Almost all players have difficulty being consistent with banking. Most people (rightly so) consider banks to be low percentage. When you make an attempt, you can protect yourself by playing it as a two-way shot. If you make it, you are on the next ball. If missed, it doesn’t hurt you.
Let’s take all of the considerations into consideration. Speed, throw, and angles all affect the accuracy of a bank attempt. Hit it hard and you can set up less of an angle off the rail. Hit it soft and the angle opens up.
The simplest way to calculate a bank is with the ghost table. You aim the object ball at the opposite pocket of an imaginary table. This will at least get the object ball within a decent chance of success. Some practicing and you can make one cushion banks become more dependable. Ten minutes here and 15 minutes there can have a cumulative positive result.
There is the “X” process that helps find the contact location on the banking cushion. This works pretty well on cross-side shots, but not so good on long table banks. With some practice, the “X” process is fairly accurate in getting the object ball back across the table to the pocket.
Then there’s the tried and true method – the experience of hundreds and thousands of attempts that, by sheer quantity help make bank shots an effective shooting option. This is my preferred method of teaching.
When one of my students wants to learn banking, I have them start with the ghost table as a guide. I quickly switch them over to the “learning from consequences” process. On each shot observe the obvious, make minor adjustments and repeat. It won’t take you long to get to 50% or better.
Here’s my best recommendation on banking situations: consider both the defensive and offense consequences. Make a decision and shoot it. (AND remember the results for the next similar situation.)
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