billiards and pool banks and kicks faqs

7/24/2019 Billiards and Pool Banks and Kicks FAQs

1/31

Banks and Kicks in Pool and Billiards

... how to use diamond systems to aim kick and bank shots in pool

Dr. Dave's answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs), mostly from the BD CCB and AZB discussion forums

maintained for the book: The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards, the monthly "Illustrated Principles" instructional articles, andthe instructional video series: Video Encyclopedias of Pool Shots (VEPS), Pool Practice (VEPP), and Eight Ball (VEEB), How to Aim Pool

Shots (HAPS), and the Billiard University (BU)

advantages of fast speed

bank shot drills

contact-point mirror system for aiming shallow-angle, rolling kick shots

Corner 5 System for aiming two-, three-, and four-rail kicks off a long rail

cut-induced-spin effects

diamond systems for aiming kick shots

double kiss detection and avoidance with bank shots

effects and factors to consider

equal-distance mirror system for aiming bank and kick shots

fast-speed-bank aiming system

kick shot drills

magic spot three-rail mirror-image kick shot aiming system

mirror system for aiming bank and kick shots

Plus System for aiming two-rail kicks off a short rail

shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-image kick-shot aiming system

Sid System for aiming steep two-rail kicks off a short rail

spin-transfer bank shots

spot-on-the-wall kick shot aiming system

through-diamond rolling-ball 2-to-1 one-rail kick and bank shot aiming system

two-rail bank shot aiming system off a short rail

two-rail parallel-line kick shot aiming system

two-times-across and three-times-across bank shots

two-times-across Z-kick aiming system

for more information, see Chapter 6 and Sections 7.06-7.08 in The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards,

Disc III of How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS), Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) ,

and Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP)

advantages of fast speed

Why do many top bankers use fast speed?

With faster speed, there is much less variation from table to table and from shot to shot. The OB will pick up less

roll, and this (combined with the post rebound speed) will minimize how much the OB curves after rebound. As a

result the ball will bank in a more consistent direction.

Also, there are many variables that affect how a ball banks (cloth friction, cushion friction and coefficients of

restitution, OB spin transfer, and table roll-off). At faster speed, these variables don't change the shot as much

with slight changes in speed as they do with similar speed changes at slower speeds. This is another advantage

of using faster speed for banks.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/disc_III.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://-/?-http://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#kickshttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/disc_III.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.htmlhttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#kickshttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#bankshttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/http://billiarduniversity.org/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/8-ball/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/index.htmlhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.htmlhttp://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6http://billiardsdigest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?10-Cue-Chalk-Boardhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads.html


2/31

At slower speeds, the path and final target of the rebounding ball varies a lot with small changes in speed. The

disadvantage of faster speed is the reduced effective "size" of the pocket.

Faster speed can also help reduce the chance for a double kiss at certain approach angles. See:

HSV B.34 - bank shot double-kiss zone

Also, there are reliable systems for aiming fast-speed bank shots.

bank shot drills

What are some good drills for practicing bank shots?

See bank shot drills.

contact-point mirror system for aiming shallow-angle, rolling kick shots

How do you aim to kick at balls close to a rail at a shallow angle into the rail?

For shallow angles into the rail, where the OB is fairly close to the rail, the contact-point-mirror-kick method

works well. It is described in "VEPS GEMS - Part VII: Contact-Point Mirror Kick" (BD, July, 2010) and "VEPP Par

X: Shallow One-rail Kicks" (BD, January, 2013), and here are video demonstrations with a complete

explanations:

Shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-image kick...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plyhKB9pN_Yhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2013/jan13.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/july10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#bankshttp://-/?-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbxZDf-BnUhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/pocket.html#size


3/31

from Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP):

Pool and billiards drill for aiming shallow-angl...

Corner 5 System for aiming two-, three-, and four-rail kicks off a long rail

How does the "Corner 5" System work?

It is illustrated and explained, with examples, in the following articles:

"VEPS GEMS - Part XI: Corner-5 System Intro" (BD, November, 2010).

