We have all ended up in a position that forces us to shoot a bank shot.  Maybe you like to bank? Well, I would like to talk about a particular system I like to use for shooting a specific type of bank shot when the object ball is within a ball width of the rail and the cue ball is below the natural angle.  (note: if the cue ball is more than one foot below the object ball, the angle may not work).

Short Distance Banking
Diagram A: To find the line of the shot, sight your cue stick through the center of the cue ball to the outside edge of the object ball. You can see where the cue ball will end up. Remember, hit this with medium speed.

The Back Cut Bank System:

If you will look at the shot in diagram A, you will see that while playing a game of eight ball, I have played very poor position on the eight.  This is not a particularly easy shot to win the game.  If you follow this system you will have a much higher success rate with these types of shots.

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Diagram B

The key to making this shot is to find the line of the shot.  If you look at diagram B, you will see how to line the shot up.  In order to find the line of the shot you simply must line up your cue stick through the middle of the cue ball to the outside edge of the object ball. (See Diagram B)

You need to hit this shot with a medium speed, center ball.  Some tables of course play a little differently so you may need to experiment with the speed, and maybe apply a tip of top spin.

Now there are some limitations to this system.  The first, being that if the object ball is frozen to the rail, the bank may double kiss the cue ball.  Second, if the ball is more than a ball width off the rail you may have to make some adjustments.

Double Kiss Banking
Diagram C: This shot is similar to the first one. Line this shot up with the same way and hit with medium speed.

If you look in diagram C you can see another situation where our opponent has left us a tough shot on the 5 ball during a game of nine ball.  If you use our system, lining up the center of the cue ball with the outside edge of the five we can bank it across the table, and into the side pocket.

Banking Across Length of Table
Diagram D: We can use our back cut bank system to bank balls the length of the table too. This shot requires a little more power to make it travel the length of the table.

Sometimes you might be playing a game of eight ball and wind up with this shot on the eight, as shown in diagram D.  The eight ball is about a ball width off the end rail, and the cue ball is located against the long side ride.  Once again here we use our back cut bank system. Find the line of the shot by sighting your cue stick through the middle of the cue ball and connected to the outside edge of the eight ball.  Hit this shot a little harder to make it travel the length of the table and into the corner pocket for the win.

Back cut banking when the object ball is near the rail is not as tough as we once thought.  Remember all you have to do is find the line of the shot, take careful aim and don’t forget to hit the shot with a medium speed.

Practice this system and you will be making those shots with ease, you can bank on it!!

Mikey V