Help With Bank Shots

9balllvr

9balllvr

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello! I would like to get some feedback as to which banking system is believed to be the easiest to comprehend and most accurate for players. To give you an idea of my playing style (if that helps at all), I would consider myself to be a shot maker that prefers cuts to banking and generally will go by sight/feel of a shot versus using a system causing me to somestimes be put in a compromising position in mentally draining matches.

Thanks in advance. :)

9balllvr
 
First of all I am not an instructor this is just my opinion. Banking is a part of the game that a lot of good players are weakest. I have seen lots of them that would rather play safe then attempt to make them. Even the Monk states (never play shape off a bank). Tom Rossman has a couple of videos on banking and kicking that I like. Personally I think some of the systems out there take too much time and clutter your brain ( you almost need a degree in mathematics). Banking has always been a strong point of my game, It takes lots of practice but is simple. Stand in front of the pocket you want to make the object ball in. With your cue connect the centre of the pocket opening and the center of object ball and keep that spot in your mind. Now aim the cue ball at that spot on the object ball and stroke it. This may seem simple but it is not because speed of stroke and cueing will affect the rebound angle. Practice is the real key and there is no subsitute. Kim Davenport's Target Pool has some very good practice exercises in it if you can find it.
 
I have seen some players bank better than they cut and in those players, this appears to be some kind of talent.

Now banking is something I am working on. I am no natural at it and it is certainly one of the weakest parts of my game. I do not lose any sleep over it, just do some banks each time I practice.

At first I was way off, then I got closer to making them, then got so the banks went in ocassionally. I do not want to clutter my head with systems either. My husband initially wanted me to learn the diamond system and I refused.

With practice, I look at the angle, try to decide if a little english is needed or not and just keep plugging away at it. Then, sometimes, the bank seems to have missed where it would have potted with a softer or harder hit, so just file that away to be practiced later.

The knowlege I have heard is: soft hits go wider,hard hits narrow the angle, ie narrows the angle, oe widens the angle. So with that, it is to the table and practice, practice.

If there is a 'woowoo' secret to this that will work with everyone I am not aware of it. I suspect the cure is the same as for the rest of pool: time on the table .

Laura
 
9balllvr said:
Hello! I would like to get some feedback as to which banking system is believed to be the easiest to comprehend and most accurate for players. To give you an idea of my playing style (if that helps at all), I would consider myself to be a shot maker that prefers cuts to banking and generally will go by sight/feel of a shot versus using a system causing me to somestimes be put in a compromising position in mentally draining matches.

Thanks in advance. :)

9balllvr
Click to expand...

As balls bank differently at different speeds, banking balls will never be an exact science. I can say, however, that in watching those who bank balls the best, I've noticed they all seem to hit the bank shots hard.

My suggestion is to take up the game of bank pool.

Also, about four issues ago, Billiards Digest ran a really great story on bank pool superstar and guru Glen 'Piggy Banks" Rogers, in which he offers some of his banking secrets. He's on the issue's cover, so it will be easy to figure out which BD it is. Read it and you'll learn a lot about banking balls.
 
I think I'm an exception to the rule. I have never had any problems with banking (whether it be a side rail or a full table bank) and I usually never miss one, same thing with cut shots. The thing that is weird though, I can't make the shots that most people can, the across the table straight shots and the ob stuck on the rail shots.

I assume though, just setting up balls on the table and practicing for a couple hours, you'd eventually just be able to visualize exatly where you should hit it at.
 
i couldn't agree more with sjm above re: the billiards digest article with "piggy banks".
this is the closest description to reality on banks that i have ever seen. banking is a skill based on feel, way too many variables to rely on any system. i suggest taking that article to the pool table with you a half dozen times and run thru the shots illustrated. when you're done, you will have the required "feel" for some banks shots, and with that new confidence, you can acquire even more experience.
 
9balllvr said:
Hello! I would like to get some feedback as to which banking system is believed to be the easiest to comprehend and most accurate for players. To give you an idea of my playing style (if that helps at all), I would consider myself to be a shot maker that prefers cuts to banking and generally will go by sight/feel of a shot versus using a system causing me to somestimes be put in a compromising position in mentally draining matches.

Thanks in advance. :)

9balllvr
Click to expand...

I haven't seen a system that I could easily understand and quickly use effectively while playing. So I played a lot of bank pool and practiced every bank shot I knew, and every new one I could learn. I absolutely love bank shots, especially the 5 railers, 3 long in the side, and turnarounds. On my good days, I can bank the hell out of 'em. My point: at least for me, nothing worked better than practice and practice, and practice............Try hitting the same cross side bank with different speeds, and english, adjusting for the changes. Here's one of my recent favorites (I like to do it one handed too):
START(
%A_6F6%BL8P7%CJ7O4%DL8N2%EM7P1%FK7P1%GK7N8%HM7N8%IL7O4%JK8M6
%KJ7P7%LJ7N2%MK7Q3%NJ7Q9%OJ7M0%Pb9M1%U_9G5%Vb4L6%W^3D1%X_2F1
%YY1Z9%Z]7C4%[[3D4%\Y0Z9%eA7b0
)END

http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/~wei/pool/9egg/

~DC
 
WOW. Give me the magic feather to bank. Do you think there is a easy method. There are too many variables. All of the systems are starting points. Start with the basic bank that has the cue ball at the side pocket and the object ball in line with the 2nd diamond. Shoot to make it in the corner pocket. Shoot it hard. Shoot it soft. Use left english. Use right english. Top. Bottom. And all of the combinations EG. Bottom hard, top soft, left hard, left soft, etc. Do the same with the object ball against the rail. This will give you the reaction. Then just practice with the object ball and cue ball in different places doing the same thing. After a while you will get a sense of feel. You will not even think about it. You will just shoot the bank and make the ball. You will get to the point where it is second nature and if you have to think about it you will miss.
 