"VEPS GEMS - Part XII: Corner-5 System Example and Benchmark" (BD, December, 2010).

"VEPS GEMS - Part XIII: Corner-5 System Adjustments" (BD, January, 2011).

Here's a demo starring Donald Duck: "Donald in MathMagic Land" 3-cushioin billiards demo. Here's a complete

demonstration and explanation of the Corner-5 system, with lots of examples of how it is applied:

Corner-5 System - diamond system for aiming ...

from Patrick Johnson:

[Here's] a simplified way to estimate 3-rail kicks to given targets on the fourth rail. This simplified 3-

rail kick system is vaguely similar to the Spot-On-The-Wall system and the Corner-Five system, but

instead of off-table visual references (Spot-On-The-Wall) or math (Corner Five), it uses simple

diamond-to-diamond alignments.
http://-/?-http://-/?-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4dv9ekF3FYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2LjQrwO6ghttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2011/jan11.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/dec10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/nov10.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph_OdjFWnD4http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.html


4/31

Three rail kicks that start out parallel to each other (their first legs are parallel) end up hitting the

fourth rail very close together - they "converge" on a fourth rail target. It's easy to see parallel lines on

the pool table using the diamonds. If we start with a line stretched between one diamond on the near

long rail and another diamond on the far long rail, we can simply move each end of the line one

diamond to the right to find a parallel line. Move each end another diamond in the same direction (left

or right) and there's another parallel line, etc. The angle of these parallel lines between the diamonds is

determined by how many diamonds along the rail one diamond is from the other - call this their

"separation". For instance, diamonds on opposite long rails with "4 diamonds of separation" make

parallel lines at 45 degrees (see third diagram below), while diamonds with "3 diamonds of separation"

make parallel lines at 51 degrees (see fourth diagram below).

Using these easy-to-see diamond-to-diamond lines, we get sets of parallel lines to use as reference

tracks for 3-rail kicks. Fortunately for us, each set of parallel lines converges near a pocket or diamond

on the fourth rail, making both our first legs and our fourth rail targets easy to remember. The

correlations are:

- a first leg line with 6 diamonds of separation will come close to the corner pocket on the fourth rail

- a first leg line with 5 diamonds of separation will come close to the 1st diamond on the fourth rail

- a first leg line with 4 diamonds of separation will come close to the 2nd diamond on the fourth rail

- a first leg line with 3 diamonds of separation will come close to the 3rd diamond on the fourth rail

Below are diagrams illustrating these basic reference tracks:

Use a "6-diamond separation" to hit the corner pocket on the 4th rail.

Use a "5-diamond separation" to hit the 1st diamond on the 4th rail.


5/31

Use a "4-diamond separation" to hit the 2nd diamond on the 4th rail.

Use a "3-diamond separation" to hit the 3rd diamond on the 4th rail.


6/31

from AtLarge:

I think this will be extremely easy to remember. Notice that for each of the cases you cited, the

number of diamonds of separation plus the 4th-rail convergence diamond (counting from the pocket as

zero) totals 6. That is, 6+0=6. 5+1=6. 4+2=6. 3+3=6. So we could call it the "Sixes System" for

three-rail kicks.

cut-induced-spin effects

What effect does cut angle have on bank-shot aiming?

The following video from Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP) covers the important basics

concerning how cut-induced-spin (CIS) affects bank shots:

Pool and billiards bank shot drill for lea...

Banks can also be affected by spin-induced-spin (SIS). For more info and examples, see the spin-transfer bank

shots resource page.

diamond systems for aiming kick shots

How do diamond systems work?

All of the most common and useful banking and kicking systems (those listed below, and others) are described,

illustrated, and demonstrated on Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttp://-/?-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_8Mu0lIyFghttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.html


7/31

The simplest diamond systems are the equal-distance mirror system and the through-diamond rolling-ball

system.

For shallow angles into the rail, where the OB is fairly close to the rail, the contact-point mirror system for

shallow-angle, rolling kick shots works well.

