"Selling out" in bank pool

D

Dead Crab

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Watched some DCC bank pool video on Youtube today. The commentator kept mentioning situations where the shooter would be "selling out" if he missed the bank, implying that the shooter was making questionable shot selection. The shots in question were straightforward one-rail banks.

I understand the basic concept - you don't want to leave your opponent well off should you miss. But, in a game like bank pool, should you make the initial shot, you would be the one in good position.

Given how short the runs are in banks, should reasonable shots be turned down just because it might result in a favorable "leave" if you miss?
 
Dead Crab said:
Watched some DCC bank pool video on Youtube today. The commentator kept mentioning situations where the shooter would be "selling out" if he missed the bank, implying that the shooter was making questionable shot selection. The shots in question were straightforward one-rail banks.

I understand the basic concept - you don't want to leave your opponent well off should you miss. But, in a game like bank pool, should you make the initial shot, you would be the one in good position.

Given how short the runs are in banks, should reasonable shots be turned down just because it might result in a favorable "leave" if you miss?
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It all depends on how the balls are spread on the table and the score plays a huge part in banks. So yes you have to sometimes turn down a lower percentage bank to buy yourself another inning at the table.
 
I'm not the Beard or anyone like that, but I think I know what the guy was saying. Unless you have an absolute nutted-up bank that's a real-high % make, I like to play 2-way shots on just about every single shot. 1 ball at a time. Although I don't have high runs in games, the opponent is stuck on zero for a while.

I try to bank in a ball while pulling the CB to a safe position - typically kissing a rail. Maybe the guy shooting was attempting to shoot at a ball on a wide-open table and had no 2-way play? Just a thought.

I'm curious to hear from a top banker how many thought 5-and-out while playing another top player - or if they thought "1 at a time" with a strong defense built into each shot.
 
the very best commentators don't do that

Dead Crab said:
Watched some DCC bank pool video on Youtube today. The commentator kept mentioning situations where the shooter would be "selling out" if he missed the bank, implying that the shooter was making questionable shot selection. The shots in question were straightforward one-rail banks.

I understand the basic concept - you don't want to leave your opponent well off should you miss. But, in a game like bank pool, should you make the initial shot, you would be the one in good position.

Given how short the runs are in banks, should reasonable shots be turned down just because it might result in a favorable "leave" if you miss?
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While a commentator might say that a shot someone passes on is a sell out the best don't comment that the shot being taken is the wrong one. In truth only the shooter knows what the best shot is for him at the moment. This applies to all games not just banks. One example is the rule to always cut instead of banking given a choice. Good advice as a general rule but sometimes the cut is an odd angle that just doesn't feel right and the bank is dead on just hit it and watch it fall. Only the shooter knows how he is feeling about each shot when he makes a choice.

Banks and One Pocket the trick is to know when to go offensive. Too much defense will prolong the game but you are just prolonging your agony as a great commentator said, you are going to lose! Paper percentages don't mean nearly as much as how you feel at the moment when you are over the shot.

Hu
 
A lot of difference as how you play this game depends on if you're playing banks with a short stack or a full rack. IMO there more safeties and two way shots in a game of full stack. It seems to me that a short stack has more offense.

I see many pass up some one rail banks and go to a two or three railer to play better safes.
 
dabarbr has a handle on it........

The reality is that short-rack banks is a joke for good bankers. There really is nowhere to play safe in the beginning, and most good players can bank out at anytime. Long rack requires more knowledge and requires one to play better percentages. Enjoy the game, Scott
 
cscott67 said:
The reality is that short-rack banks is a joke for good bankers. There really is nowhere to play safe in the beginning, and most good players can bank out at anytime. Long rack requires more knowledge and requires one to play better percentages. Enjoy the game, Scott
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I agree 1,000%

Dick
 
cscott67 said:
The reality is that short-rack banks is a joke for good bankers. There really is nowhere to play safe in the beginning, and most good players can bank out at anytime. Long rack requires more knowledge and requires one to play better percentages. Enjoy the game, Scott
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Although I wouldn't go so far as to call Short Rack Banks a "joke", I think your answer is closer to the truth. I don't know who the commentator is that the OP is referring to, but in a game of Short RacK Banks, most of the time you are firing away unless you are on the end rail. You are definitely not going to pass up a cross side or cross corner bank because you may sell out if you miss. If you can't make those shots you shouldn't be playing Banks anyway.

By the way, there are no hangers in Banks. Even a straight cross side can be missed and you will see the best bank pool players in the world miss an easy one once in a while. You must concentrate on all bank shots. A slight loss of concentration is all it takes to miss an "easy" one.
 
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Percentages and score

Bank Pool strategy
Shot selection in bank pool and one pocket is all about percentages and the score. Now, the tricky part is that shot percentage is also a relative thing. The score must be factored in to determine the correct percentage. With a lead you look to shoot at higher percentage shots. If you need one ball and you have an even money shot to shoot at, but if you miss you will sell out three easy shots to your opponent who needs those three to win, even money becomes a bad percentage, especially if you have the option of shooting another shot that probably won't cost you the game. If you are forced to shoot at a low percentage shot, you try to shoot it and play safe off of it.
Low percentage shots take on an added cache' when you are behind. You may even want to play position off of them if the game situation is dire enough
A straight back is usually the worst "sell-out," if for no other reason but that the object ball has to travel the farthest and the pocket opening is the smallest at that angle.

the Beard
 
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Very good question by the way and two solid posts from Jay and the Beard as come to be expected.

I was going to say the same as Jay, a "short rack" in not exactly a joke. All banks are difficult even if them seem simple. A little extra english, slightly off on the angle, or too little of too much speed and you miss. A lot of variables in banking including the rails and the cloth. You have to focus on every shot everytime.
 
bank pool

jay helfert said:
Although I wouldn't go so far as to call Short Rack Banks a "joke", I think your answer is closer to the truth. I don't know who the commentator is that the OP is referring to, but in a game of Short RacK Banks, most of the time you are firing away unless you are on the end rail. You are definitely not going to pass up a cross side or cross corner bank because you may sell out if you miss. If you can't make those shots you shouldn't be playing Banks anyway.

By the way, there are no hangers in Banks. Even a straight cross side can be missed and you will see the best bank pool players in the world miss an easy one once in a while. You must concentrate on all bank shots. A slight loss of concentration is all it takes to miss an "easy" one.
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Hello Jay; Question?? where can one find rules for bank pool as i am thinking of running one on bar boxes!! just to see what response i get.. a friend of mine won at DC. stevie moore but he stayes in fl most of the time now, i want it for mostly amature players. this is just a test!!!!:confused::confused::confused:
 
Some commentators are just especially negative and call everything a sellout in bank pool and especially 1 pocket. Was the commentator Danny D? He does it more than anyone.

I know we're talking about pro pool players, but they don't HAVE to make the off angle straight back every time and hold the cue ball to within a 6 inch area. Sometimes whitey rolls 8 inches and "sells out". Most commentators, the shot goes wrong, will say "yeah, that was the danger"... and if the other guy makes it, they will say "well I guess it was the right shot, he made it and is still at the table running balls"

Danny will usually say something like "well it was a sellout shot but he made it anyway. He got away with it". I don't disagree with the thinking behind that but sometimes the guy just comes across a bit rough.

As to the actual question... everything's situational. Only the player at the table looking at the shot can judge whether his odds are 50%, 90%, or somewhere in between.

I'd think that if you have a shot that you'll make 4 out of 5, and you leave an "easy" bank if you miss, you also leave an "easy" bank if you make it and therefore should be able to run a couple. So it all comes down to how hard the bank is for your skill level.
 
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