What Is a Bank Shot in Pool? How It Works and How to Aim It

Quick answer: A bank shot in pool is a shot where the object ball hits one or more rails before it goes into a pocket. The cue ball does not touch the rail first. You hit the object ball into the cushion, and it bounces off at an angle into the pocket. The simple idea is that the ball comes off the rail at about the same angle it went in, like a mirror. Speed and spin change that angle, so practice is the key to making banks.

Banks are a fun shot and a useful one. Sometimes a bank is the best shot on the table, or the only one.

How a Bank Shot Works

Picture the rail as a mirror. If you roll a ball into the rail at an angle, it will come off at about the same angle going the other way. A bank shot uses that idea to send the object ball into a pocket on the other side of the table.

In real life, the angle is not perfect. A few things change it:

Speed. Hit the ball softer and it tends to come off the rail a little wider. Hit it harder and it tends to come off shorter, so the angle closes up.
Spin. Spin on the cue ball can pass a little spin to the object ball, which changes how it comes off the rail.
Cut angle. The more you cut the ball into the rail, the more it can throw or change direction.
Table and cloth. Rails and cloth are not all the same.

Types of Bank Shots

Cross side bank. The object ball is banked across the table into a side pocket.
Cross corner bank. The ball is banked across the table into a corner pocket.
Long rail bank. The ball travels down the long rail into a far corner.
Two rail or three rail bank. The ball hits more than one rail before the pocket. These are harder.

A Simple Way to Aim a Bank

Find the pocket you want.
Find the spot on the rail halfway between the object ball and the pocket. Use the diamonds on the rail to help you see it.
Imagine a mirror pocket. Picture the pocket on the other side of the rail. Aim the object ball at that imaginary pocket.
Hit the object ball into that spot on the rail.
Adjust for speed. Medium speed is a good place to start.

This is a starting point, not an exact system. Your table will teach you the small changes.

Calling Bank Shots

In call shot games, you usually need to call a bank before you shoot it. If you do not call it and it goes in, it may not count. Check your rules. For other shot types, see what is a kiss shot in pool.

When to Shoot a Bank

When the straight shot is blocked.
When the bank leaves a good safety if you miss.
When you have practiced it and trust it.

If the bank is low odds, a safety may be smarter. See what is a safety shot in pool.

A Practice Drill

Put an object ball near the side pocket, about a foot off the rail.
Bank it cross corner with medium speed ten times.
Count makes.
Move the ball and do it again.
Try the same shot softer and harder and watch how the angle changes.

Common Mistakes

Hitting too hard every time.
Using side spin when you do not need it.
Not watching where the ball hits the rail.
Not practicing the same bank enough to learn it.

Key Points

A bank shot sends the object ball off a rail and into a pocket.
The ball comes off the rail at about the same angle it went in.
Speed and spin change the angle.
Use the mirror pocket idea to aim, then adjust with practice.

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