The most famous"diamond system" is the Corner 5 System for aiming three-rail kicks off long rail.

Another famous diamond system is the Plus System for two-rail kicks off short rail.

Spot-on-the-wall kicking systems offer an alternative to formula-based systems.

Here's an article on Jimmy Reid's 3-rail systems.

Liberty Games has a nice online illustrated summary of diamond systems here: Introduction To The Pool

Diamond System.

from DeadAim:

complete "kicking academy" document describing and illustrating many diamond systems for kick

shots.

double kiss detection and avoidance with a cross-corner bank shot

How do you know if a bank shot will cause a double-kiss, and how can you avoid it?

The video demonstrates an easy method to use to detect and avoid cross-corner bank double kisses:

Pool cross-corner bank shot - How to detect a...

This video shows several techniques to avoid a double kiss with a cross-side bank shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caeXiPhFlsshttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/dead_aim_kicking_academy.pdfhttps://www.libertygames.co.uk/pool-diamond-system/http://www.insidepool.com/article1225.htmlhttp://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-


8/31

HSV B.32 - cross-side bank shot double-kiss a...

This video shows how to detect a double kiss when banking a ball frozen or close to the rail.

HSV B.34 - bank shot double-kiss zone

Here's a good article from Bob Jewett (BD, July '99) covering how to detect and avoid double kisses.

This video shows some examples of how to use a double-kiss bank to your advantage:

NV B.17 - Example double-kiss bank shots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex6eIi42qUshttp://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/1999.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbxZDf-BnUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAOwo43dyIs


9/31

Here's another somewhat-unusual example of a double-kiss bank shot:

Pool and billiards cross-side double-kis...

from freddy the beard:

Determining whether a bank shot lays in the "kiss" zone is often misunderstood, and usually winds upas an educated guess. In the following diagrams I have outlined exactly when a bank cannot normally

be made using a rolling with or without english. In diagram #1, I deal with the shorter angle cross-

corners. If the straight-in angle of the cueball and object ball is lined up and aiming into the pocket

facing, the shot is a certain kiss. Left or right english, follow, center, or draw is not going to help you

beat that kiss. With a slight angle adjustment, as per diagram #2, lined up to the middle of the back of

the pocket, the bank can now be easily made with rolling or center ball, no english.

Diagram #3 is another variation that must be considered. It involves crossing, or passing-over, the

object ball from a much more severe angle. Rather than calculate off of a straight-in angle as per

dia.#1 & 2, the kiss/no kiss reference point is determined by lining up the actual cut angle needed to

make the bank. If an imaginary line from the center of the cueball, extending thru the cut area on the

object ball, continues into the middle of the back of the pocket, the kiss is "on." If the line instead, is

aiming at the short/bottom rail, you can go ahead and shoot the shot with impunity. Provided of courseyou are using a natural rolling ball, center ball, left english in this case, or draw. Right hand english

when the bank is "on" could result in a kiss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtl5J-HVS_M


10/31

effects and factors to consider

What effects does one need to adjust for when aiming bank and kick shots?

First, "VEPS GEMS - Part V: Banks and Kicks" (BD, May, 2010) and the video below illustrate, describe, anddemonstrate basic terminology for bank and kick shots:

Pool bank and kick shot terminology and aimi...

The basic mirror (angle in equals angle out) systems provide a point of reference only. Your aim with a given

shot depends on many effects. The effects that require aim adjustment include:

In general, more speed shortens the rebound (see NV 6.6), and less speed lengthens the rebound (see NV
http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-7.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-7.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-6.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaWnmePhmuAhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/may10.pdf


11/31

6.7) however, see HSV B.41 and NV B.95. One reason faster speed shortens a rolling-CB, angled kick is

that the post-rebound curve is delayed by the speed. With a fast-speed, small-angle bank, the OB has near

stun into the cushion and picks up topspin off the rail (see HSV B.15), which curves the OB short.

Less ball topspin roll (due to faster speed or closeness to rail) means shorter rebound.