Thanks to all of you for your advice. I am sure this will help me along to strengthen my banking game.

9balllvr
 
9balllvr said:
Hello! I would like to get some feedback as to which banking system is believed to be the easiest to comprehend and most accurate for players. To give you an idea of my playing style (if that helps at all), I would consider myself to be a shot maker that prefers cuts to banking and generally will go by sight/feel of a shot versus using a system causing me to somestimes be put in a compromising position in mentally draining matches.

Thanks in advance. :)

9balllvr
Click to expand...

I'm mentioning this system just because before I used it, I used sight/feel as you mentioned in your original post and was looking for something simple to help a little. A friend told me about this and I've used it successfully ever since. I use this just to verify my feeling for the bank. It seems to help with my confidence of the bank and you know that confidence should help.

Mirror image is what I think it is called. I couldn't find a link on mirror image banking, but I did find a video on mirror image kicking. In this video he shows how to imagine and use a mirror image of object ball to kick into it. In mirror image banking, instead of making a mirror image of the ball, you make a mirror image of the pocket. Then aim to make the object ball in the mirrored pocket. If you would have made the ball in that imagined pocket the ball will automatically bank in.


http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/pool/normal_videos/NV6-4.htm

As others have mentioned, the problem with all banking systems is that speed and or english will mess up the system. I think the key here is to make the object ball come off the rail naturally (come off at the exact, but opposite angle as it came to the rail). First I determine the speed at which I'm going to shoot the shot. Then I determined the amount of english I need to get the object ball to come off the rail naturally at the speed I'm going to hit. Then I use the above system to check the angle. Now that I have an idea how to make it go naturally, then if I must, I'll make adjustments I need to get position on the next ball. The tougher the bank, the less likely I am to worry at all about position (just figure I'm going to have a tough shot next as well).

I do fairly well at banking like this and I know that I'm not one of those people that have a natural ability for it, so there ya go. I hope that this might help some along the way.

JR
 
M. Fats has a little book with his name on it that is cheap. Not a whole lot of info in it. but it does have a way of quickly diesecting (sp) two lines to find the natural bank point.

Draw a line from the center of the OB to the center of the pocket opposite of the one you want to put the OB into, then draw a line from the center of the pocket you want the OB to go into with the parallel point on the banking rail of the OB. The intersection point of the two lines (extended parallel to the banking rail) is the natural bank point on the banking rail.

Given time and practice your mind will see the point automatically, trust your first reaction.
 
The mirror image system mentioned in reply #10 is probably the easiest and fastest to understand. I call it the invisible table system and it will get you a general idea where to aim and then the feel for the table comes into play. My running mates all know when we go to a tournament the first part of my warm-up is nothing but banks. Then some kicks to get a feel for them. If you can't find a player in your area that knows this system, send me a personal message and I'll see if I can be of further assistance. Sam
 
satman said:
The mirror image system mentioned in reply #10 is probably the easiest and fastest to understand. I call it the invisible table system and it will get you a general idea where to aim and then the feel for the table comes into play. My running mates all know when we go to a tournament the first part of my warm-up is nothing but banks. Then some kicks to get a feel for them. If you can't find a player in your area that knows this system, send me a personal message and I'll see if I can be of further assistance. Sam
Click to expand...


Invisible Table system! That's a much better name for it. Thank you Sam.

Anyway, I whipped up a little diagram. Let me see if I can get it to post here.

JR

Oh well that didn't work. It won't let you post an image. It will only let you post a link to an image. This diagram will explain it very well, so if you'd like the diagram, just send me an email that I can reply to.

JR
 
Last edited:
Here is my diagram that explains the bank system in my above post. Finally I got a chance to post it on my web site.

JR

ImaginaryTableSystem.jpg
 
That system works for banks and also for kicks. Try it and use your imagination. it will get you started in the right direction. Sam
 
I don't use any system for banks, too many variables. But, on 2-cushion banks I sometime use the "invisible table" -system, as long as I'm not shooting hard.

For kicking I use mirror image system, which is described in Winning One-Pocket and for 2-cushion kicks I sometime use parallel lines -system. But still I need to adjust for speed, English, draw/follow, humidity, table brand, cloth age etc.

I tournament play I usually try to avoid banks, because they're just too easy to miss. Unless I'm playing bank pool :p
 
I am absolutely impressed by the responses from everyone....gives me lots to work with...thank you all.

9balllvr
 
9balllvr said:
Hello! I would like to get some feedback as to which banking system is believed to be the easiest to comprehend and most accurate for players. To give you an idea of my playing style (if that helps at all), I would consider myself to be a shot maker that prefers cuts to banking and generally will go by sight/feel of a shot versus using a system causing me to somestimes be put in a compromising position in mentally draining matches.

Thanks in advance. :)

9balllvr
Click to expand...
I feel I am a pretty solid one rail banker. The way I learned banking was just practiciing it like everything else. I usually practice at least 3-4 racks of 9-ball banks every session I will also set up bank shots to practice. I think playing bank pool helps you get more creative than just practicing set shots. You will also find that the speed you hit the balls with is most critical thing when shooting one rail banks.
I am just now starting to learn to make some of the more complicated bank shots but for your 9-ball game, getting proficient at one rail banks would be a great boost.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top