Bank or Cut?

John Novak

John Novak

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The game is 8 ball.You have this shot at the eight, to win. It is nearly a natural bank, or maybe you would prefer to cut it directly into the other corner. Which would you do?

What goes through your mind: "Easy bank, tough cut?" You may be surprised by this, but I think almost 100% of all pros would choose the cut. The fact is an easy bank is not particularly easy. You may make this one 90% of the time, but you will also make that "tough" cut about 90% of the time, too. And with the cut, you are in control. With the bank, you are at the mercy of table conditions, ball speed, and accidental side English. Take your time, make sure you will make the cut, and cut this eight ball, and win.

What shot would you take for the cheese
 

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TommyLee said:
Seeing as how my cb control is a bit weak I'd bank to avoid the risk of scratching
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You could scratch on every shot in the world if you tried..

The proper shot selection is cut the ball.... There really isn't an
arguable alternative
 
John Novak said:
You have this shot at the eight ball, to win. It is nearly a natural bank, or maybe you would prefer to cut it directly into the other corner. Which would you do?

What goes through your mind: "Easy bank, tough cut?" You may be surprised by this, but I think almost 100% of all pros would choose the cut. The fact is an easy bank is not particularly easy. You may make this one 90% of the time, but you will also make that "tough" cut about 90% of the time, too. And with the cut, you are in control. With the bank, you are at the mercy of table conditions, ball speed, and accidental side English. Take your time, make sure you will make the cut, and cut this eight ball, and win.

What shot would you take for the cheese
Click to expand...

If you know the table rails very very very well the bank, if not the cut, only problem you cannot use inside english you might scratch in corner or side pocket, outside english might scratch in the side or opposite side, so no english and pry to GOD, i'd over cut it and hit with fast speed.
 
John Novak said:
You have this shot at the eight ball, to win. It is nearly a natural bank, or maybe you would prefer to cut it directly into the other corner. Which would you do?

What goes through your mind: "Easy bank, tough cut?" You may be surprised by this, but I think almost 100% of all pros would choose the cut. The fact is an easy bank is not particularly easy. You may make this one 90% of the time, but you will also make that "tough" cut about 90% of the time, too. And with the cut, you are in control. With the bank, you are at the mercy of table conditions, ball speed, and accidental side English. Take your time, make sure you will make the cut, and cut this eight ball, and win.

What shot would you take for the cheese
Click to expand...

I cut this shot in every time (well, I mean I ATTEMPT to :embarrassed2:).

I don't trust the rails on any table in any PUBLIC place that has a pool table.

I tend to live by the old adage "never bank a ball that you can cut". The only time I deviate from this is if the bank is the only way I can get position on the next ball.

Maniac
 
I'd cut it for all the reasons above. If you have trouble with cuts, this is a very good practice shot to setup and do over and over. Especially if you can cut one direction better than the other.
 
Cut it of course! I choose a cut over and bank. And in this particular case if I miss the bank I leave an easy shot for your opponent, if I miss the cut, I usually overcut it and leave it hard for the opponent.
 
prior to 6 months ago i would bank it as i am very good at banks...i would make this a higher percentage of the time over cutting it in.....however, i wanted to raise my game a level so i started practicing cuts..(my banking suffered somewhat), but because of the control of the cue ball, cutting it in IMHO is the way to go.....
 
Do what you're good at. If you're a good banker, bank. If you're good if thin cuts, go thin cuts. You cant go wrong with what you're comfortably doing.
 
Most will say cut it, but banking is not an incorrect decision if you feel the percentage is the same or better for you on that day, on that table.





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the only plus at all to the bank in this situation is making an "offensive-defensive" shot. By hitting a little on the hard side, with the bank even if you miss you can have the 8 ball be in a crappy spot for the other player to be able to sink (if he's on the 8 ball as well). On the cut, if you miss you leave the 8 ball in a far better position for the other player.

Note that i'm primarily a 9 ball player so this is part of my thought pattern on any of the more difficult shots. If I'm not confident I will make it on any of the pockets or shots, i'll take the shot that will leave the ball + cue in the worst spot for my opponent.
 
It would depend on what my opponents next shot looks like. A safety could be in order. But if the only two choices are cut to win or bank to win the answer is cut. That shot is an easy 85-90% make for me if cut
 
John Novak said:
The game is 8 ball.You have this shot at the eight, to win. It is nearly a natural bank, or maybe you would prefer to cut it directly into the other corner. Which would you do?

What goes through your mind: "Easy bank, tough cut?" You may be surprised by this, but I think almost 100% of all pros would choose the cut. The fact is an easy bank is not particularly easy. You may make this one 90% of the time, but you will also make that "tough" cut about 90% of the time, too. And with the cut, you are in control. With the bank, you are at the mercy of table conditions, ball speed, and accidental side English. Take your time, make sure you will make the cut, and cut this eight ball, and win.

What shot would you take for the cheese
Click to expand...

If you are a apa 5 or above you should be cutting this ball every single time.
 
my home table

i cut this ball using med to low right hand english, and hit it firm trying to overcut it just a tad.
if it goes it goes, if not the overcut leaves the 8 on the end rail and the english will take the cue ball 2 rails to the other end of table
 
Bowmer said:
It would depend on what my opponents next shot looks like. A safety could be in order. But if the only two choices are cut to win or bank to win the answer is cut. That shot is an easy 85-90% make for me if cut
Click to expand...

I gave you the situation in the first sentence. "You have this shot at the eight ball, to win. " There is no next shot for your opponent unless you miss this one
 
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