Bank shots...

Zims Rack

Zims Rack

Promoting the Cueing Arts
Silver Member
When your shooting a bank shot, what do you think about? How do you approach this shot? Do you have a "system" or just "feel" the angle for the bank? Can you "see" the shot before it happens? Or are you the type of player that just guesses where to contact the OB and poke away?

I've tried using the diamond system, but found out that it's not always accurate, depends on the condition of the table and balls. I've learned thru repitition to "feel" and "see" the angles for bank shots. I'm probably about 80% on making my bank shots.

Thanks,
Zim
 
BANKING

Top pros bank with the same aiming system they use to make all shots; including caroms, combinations, and pocketing. Deciding what angle to bank at on a 1,2,3,4 cushion shot, or to decide exactly what spot to have the object ball strike on the cushion is totally not needed. The aiming system does all the work. It does not matter what the shot is, it is all the same to the aiming system. Automatic. No contact point on object ball or cue ball is needed. No deciding how thick or thin to cut object balls.

Hal
 
Banking used to be my weakest shot in the game. I just started practicing it one week...and kept on doing it until I felt comfortable judging the angle to hit the OB.

In game situations, when it was either a thin cut shot or a bank shot, I would opt for the bank...just to get my confidence level higher.

Now, I can honestly say that I can do 60 or 70% of my bank shots.

I still have some difficulty judging cross-side banks, but even my percentage for those have gone up.

nbc
 
I first look at the bank shot from the front ot the bank and then from the other side of the table. Then I get down and aim the shot and visualize the shot first depending on where I am aiming. I adjust depending on how I visualize the result. Mostly, a feel system. Not much different then picking a line in a golf putt and visualizing the path to the hole and adjusting.
visualizing works for all shots, because you first have to see yourself making the shot in your mind, then execute it. It removes all negative thoughts.
 
Halhoule- I read that you're an Instructor! That's great! I'm going to be certified next July. Who or what school did you attend? Who are you recognized by?

Thanks,
Zim
 
The "Diamond System" is a "GUIDE". The basic system that you can get from many books is a good "GUIDE".
Your stroke may be a bit different than mine...I may use a short stroke on my shots and you may use a longer stroke with a bit more elevation. We will both make the shot!!
You must develope YOUR particular skills that work for YOU. You may put a little of low left side spin ...every time you hit the cue ball, and not even know it, and I could hit low right. I doubt if all of the top players really hit the ball the same. They have learned to hit it the best way THEY can.
I bank pretty well, but I have been practicing bank shots since I began to play some 30 ( &^%%$#) years ago.
Billiard tables, snooker tables and pool tables all require adjustments in your skills, but the basic "GUIDE" is quite good under all conditions.
 
I agree with you ajrack. My experience has taught me that there are so many variables to making a bank:
speed of the hit
english
temperature of the rubber
moisture of the cloth
position of the stars

So many variables that it would be very difficult to try to get too scientific with the diamond system or any other system. FEEL that's the ticket.
 
Re: BANKING

halhoule said:
Top pros bank with the same aiming system they use to make all shots; including caroms, combinations, and pocketing. Deciding what angle to bank at on a 1,2,3,4 cushion shot, or to decide exactly what spot to have the object ball strike on the cushion is totally not needed. The aiming system does all the work. It does not matter what the shot is, it is all the same to the aiming system. Automatic. No contact point on object ball or cue ball is needed. No deciding how thick or thin to cut object balls.

Hal
Click to expand...

Hi Hal, I would like to point out that the first sentence of your post is total crap. The rest seems to be crap also, no offense.
 
My cutting percentage is 95+% - my banking percentage is 59%-

Taking that into perspective here is something that I have found on banks.

I have been practicing banking straight in banks to corner pocket and side pocket by placing 5 balls a ball apart from foot spot. With BIH on each shot.

What this seems to have done is show me the line for straight in banks and once I know where the ball is going on a straight in bank I can then either extend or decrease the rebound angle by using side english.

It seems to be working but takes a lot of practice.

But basically it is just visualizing the shot and the feel of the shot. But for some reason banks are a lot easier when they are not the 9-ball.

Jake
 
Re: Re: BANKING

pro-player said:
Hi Hal, I would like to point out that the first sentence of your post is total crap. The rest seems to be crap also, no offense.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IT WAS ALL CRAP, IF YOU HAVE NOT TRIED IT? DOES IT UPSET YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO INKLING OF WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT? WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT ENFORCES YOUR ARGUMENT? HOW OR WHY CAN YOU DEFEND SUCH A POSITION? AN OSTRICH (POOL PLAYER)WITH ITS HEAD IN THE SAND SYNDROME; AN UNFAVORABLE AND RIDICULOUS POSITION AT BEST. NO OFFENSE, OF COURSE.