Running english lengthens rebound, and reverse english shortens the rebound (see NV 6.8). This effect is

greatest with the ball heading straight into the rail (i.e., with no approach angle).

Running english results in more CB speed after rebound, and reverse english results in less CB speed after

rebound. The difference is greatest at a moderate approach angle in the rail (i.e., about 20-40 degrees from

the rail perpendicular). See also: rail cushion speed changes.

Follow lengthens kick rebound, draw shortens it (e.g., see NV B.29 and NV B.57).English has little effect at large approach angles, where the ball is heading fairly parallel to the rail (e.g., see

HSV A.71). However, the english will have a large effect off the second rail, where the approach angle will

be small, with the ball heading fairly perpendicular to the rail.

An outside cut shortens a bank (see NV 6.12), an inside cut lengthens it (see NV 6.13). See also: NV C.14.

Bank direction consistency is generally better at faster speeds.

Spin transfer can significantly affect banks (e.g., left spin on the CB can transfer right spin to the OB which

shifts the rebound to the right). For more info, see bank-shot cut-induced-spin effects.

If the CB has a "natural english" amount (similar to "gearing english" for a cut shot), the sidespin won't

change off the cushion. With less sidespin (including "negative" or reverse english), the cushion will increase

the amount of spin, and the angle will shorten (e.g., see HSV 6.5) and for more english, the spin will

decrease off the cushion, and the angle will lengthen (e.g., see HSV A.28).

The cushion imparts spin (and can even reverse the spin direction) on a kicked or banked ball (e.g. see HSV

A.31 and two-times and three-times across side bank shots).

Cut and spin transfer effects are related to throw effects, so a complete understanding of throw helps too.

Kicks and banks generally go longer on new and clean cloth in a dry environment (see cloth effects for more

info).

Kicks and banks generally go shorter with rail cushions that are bouncier (i.e., have a higher coefficient of

restitution perpendicular to the rail).

If one doesn't understand all of these effects, or have great intuition built up from years and years of experience

(i.e., lots of mistakes and successes), the mirror systems are not very useful. Here's an excerpt from Disc IV of

the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP) that shows you how to develop a feel for some of the effects

during practice:

Pool and billiards bank shot drill for lea...

For kick shots with small approach angles (i.e., almost straight into the rail), it sometimes helps to know how

topspin and bottom-spin change off the rebound. For more information and examples, see:

HSV B.15 - straight-on kick shot rebound losses and spin changes for roll, stun, and draw shots

HSV A.117 - straight-on kick shot at fast speed with follow, stun, and draw

HSV A.118 - straight-on kick shot at slow speed with follow, stun, and draw

HSV A.119 - straight-on kick shot of a polished ball at fast speed with follow, stun, and draw
http://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-119.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-118.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-117.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVB-15.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_8Mu0lIyFghttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/table.html#cloth_effectshttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.htmlhttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-31.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-28.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/HSV6-5.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/English.html#outsidehttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.html#spinhttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVC-14.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-13.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-12.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-71.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-57.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-29.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/speed.html#railhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-8.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVB-15.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-95.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVB-41.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV6-7.htm


12/31

HSV A.120 - straight-on kick shot of a polished ball at slow speed with follow, stun, and draw

NV B.18 - Kick shot cue ball hold shot example with Tom Ross

Concerning HSV B.41, why doesn't speed shorten the rebound angle? Doesn't the ball compress the cushion

sideways more at higher speed, and wouldn't that create sideways forces that would shorten the rebound angle?

There are many physical effects that control the immediate rebound angle and the amount of masse curving afte

rebound. I use the phrase "rail throwback" to refer to the effect you are describing. With more speed the cushion

deforms more and can generate more sideways force to shorten the angle however, the rebound angle is alsoaffected by the efficiency (coefficient of restitution = COR) of the cushion, and this can vary with speed and angle

also. Based on the results in HSV B.41, these two effects are balancing each other out. The rail throwback effect

tries to shorten the rebound angle and the efficiency effect apparently tries to lengthen the rebound (because the

cushion is returning less energy, maybe partly because of the ball shift down the rail). This is all conjecture, but

it makes sense physically. There are also friction effects between the ball and cushion and ball and table during

impact. These might also vary in complicated ways with speed.


