When the cue ball has topspin or bottom spin, it will bend on the bed of the cloth in the direction of spin. You can use this effect to create follow (topspin) and draw (bottom spin) shots.

When the cue ball has left spin or right spin, it does NOT change the path of the cue ball on the bed of the cloth. Instead, the cue ball path will change only when it contacts a cushion. You can use this effect to change the natural rebound angle off of a rail.

Most cue ball positioning should be performed with topspin, bottom spin, and stroke speed. Minimize using sidespin for more consistent shooting.

The diagram below shows a follow shot from the Bullseye Billiards Book.