The Bank Shot:
Is it your go-to shot or shot of last resort?
As an instructor, I am asked how to successfully shoot bank shots more than almost any other question. It pains me to hear this. It is my resolution this year to help players avoid shooting bank shots for the wrong reasons.
In my opinion, bank shots should be attempted rarely and if they are, it should be for one of three reasons.
1. It is a “two-way†shot. In other words, if the object ball is pocketed, you can continue your run out and if the ball doesn’t fall, you’ve got a very good safety.
In 9 ball, the two-way shot can come up often. It is a wise play to bank the object ball toward a pocket at the other end of the table if the cue ball can be held behind blockers and the next consecutive object ball happens to be at the cue ball end of the table.
2. By executing a relatively simple bank shot, you’ve obtained perfect position for your next shot. This could be preferable to a difficult cut shot and making the cue ball travel a large distance to obtain acceptable position for the next shot.
In 8 ball, a bank shot on a solid can keep the cue ball from having to go several rails through a mine field of stripes. Any inadvertent bump or rub on a stripe could render the shooter hooked on the remaining solids or the case 8 ball.
3. It is your only shot. No other safety or shot is easier.
Of course, option 3 is the situation referenced in the title of the article: the shot of last resort. If a player pins his hopes of winning a game on any sort of a bank shot, he will lose quite a few games. This is generally because the player is not running balls in good patterns. Or because the player is just showing off.
If you find yourself shooting bank shots because of necessity rather than sound strategy, get a tune up on pattern play or speed control so you don’t have to shoot a low percentage bank to complete your run out.
Part II
Secrets of Successful Bank Shots
A successful bank shot can be a powerful tool in your pool tool box. To improve your banking percentage, a number of factors must be accounted for.
• Table conditions (cloth and rail rubber)
• Ball conditions (age and cleanliness)
• Speed of the shot
• Cue ball English
• Angle
A fairly common calculation, based on a series of lines, can help determine the contact point on the cushion that the object ball must hit in order to bank into the desired pocket. Line A is from the object ball straight into the cushion (perpendicular). Line B is from the end of Line A directly into the desired pocket. Line C is from the object ball into the pocket opposite of the pocket that Line B points to. Line D is from the intersection of Lines B and C directly into the rebounding cushion. The spot on cushion X is the point that the object ball must hit to bank successfully into the pocket.
This is only the correct point for a certain speed and spin. If the object ball is hit with more speed, the bank will come short or the rebound angle will be lessened. If the ball is struck with less speed the bank will lengthen. A player should be familiar with the rebound characteristics on a table before banking at a crucial moment in a match.
English applied to the cue ball will also affect the rebound angle of the banked ball. The action of the object ball is reverse of what would happen if the cue ball hit the cushion. In other words, if the cue ball would have reverse English if it hit the rail and would bank short, the object ball struck will have a small amount of running English and rebound slightly longer. The effect is much less than that of the cue ball hitting the cushion as in a kick shot, but the effect is still quite noticeable on older and dirty balls. The rougher (older) and grippier (dirtier) object will pick up more side spin from the rubbing cue ball at the moment of impact.
I recommend shooting a couple of test shots on a pool table before beginning an important match. Lag the cue ball down and back to get an idea of how fast the cloth is and how lively the cushions are. Shoot a three rail kick shot as diagramed in one of my previous articles. Shoot a couple of bank shots to gauge the speed of the cloth, cushions, and reaction of the cue ball to the object ball. Shoot a few balls into the corner pockets to get a sense of how tight or loose they play.
A little warm up on a table and knowledge of bank shots should help you avoid shooting desperation banks and will improve your run out ability.
Mike is a full time tournament player and professional billiard instructor. He can be reached via www.billiardcoach.com or by phone at 612.802.0519.
Leave a Reply