For kicks the important thing is what kind of "vertical spin" the CB has on it when it hits the rail:

- CB sliding when it hits the rail will rebound with no curve at the "mirror angle" (minus something for

rail friction)

- CB with forward spin (including natural roll) when it hits the rail will curve longer than the mirror

angle

- CB with backspin when it hits the rail will curve shorter than the mirror angle

How much longer or shorter the CB rebounds (with forward spin or backspin) depends on how much

spin is on the CB* and how much friction there is between the CB and the cloth.

For banks the important thing is how much vertical spin is on the OB when it hits the rail. This can only

be controlled by hitting harder or softer (harder = less or no forward spin softer = more forward spin).

This is also why hitting harder shortens bank angles.

*: How much spin is on the CB depends on: - how hard it's hit - how high it's hit - how far it is from the

rail when it's hit - how much friction there is between CB/cloth
http://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-57.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVB-41.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-18.htmhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/high_speed_videos/new/HSVA-120.htm


13/31

As this drawing shows, when the CB changes direction off the rail its spin does not change direction.

That means that forward or reverse spin which was rotating parallel with the CB's path before hitting

the rail is rotating across the CB's path after hitting the rail - this across-the-path rotation is what

causes the CB to curve after hitting the rail.

Forward rotation (topspin) can be the result of the CB rolling naturally or of hitting high on the CB.

Reverse rotation (backspin) can only be the result of hitting low on the CB.

equal-distance mirror system for aiming bank and kick shots

How does the basic mirror system work?

"VEPS GEMS - Part V: Banks and Kicks" (BD, May, 2010) and the video below illustrate, describe and

demonstrate basic terminology for bank and kick shots, and explains the basic equal-rail-distance mirror system:

Pool bank and kick shot terminology and aimi...

And the following video from Disc III of How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS) shows how the classic "mirror system"
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/disc_III.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaWnmePhmuAhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/may10.pdf


14/31

works:

Mirror Kick-Shot Aiming System - from "How To Aim Poo...

For more information, see HAPS - Part VII: Kick Shots (Billiards Digest, May, 2015).

The basic mirror (angle in equals angle out) systems provide a point of reference only. You must compensate

your aim for a given shot based on the many effects and factors to consider.

For shallow angle kicks, where the object ball is close to the rail, the following mirror system works quite well:

Shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-ima...

Here's another useful video, from Disc III of the Billiard University (BU) Instructional DVD series:

Kick Shot Aiming Systems - How To Aim Kick Shots - fro...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGrpwXCfFEhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plyhKB9pN_Yhttp://-/?-http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2015/may15.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7NY-nTQbus


15/31

For more information, see: "Billiard University (BU) - Part IX: Kicks," (April, 2014).


from Patrick JohnsonAZB post:

Here are the reference angles for banking/kicking to the bottom left corner pocket - they connect each

1/2 diamond on the far rail with the whole diamond twice as far along on the near rail:

Of course, I don't visualize all these reference angles for every shot to that corner. For instance, the 2

ball is very near one reference angle, so I'll just compare it to that one:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=3874738&postcount=33http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2014/april14.pdf


16/31

The 1 ball is midway between two reference angles, so I'll compare it to both of them:

Here's the same technique applied to kicking at a ball that's not on the near rail. Just move the near

"rail" (where you measure the whole diamonds) up to be parallel with the target - it doesn't matter if

the cue ball is above or below the adjusted "rail".


17/31

Here's another way of measuring kick shots, a little different from the "reference angles" method I

posted earlier, but using the same 2-to-1 principle. It should be self explanatory...


18/31

Like the "reference angles" this measures the "equal angle" kick, so of course you need to adjust for

cloth stickiness & ball speed/spin.

from Patrick JohnsonAZB post:

The most common adjustment you'll make when using equal-angle reference tracks is to aim a little

short to compensate for a rolling ball's natural tendency to curve long as it rebounds from the rail.

