John Brumback's "Bank Pool: Secrets of a World Champion" DVD

Saturated Fats

Saturated Fats

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the questions below. It's not easy to determine these things from the information on his website:

johnbrumback.com

Johnbrumback.com​


johnbrumback.com

Is this the video I'd want to improve my banking or the video I'd want to develop better strategies for winning a bank pool game? I'm more interested in improving my banks even if I never play banks again. If you are familiar with the content of this DVD, maybe you can estimate the approximate percent devoted to making better bank shots.

Also, how effective is John at communicating his methods. I assume that this may be the only time he's tried to teach via video.

I posted this to the forum for reviewing instructional materials too, but posted here for better exposure.
 
Saturated Fats said:
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the questions below. It's not easy to determine these things from the information on his website:

johnbrumback.com

Johnbrumback.com​


johnbrumback.com

Is this the video I'd want to improve my banking or the video I'd want to develop better strategies for winning a bank pool game? I'm more interested in improving my banks even if I never play banks again. If you are familiar with the content of this DVD, maybe you can estimate the approximate percent devoted to making better bank shots.

Also, how effective is John at communicating his methods. I assume that this may be the only time he's tried to teach via video.

I posted this to the forum for reviewing instructional materials too, but posted here for better exposure.
Click to expand...
He stayed at my house for 2 weeks. We spent lots of time playing and being social. He banks well. 😂 He’s a great guy and a good friend.

Fatboy Approved!!!

I’ve never played anyone stronger than him banks. And I was in stroke when we played. Phew the heat he comes with. 😅

Best
Fatboy
 
I’m trying to remember the content. I want to think Freddy’s video covered more concepts, systems, and adjustments. I want to say the main takeaway from John’s video was basically that the rebound angle of a stiff bank is more consistent and requires the approach to the rail to be more wide which in turn rebounds at a straighter angle into the pocket (making the pocket play bigger). My recollection is that his video was mostly demonstrating that approach over and over again from different angles / shots. Maybe there was more to it than that.

I don’t recall seeing advanced tactics like how modern top bank pool players will often swing at a bank while also leaving the cueball frozen to a rail to avoid leaving ducks if they miss. Or anything about safety strategies and when to pocket a ball intentionally or scenarios of when to scratch intentionally.
 
I have the DVD, and like it, but it's been quite a while since I've actually watched it.

As I recall, it is primarily about how to make the bank shots, and there is not much (or maybe any....just can't remember) information about strategy. He describes, and demonstrates the shots, but I think the actual theory about why the shot works is a little weak. However, I find that this DVD is very useful when used along with Freddie the Beard's book "Banking with the Beard". You learn the theory from the Beard's book, and then watch John execute the shots on his DVD.

With all that said, the DVD is good as standalone instruction, but I think using both of those resources together is even more beneficial. They weren't designed to be used together, of course, but the combination of the two has helped my banking ability a lot.
 
I also have the DVD, but it's been about 10 years or more since I watched it. I think MattPoland's and Banger's recollection is about the same as mine. Most of the DVD is about individual shots, not game strategy. So on that point, it's what you wanted. He did a fair, but not great job in explaining the concepts, IMO. The video work was about in the middle. A couple of the main concepts were putting a certain spin on the OB so that if it brushes the long rail on straight backs, it gets pulled into the pocket. The other main concept was on cross sides, to change the angle of the bank so the OB is coming across the table at a straighter angle into the pocket, rather than a steeper angle. This effectively makes the mouth of the pocket bigger due to the angle of approach of the OB. I would recommend it if you like Banks. I thought it was better than Freddie's DVD's. Freddies were more system based. Hit xyz here, cut xyz there, count diamond xyz here, etc. Brumback's were more feel based, IMO. (and I like feel:) )
 
Back in the years when I was dreaming of stealing the show at the DCC (Banks event included)🤪 I was buying all this instructional stuff. Well, unrealistic dreams aside, I was willing to learn more about the ways to improve my game in every aspect.

Same as with Banger (post #4), "it's been quite a while" since I watched a vid by John Brumback. And when I did I don't remember myself watching it over and over again.

As for other banking instructionals, there are books and DVDs by Freddy The Beard. They are very good, but the system gonna take enough time to study. And then you will have to study it even further in order not to forget which cut and which spin you are facing during the heat of the battle. So, Freddy's approach is great and reliable yet it could be complicated at times.

The best instructional on banks (and kicks) for me personally was by Tor Lowry. Like any other system I reckon, it is table dependant (the lines will differ between the tables you play on). But it is very easy to adjust, as long as you can try a couple of shots at this particular table. Tor's system is very easy to comprehend and to remember, so I highly recommend it.
 
Saturated Fats said:
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the questions below. It's not easy to determine these things from the information on his website:

johnbrumback.com

Johnbrumback.com​


johnbrumback.com

Is this the video I'd want to improve my banking or the video I'd want to develop better strategies for winning a bank pool game? I'm more interested in improving my banks even if I never play banks again. If you are familiar with the content of this DVD, maybe you can estimate the approximate percent devoted to making better bank shots.

Also, how effective is John at communicating his methods. I assume that this may be the only time he's tried to teach via video.

I posted this to the forum for reviewing instructional materials too, but posted here for better exposure.
Click to expand...

Saturated Fats, Howdy;

Been a fan of Banks for more then awhile. As a few others have mentioned
I also have JB's videos, Freddie's Videos and Books and Tor's video. I'm a sight learner
and understand the words in the books but something in the gray matter doesn't
pass the info along to the hands and arms to do anything. The combo of Freddie's
materials cracked the door for me. John's video explained a few other bits an pieces
for me and Tor's added the element of diversity/adaptability to the wagon. That video
from Bugs is good too, but I'd save that for desert.
No one source will give you the full answer time to practice what they teach is also
a requirement.
Have fun, don't get frustrated.

hank
 
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Another shot Brumback covers repeatedly from every possible place on the table is this easily overlooked semi-crossover bank.

Normal crossover banks have the cueball go across the angle of the bank before the object ball gets a chance to rebound off the rail and cause a kiss.

He covers a version where the object ball rebounds first and then the cueball slowly crosses that path afterwards. You’re hitting the ball barely beyond full in the face. It’s one of those “banks that don’t go but actually do” kind of shots.

Your first instinct might be to hammer the ball, stiffen it up, and pull the cueball back with draw. But he executes it as a stun shot and a normal bank pace and the cueball still drifts across the path but slowly.

It’s an easily overlooked option and gem of a shot. But also it’s crazy just how much air time is given to it. That’s what makes the video hard to watch is that the content is reiterated to ad nauseam.
 
Full rack banks is the nuts! Rarely played, but what I grew up playing across the lake from Chicago. Short rack is good too but nowhere near fullrack
 
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