SLIDING BANK DIAMOND SYSTEMS … How to Aim Banks at Fast-Speed or Close-to-the-Cushion

dr_dave

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FYI, I just posted a new video that demonstrates, evaluates, and compares various diamond systems for aiming sliding bank shots where fast speed is used or where the object ball is close to the banking cushion. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Reference Lines
3:11 - Dr. Dave 1/3-More-Than-Twice System
7:29 - Jewett 3-Diamond “Spot on the Wall”
8:41 - Measured “Spot on the Wall”
11:50 - Other Systems
---- 12:06 - 1-more-than-twice
---- 12:51 - Eckert 3/8
---- 13:47 - Briesath thirds
14:33 - System Comparison
17:22 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
 
Some good methods here, but as you said, practice is the key.

About 95% of my table time is shooting banks. I use the "1-more-than twice" method, for reference lines, but they are only reference lines that I use, to determine my adjustments to the shot. They are not aiming lines for me. I also use follow, draw, or English, on almost every shot, and vary my speed, depending on whether I want the object ball to go longer or shorter. I can also see a big difference on how much adjustment I need to make, depending on the humidity in my house, and how dry the cloth feels on my table. It can be a surprisingly big difference (at least to me). Also, how clean the balls are, and how old/dirty the cloth is, can change things up. It sometimes seems different, every day.

Practice, practice, practice. :)
 
another great video dr.dave
i could not find links to the adjustments for cuts or spin
 
Some good methods here, but as you said, practice is the key.

Good job watching the whole video to the end! ⭐


About 95% of my table time is shooting banks. I use the "1-more-than twice" method, for reference lines, but they are only reference lines that I use, to determine my adjustments to the shot. They are not aiming lines for me. I also use follow, draw, or English, on almost every shot, and vary my speed, depending on whether I want the object ball to go longer or shorter. I can also see a big difference on how much adjustment I need to make, depending on the humidity in my house, and how dry the cloth feels on my table. It can be a surprisingly big difference (at least to me). Also, how clean the balls are, and how old/dirty the cloth is, can change things up. It sometimes seems different, every day.

There are definitely many things to consider when shooting banks per all of the effects and factors that require adjustment.
 
Excellent VID Dr. Dave! I have found that angles make the bank vary quite a bit. ROT for me was : over 30degrees; add 2-3 (essentially your one-third rule). Banks under 30 degrees,.... add on.ly 1. On 5" pockets, this works well. On tighter pockets you will need to adjust.
Practice is Key as it is amazing how just a little variation will make a miss happen.
 
Excellent VID Dr. Dave!

Thanks!

I have found that angles make the bank vary quite a bit. ROT for me was : over 30degrees; add 2-3 (essentially your one-third rule). Banks under 30 degrees,.... add on.ly 1. On 5" pockets, this works well. On tighter pockets you will need to adjust.
Practice is Key as it is amazing how just a little variation will make a miss happen.

No "system" is perfect and adjustments are always required, especially on different tables and as conditions change.
 
Thank you, Dr. Dave. Really enjoyed the video. I have a friend who uses the cue measurement spot on the wall system. I could never figure out what he was doing. Mystery solved!
 
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Great work. Thanks for showing the way to get the precise numbers.

There is a way to easily memorize 2 digit numbers called Mnemonic major system, so memorizing the absolute exact points from this slide:

bank lines.JPG


is actually not a big deal. Would love to see the exact numbers for banks above the side pocket (these come handy playing one pocket) - but guess I have to do some work myself printing out the 3 balls in a line template and measure it myself ^___^
 
... There is a way to easily memorize 2 digit numbers called Mnemonic major system, so memorizing the absolute exact points from this slide:

is actually not a big deal. Would love to see the exact numbers for banks above the side pocket (these come handy playing one pocket) - but guess I have to do some work myself printing out the 3 balls in a line template and measure it myself ^___^
You need to remeasure the lines on your own table or the type of tables you regularly play on. The easiest way to do this is to find the spot-on-the-wall for a table. This can be done with as few as two lines, but you could do a line for each target diamond. Also do some in the upper part of the table, which I have found still works on a lot of tables.

However... I was showing the spot on the wall to a student and on that table there was an 18-inch section of rail above the side pocket where the ball banked about half a diamond long. Farther up the rail (like to diamond 7) the system worked again.
 
Great work. Thanks for showing the way to get the precise numbers.

There is a way to easily memorize 2 digit numbers called Mnemonic major system, so memorizing the absolute exact points from this slide:

View attachment 712552

is actually not a big deal. Would love to see the exact numbers for banks above the side pocket (these come handy playing one pocket) - but guess I have to do some work myself printing out the 3 balls in a line template and measure it myself ^___^
Its in freddy The beard bentivegna(sp) book on banking
 
Dave, have you noticed that sliding banks go about as far short as rolling banks go long?

In other words, all these shots follow the lines just about as well in either direction if you slide them when going right to left and roll them when going left to right.

I don't know if this has any meaning or is helpful in any way, just something I noticed (and makes sense to me).

pj
chgo

bank lines.JPG
 
Last edited:
FYI, I just posted a new video that demonstrates, evaluates, and compares various diamond systems for aiming sliding bank shots where fast speed is used or where the object ball is close to the banking cushion. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Reference Lines
3:11 - Dr. Dave 1/3-More-Than-Twice System
7:29 - Jewett 3-Diamond “Spot on the Wall”
8:41 - Measured “Spot on the Wall”
11:50 - Other Systems
---- 12:06 - 1-more-than-twice
---- 12:51 - Eckert 3/8
---- 13:47 - Briesath thirds
14:33 - System Comparison
17:22 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
Another well done video. Thanks!
 
Great work. Thanks for showing the way to get the precise numbers.

I don't think it is necessary. The systems presented (along with adjustments when necessary) are easy to remember (especially the 3.3-diamond "spot on the wall").


Would love to see the exact numbers for banks above the side pocket (these come handy playing one pocket)

My next video will feature good systems for these banks.


but guess I have to do some work myself printing out the 3 balls in a line template and measure it myself

That's always a good thing. I certainly learned a lot going through the whole process myself.
 
You need to remeasure the lines on your own table or the type of tables you regularly play on. The easiest way to do this is to find the spot-on-the-wall for a table. This can be done with as few as two lines, but you could do a line for each target diamond. Also do some in the upper part of the table, which I have found still works on a lot of tables.

However... I was showing the spot on the wall to a student and on that table there was an 18-inch section of rail above the side pocket where the ball banked about half a diamond long. Farther up the rail (like to diamond 7) the system worked again.

I plan to repeat my procedure on other tables in the near future. I am really curious to see how much (or how little) the sliding-bank "spot on the wall" differs among different tables and conditions.
 
Dave, have you noticed that sliding banks go about as far short as rolling banks go long?

Good observation; although, the sliding banks appear to go a little shorter than rolling banks go long.


I don't know if this has any meaning or is helpful in any way, just something I noticed (and makes sense to me).

Agreed, but still interesting.
 
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