-Bank Shots

Bank shots or kick shots, are when you hit the rail with the cue ball which then

bounces off the rail and hits the ball you are trying to sink. When trying to figure out

where on the rail to aim with the cue the thing to keep in mind is that the cue ball will

bounce back off the rail with the same angle it struck the rail with. Now since no pool

table is perfect the rail will probably cushion the cue ball changing it's angle slightly.

However the degree to which it will change the angle is in most cases very minimal

and therefore this is still an accurate way of lining up the cue. An example of this line

up is shown in the diagram below.

 

Diagram 1- Lining Up a Bank Shot

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Some people find it easier to calculate the proper place to bank the cue ball off the

rail by imagining another ball in the line vertical with the ball you are trying to strike.

When the straight line from the cue ball crosses this vertical line is the location where

you place your "ghost ball." Where the line connecting the cue to the "ghost ball"

hits the rail is the point where you want to aim. This is shown in the following

diagram.

 

Diagram 2- Another Way to Line Up a Bank Shot

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With a greater velocity the less the rail will cushion the ball making the angles very

close to equal. In turn the slower the velocity of the cue ball the less accurate the cue

will bounce back with the same angle.

 

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