HAL
 
Halhoule- Who are you recognized by as an Instructor? I looked on the BCA site and your name is no where to be found.

Zim
 
I dont know if how I do it has a name for it or not, and I am sure some will say I do it all wrong. But it works ok for me.

I kind of imagine a mirror at the end of the table, where my object ball will be striking the rail, in that "mirror" is the pocket I am aiming for. If possible I am straight at that image of the target that I have in my head. At the pool hall I play at side banks are easier using this method due to the fact that the pool tables are placed a tables width apart from each other. So I can aim at the side pocket at the next table instead of having to imagine it there.

Of course there are plenty of times due to other crap on the table that might not work, but it helped me when I first started to get that "feel" for what needs to be done. As a rule I dont use it anymore unless the shot is a tad bit difficult. I am fairly consistent with my bank shots. I do do my best not to have to take them, usually the only time I have one is after my opponents turn. But I do enjoy them when they present themselves. :)

And it sounds kind of silly, but I think my job helps out with them a bit. I work as a structural designer and deal with angles all day long when doing my layouts. When I get on the table I can practicaly see lines drawn all over the place. Usually now when I have a bank shot I will visualize a line from the center of the object ball back perpendicular to the rail where my target pocket is, see the angle between that line and the intended path of the object ball to the pocket and try to "mirror" that angle with my cue ball... Ive never put any of this into words, its just something I "see" in my head, so I dont expect it to make much sense. :P

Im just a babbling away.
 
The BCA is run by nits and morons who give you a piece of paper to teach nonsense.
 
Danny D- I asked you about your credentials and I got no reply. So I just took a quick look on the BCA Instructor listing and you weren't there. I have a good teacher that I will be working with soon!
Thanks for all your positive posts and all of the helpful advice you have been giving the readers..ohh and what a nice guy you are Danny D!

Zim
 
Re: Re: Re: BANKING

halhoule said:
EXACTLY HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IT WAS ALL CRAP, IF YOU HAVE NOT TRIED IT? DOES IT UPSET YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO INKLING OF WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT? WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT ENFORCES YOUR ARGUMENT? HOW OR WHY CAN YOU DEFEND SUCH A POSITION? AN OSTRICH (POOL PLAYER)WITH ITS HEAD IN THE SAND SYNDROME; AN UNFAVORABLE AND RIDICULOUS POSITION AT BEST. NO OFFENSE, OF COURSE.

HAL
Click to expand...

Hi Hal, after playing professional pool for many years and being friends with many top players, I have learned that most players aim and bank based on feel. Here and there some old-timers talk about marking the room or using the mirror system for banks, but thats about it when it comes to aiming systems. See the problem here Hal is that in the world of pool, chumps think aiming systems work, so they spend money to learn them. Chumps think there is a quick-fix to play pool good, so they spend money to learn that quick-fix. 10 years later they wonder why they still can't run more than 30 balls in straight-pool, if they haven't quit playing by then.

Hey, wanna hear what Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Nick Varner, Efren Reyes, Jose Parica, and a few other champions have to say about aiming systems? No, you really don't.

No offense Hal.
 
Zim,

I have to agree with Danny, pro-player and 9-ball that most of this game is feel and those aiming techniques are not used by the top players. However, I do think it is important to have someone coach you. I vehemently disagree with these guys about that. I would venture to guess that not one of these guys have ever made as much money in pool as compared to Pete Sampras in tennis? Did he have a coach, you bet he did. Nick Varner had Hal Nix at the height of his career and he didn't do to bad did he? A coach can watch you and tell you what you're doing wrong. We all have some flaw in our game, even Efren, Busta, and Johnny. They're great players but they could be greater with a coach. For example, Mike Massey shot a power draw stroke and went 5 rails around the table at Hard Times in Sacramento. Efren got up and tried it and he couldn't do it. IMHO, he needs some coaching! As great as he is, a coach could help him be even greater.
 
I'd have to agree with you Rick. We don't always notice what we do wrong. So it helps if there's someone else there during practice. So if they help you with one or two minor inconsistancies in your game. Then you'd most likely play better. A coach may not make you a champion but they could definately improve your game.

As far as banking goes. I do it by feel and experience. It works for me although it may not work for everyone else.
 
9 ball Road Pro said:
Zim, what he is trying to tell you is if you want a list of the best players or the best teachers, you wont find any of them on the BCA teaches list, all you find is beginner teachers teaching beginners. :cool:
Click to expand...

I never said I WANTED/NEEDED an Instructor. He somehow assumed that.

Zim
 
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