerve.

I think it might be a soft swerve. often when bending is mentioned the players are not really digging down much instead striking down on the ball just a bit to get the little bit of movement they need to get to the OB whilst maintaining the potting angle

[Chappy5]

The speed you hit the the Cue ball is critical when doing this.

Hit it to hard and the Cue ball will not grab the Nap of the cloth and swerve like you want as it just skids across the surface, while to soft has the exact opposite effect and usually results in a miss of the target as you can over swerve it or not make it to the object ball at all.

The Pros make swerve shots look easy.