Bank Shot Tips for Pool

Visualize

• The most important tip for making a good bank shot in pool is to visualize the intended trajectory of the balls. Construct a triangle in your mind, with the object ball, the pocket and the rail as its points. Remember that the ball will return from the rail by banking at the exact opposite angle from which it strikes the rail.

  Once you determine the angle at which you need to hit the object ball, you'll need to determine the angle to strike the cue ball. Visualize the path of the cue ball as it hits the object ball, resulting in the appropriate angle for the object ball to hit the rail.

Avoid English

• Bank shots rely on producing a simple angle for the ball and making a straight shot. To prevent any unnecessary movement from either the cue ball or the object ball, avoid using english. Strike the cue ball as close to the center as possible. Striking off-center can produce side english, with the object ball hitting the rail at the wrong angle. Striking the cue ball above or below its center can cause it to draw with backspin or follow with topspin, putting the player at risk of scratching.

Plan Ahead

• Opportunities for bank shots come up throughout a game of pool, not just at the very end. Any time you make a bank shot is an important time to plan ahead for future shots. Because the cue ball is likely to bank as well, this step requires special planning.

  Determine where the cue ball will end up after you've planned your shot at the object ball. The angle of the bank should be the same, but the cue ball will lose much of its speed by striking the object ball. Also, in case your object ball misses, make sure it won't bounce back from banking to block a pocket where you're likely to need to sink balls in the future.