Fortunately, it's also pretty easy - just aim at the diamond on the rail rather than the cushion nose

(may differ slightly on different tables).

Here's a pic illustrating those adjustments:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=5343653


19/31

fast-speed bank aiming system

How do adjust your aim for a fast-speed bank?

The bank shot aiming system described in the following articles works well for fast-speed banks: "Fast Speed

Banks" (BD, July, 2013) and "HAPS - Part VIII: Bank Shots" (BD, June, 2015). It also works well for banks of any

speed if the OB is close to the banking cushion (where it doesn't have time or distance to develop forward roll).

Here's a diagram from the article illustrating how it works:

And here's a video demonstration from Disc III of How to Aim Pool Shots (HAPS):
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/aiming/disc_III.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2015/june15.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2013/july13.pdf


20/31

1/3-More Than Twice Bank-Shot Aiming System - from "...

The aim always originates 1/3 of a diamond above the standard 2-to-1 mirror system (measured across from the

diamonds in the rail groove). It can be referred to as the "(2x + 1/3) to x" or "1/3-more-than-twice system. See

the article and the video above for examples of how it is applied. The system is also described and demonstrated

in "VEPS GEMS - Part V: Banks and Kicks" (BD, May, 2010). Here's the diagram from the article that illustrates

how the adjustment works. The exact amount of adjustment needed will vary with conditions and the angle of

the bank, but 1/3 of a diamond is a good general benchmark reference. The diagram also shows another usefulreference for fast-speed banks: the 3-to-1 through-diamond reference. On most tables, shooting through 1

from 3 with very fast speed pockets the ball.

An alternative to the "(2x + 1/3) to x" system described above is a through-diamond system described in the

following video: Eckert's bank shot reference lines. It can be described concisely as the "2x-to-3/4x through-

diamond system" as opposed to the "(2x+1/3)-to-x rail-groove system." Both this system and the system above

are described and illustrated in detail in: "Fast Speed Banks"(BD, July, 2013). They actually agree fairly well in

the resulting aim, except for very-large-angle banks. Another way to interpret the Eckert system, is the "8/3x to

x" or "x to 3/8x" system (by dividing the "2x to 3/4x" numbers by 2). This implies that the aim point on the

banking rail (3/8x) is between 25% (1/4) and 50% (1/2) of the distance from the target pocket as the distance

on the adjacent rail (x). This provides an easy way to visualize fast-speed banks. When the aim is correct, the

aim point on the banking rail is exactly between 50% (1/2) and 25% (1/4) of the distance from the pocket on th

opposite rail, which is very easy to visualize without any diamond counting or math.

The following illustration compares the two systems. The systems provide very close to the same lines of aim for

small-to-medium-angle banks. At larger bank angles, above the (5+1/3)-to-2.5 line, the "1/3-more than twice"

system aim will tend to make the ball bank a little short of target (in which case you can make a small
http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2013/july13.pdfhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4niYd9ccsQwhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/may10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2013/july13.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwVAWWsBrt0


21/31

adjustment).

In addition to being able to use the aiming systems above, there are advantages to using fast speed with bank

shots. For more info, see: advantages of fast speed.

from John Gaynor (via e-mail):

I found a way to simplify the calculations for the Ralph Eckert system for banking with speed. First, I

use 10 as the distance between diamonds. So the 3 to 1 track becomes 30 to 10. Then every point on

the target rail that is a multiple of 3 leads to a convenient reference track since the crossing point on

the near rail is 8/3 times the point on the target rail. So reference tracks are 8 to 3, 16 to 6, 24 to 9,

32 to 12, 40 to 15, 48 to 18, etc. Calculating between the reference tracks is easy. For example, if

you're between the 24 to 9 track and the 32 to 12 track, the tracks are 26&2/3 to 10 and 29&1/3 to

11, or with slight rounding 27 to 10 and 29 to 11.

kick shot drills

What are some good drills for practicing kick shots?

