How to Make Bank Shots and Kick Shots in Pool: The Complete Guide

Bank Shots and Kick Shots: The Skills That Separate Good Players from Great Ones

If you can only pocket balls on direct shots, you’re playing with half a toolkit. Bank shots (bouncing the object ball off a rail into a pocket) and kick shots (bouncing the cue ball off a rail to hit the object ball) are essential weapons that every pool player needs in their arsenal.

These shots look flashy, but they’re built on predictable physics. Once you understand the principles, you’ll start making shots that used to seem impossible.

Bank Shots: The Fundamentals

What Is a Bank Shot?

A bank shot is any shot where the object ball hits one or more rails before going into a pocket. The most common scenario: the object ball is near a rail, and the only viable pocket requires bouncing it across the table.

The Mirror System

The simplest way to aim a bank shot is the mirror (or equal angle) system:

1. Imagine a line from the object ball perpendicular to the rail
2. The angle the ball approaches the rail should equal the angle it leaves
3. Visualize the “ghost pocket” — a mirror image of your target pocket reflected across the rail
4. Aim the object ball at that ghost pocket

This works perfectly on a theoretical table. In reality, you need to adjust for:

• Cut angle: The more you cut the object ball, the more the bank angle “shortens” (the ball comes off the rail at a steeper angle than expected)
• Speed: Harder shots tend to bank shorter; softer shots bank longer
• Spin transfer: Any sidespin on the cue ball transfers to the object ball as rolling spin, which can widen or shorten the bank angle
• Cloth condition: Worn or dirty cloth affects how the ball grips the rail

The 1/3-More-Than-Twice System

For cross-table banks, many experienced players use Dr. Dave’s “1/3 more than twice” system:

1. Find the halfway point between the object ball and the target pocket (measured along the rail)
2. Double the distance from the object ball to that halfway point
3. Add 1/3 more
4. That’s your aiming point on the rail

This system accounts for the natural shortening effect that cut angles cause. It’s not perfect for every situation, but it’s remarkably accurate for standard cross-table banks.

Bank Shot Tips

• Use medium speed: Extreme speed makes banks unpredictable. A firm but controlled stroke gives the most consistent results.
• Minimize english: Use center ball or slight follow when possible. Sidespin complicates bank angles significantly.
• Practice the same bank repeatedly: Set up one specific bank shot and shoot it 50 times. Track your make percentage. This builds muscle memory for that specific angle.
• Read the rails: Every table plays differently. Before a match, shoot a few test banks to see if the table banks long or short.

Kick Shots: Hitting What You Can’t See

What Is a Kick Shot?

A kick shot is when you bank the cue ball off one or more rails to reach the object ball. You’ll use these when:

• Your opponent played a safety and you’re snookered
• There’s no direct path to any legal ball
• You want to play a defensive return by kicking safe

One-Rail Kick System

For one-rail kicks, you can use the diamond system:

1. Assign numbers to the diamonds on the rail you’re kicking off of (typically 1-4 from corner to side pocket)
2. Assign numbers to the diamonds on the rail where your target is
3. Subtract the target number from the cue ball number to find your aiming diamond

This is a simplified version — the full system requires calibrating to your table and your natural stroke speed.

Two-Rail Kick System (The Plus System)

The Plus System is the most popular two-rail kicking system in pool. It works on a corner-to-corner path:

1. Assign values to positions around the table
2. Your cue ball position value plus your target position value equals your aiming point on the first rail

The Plus System takes practice to internalize, but once you have it, you can reach almost any ball on the table with a two-rail kick. It’s a game-changer for safety exchanges.

Adding Spin to Kick Shots

English dramatically changes kick shot behavior:

• Running english (spin in the same direction the cue ball is heading along the rail) makes the ball come off the rail at a wider angle and with more speed
• Reverse english (opposite direction) shortens the angle and slows the cue ball, which is useful for defensive kicks
• Follow/draw affects how the cue ball behaves after hitting the object ball — follow keeps it moving forward, draw brings it back

Good chalk is essential for kick shots with english — a miscue on a crucial kick can cost you the game.

Common Mistakes with Banks and Kicks

1. Hitting too hard: The #1 mistake. Speed kills accuracy on both banks and kicks. Use the minimum speed necessary.
2. Ignoring cloth speed: Fast cloth (like Simonis or Predator Arcadia) plays differently than slow cloth. Adjust your speed accordingly.
3. Not accounting for cut angle: A bank shot with a steep cut angle behaves very differently from a straight-on bank.
4. Forgetting spin transfer: When you cut an object ball into a bank, the cut itself imparts spin that affects the rebound angle.

Drills to Build Your Bank and Kick Game

The Cross-Table Bank Drill

Place the object ball one diamond from the corner pocket, about 6 inches from the long rail. Bank it cross-table into the opposite corner pocket. Once you can make it 7/10 times, move the ball to different positions along the rail.

The Safety Return Kick Drill

Place the cue ball near one corner and the object ball near the opposite corner with no direct path (put a blocker ball in between). Practice one-rail kicks to just touch the object ball — you don’t need to pocket it, just make legal contact. This is the most common kick situation in real games.

The Two-Rail Kick Challenge

Place the object ball in the center of the table. From various cue ball positions, try to hit it using exactly two rails. This forces you to learn the Plus System through repetition.

The Bottom Line

Banks and kicks aren’t trick shots — they’re fundamental skills that every serious player needs. The physics is consistent and learnable. The systems exist to give you a starting framework, and practice refines your accuracy over time.

Having a cue you trust with a quality shaft makes these shots more predictable because you eliminate the variable of inconsistent equipment. When the only unknown is the shot itself, your accuracy goes up fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bank shots luck or skill?

Skill. While beginners might occasionally bank a ball by accident, consistent bank shot accuracy comes from understanding angles, speed control, and practice. Professional players make banks with 70-80% accuracy on standard cross-table shots.

What’s the easiest bank shot to learn first?

Start with a straight-on cross-table bank — object ball near the middle of the long rail, banking to the opposite side pocket. This eliminates cut-angle complications and teaches you the basic mirror principle.

How do I know when to kick versus just playing safe?

Kick when: you have a reasonable angle (one or two rails), the penalty for missing is low, or you might pocket the ball. Play safe when: the kick would be three or more rails, missing would leave your opponent an easy shot, or you can legally tap a nearby ball softly.