anyone heard of a game called "bank"

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shooternvegas

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I was shooting some pool at a local pool room last night when I noticed this guy in the corner shooting by himself.

I walked over and asked if he wanted to play a game of 9 ball or 8 ball, it doesn't matter to me.

He say, "I only play bank". I said ok, so you don't want to play pool? He say, well, I only play "bank". I was like, OOOKKKK and walked away.

What the hell is "bank", anyone ever heard of?

By the way, I watched him play, he would never take a straight in shot, he would only bank the balls.
 
Bank is bank pool. Every shot has to be a bank shot. Some play with variations where every shot has to be a bank, combo or carom, but straight in shots are not allowed in at any time.
 
I have only played 9ball banks. Here, we play ya break as normal. Then ya bank any ball on the table. Called shots only. No caroms, combos, shortrail banks or kicks. Any ball pocketed on break or as a non legal shot is brought back up on the table after the players inning. First person to get to 5 wins. (Unless ya are spotting) 5-0 pays double usually. Fouls cost ya a point, therefore bringing up another ball on the table. At all times the total score between both players and the number of balls on the table should equal 9 after a persons inning.
 
Yeah a couple of guys were trying to get a game started the other day for some money. One guy wanted an equal spot in one game if giving weight in another. They were going to play one-pocket with player1 getting an 8-6 spot from player2, but then player2 had to spot player1 5-4 in banks. less to say they never agreed on a game.
 
You guyswatch the DCC friday, sat , sun, mon, 9days total. Banks is one of the games played at the DCC

KY is the bank pool capital of the world.
 
A lot of the gentlemen who played in the poolhall I used to go to when I was 11 or 12 years old, played banks. As a kid I never even dreamed of getting into a bank game with those men. It seemed like they never missed, and knew everything that was worth knowing about pool. Those guys represented the wisdom of the ages to me.

Of course, as I write this, I realized that I'm the same age now, as they were back in those days....scary thought. Perspective is a funny thing.
 
I lived in the Midwest last summer, and my eyes were opened to the world of banks. I grew up in the "9 ball Generation", and the game of banks has been the most revolutionary discovery of my 14 years of playing. You watch theose old cats shoot three and four railers like they mean it, and all of a sudden you world of possiblitites is doubled or tripled.
 
So short rail banks aren't allowed? That doesn't make much sense if the game is called banks.
 
9-Ball Bank Rules Summary:
Rules are evolving and will be further discussed at Players Meeting.

1. When breaking, the head ball must be struck first driving an object ball past the side pockets. If an object ball does not go past the side pockets, the opposing player has the option to start play where the balls lie or make his opponent rebreak.

2. All bank shots must be called. This means that both the pocket and the number of rails should be called.

3. The first player to legally pocket five (5) balls wins the game.

4. Any scratch or foul results in loss of a ball. If a player has no balls to spot, then he will "owe one," and will spot a ball at the end of his next run.

5. Either the cue ball or any object ball must be driven to a rail after contact, or it is a foul.

6. If an object ball caroms off of any other ball into a pocket, the shot does not count.

7. Combination banks are not allowed. If the cue ball does not contact the intended object ball first, the hot does not count.

8. No kicks shots are allowed.

9. All balls illegally pocketed will be spotted.
 
matthew said:
So short rail banks aren't allowed? That doesn't make much sense if the game is called banks.
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I think what he means by short rail is when the object ball kisses the rail on a near straight in shot before entering the pocket.
 
We tend to call a short rail bank anything that you run down a rail and it glances off the rail, yet pockets. Commonly when a ball hits inside the first diamond, people can make that ball, but it wouldnt count as a bank.
 
Perk said:
We tend to call a short rail bank anything that you run down a rail and it glances off the rail, yet pockets. Commonly when a ball hits inside the first diamond, people can make that ball, but it wouldnt count as a bank.
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Yeah, we all joke about that. LOL

But, what is the definition of a bank shot?

I think part of the definition should include – an object ball pocketed after rebounding off one or more cushions NOT associated with the pocket opening.

Also, some areas refer to bank pool (with 9 balls) as short rack bank pool, because in some parts of the country it’s played with all 15 balls.

Rick
 
hemicudas said:
....KY is the bank pool capital of the world.
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After reading the original post I expected the poster's name to be shooternkentucky :D

I saw the late Gary Spaeth play only once unfortunately. He and John Brumback were the best around these parts.
 
Confused. What happens if I have several balls very near the pocket. How can I legally pocket any of these if carom or combination shots are not allowed?
 
amateur said:
Confused. What happens if I have several balls very near the pocket. How can I legally pocket any of these if carom or combination shots are not allowed?
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You should use a little strategy if the balls are in or very near a pocket. Generally, one could deliberately pocket a ball and position the cue ball for a difficult shot for the opponent. All illegally pocketed balls spot up and it’s not a foul unless you scratch.

Rick
 
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