Seekick shot drills.

magic spot three-rail mirror-image kick shot aiming system

How do you find and use the "magic spot" for three-rail kick shots?

See the following document from Marcel Elfers: Pool Magic Spot.

Plus System for aiming two-rail kicks off a short rail

How does the Plus System (AKA Plus Two System, AKA "Plus 2 System") work?

It is described and illustrated in detail in the following instructional articles:

"VEPS GEMS - Part VIII: Plus System Intro" (BD, August, 2010).

"VEPS GEMS - Part IX: Plus System Adjustments" (BD, September, 2010).

"VEPS GEMS - Part X: Plus System Examples" (BD, October, 2010).

Here's a video demonstration and explanation:
http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/oct10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/sept10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/aug10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/Marcel_magic_spot_mirror_image_kick.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/drills.html#kickshttp://-/?-


22/31

Plus System - diamond system for aiming two-...

shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-image kick-shot aiming system

How do you aim shallow-angle kick shots where the object ball is close to the rail?

When the object ball is close to a ball away from the rail, the following mirror system, from Disc IV of the Video

Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) is very effective:

Shallow-angle contact-point-mirror-ima...

The following video, from Disc IV of the Video Encycopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP), demonstrates a good way to

practice these shots:
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/vepp/disc_IV.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plyhKB9pN_Yhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BsOZ09Nsyg


23/31

Pool and billiards drill for aiming shallo...

For more information, see: "VEPS GEMS - Part VII: Contact-Point Mirror Kick" (BD, July, 2010) and "VEPP - Part

X: Shallow One-rail Kicks," (BD, January, 2013).

Sid System for aiming steep two-rail kicks off a short rail

What is the "Sid System" and how does it work?

The following resource explains and illustrates the Side System fairly well:

http://www.billiardsatlas.com/noframes/sid.html

from Bob Jewett (from AZB post):

For those who are wondering what "System Sid" is, here is the diagram from Walt Harris's book,

"Billiard Atlas". To hit a spot on the second cushion, multiply the number for the spot by how many

diamonds the cue ball is from point X. In the example, the target is 2.5 and the cue ball (Q) is 3

diamonds from X so the target is 7.5 on the short rail. Note that the short rail (M) is numbered 10 tothe diamond, the second rail has a variable numbering that you have to memorize, and the rail you are

shooting from (O) is numbered in units to multiply with. Harris recommends renumbering the O rail

according to the second rail number, so in the example it would be numbered 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5

starting from X.

If you work out the geometry in detail, the numbers on the second rail are off a little but as listed they

are easy to remember.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=4004349&postcount=6http://www.billiardsatlas.com/noframes/sid.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2013/jan13.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/july10.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph_OdjFWnD4


24/31

spin-transfer bank shots

Is spin transfer required to make certain bank shots?

Yes. See NV B.20 for two important examples. For more information, and another example, see "Throw - Part

VIII: spin transfer" (BD, March, 2007). Many more examples of spin-transfer shots can be found here:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.html#spin

spot-on-the-wall kick shot aiming system

How do "spot-on-the-wall" kicking systems work?

The three-rail Corner-5, two-rail Plus-2, and one-rail kick "spot-on-the-wall" systems are described and

demonstrated here:
http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/throw.html#spinhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2007/march07.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/new/NVB-20.htm


25/31

Diamond systems for aiming kick shots, and t...

More information, including guidelines on how far the spot should be from the table, can be found in " VEPS GEMS

- Part XIV: 'Spot-on-the-Wall' System" (BD, February, 2011).

There are different "rules of thumb" for estimating the best distance to the spot on the wall, but they don't

always match the results in the article very well. Here's a common rule that does a decent job (although, it

predicts a distance longer than recommended for a 3-rail shot and a distance shorter than recommended for a 1-

rail shot):

from Monte Ohrt:

For any given spot-on-the-wall kick shot, the exact optimal distance from the first rail to the spot is the

distance the cueball travels after it hits the first rail to the target. For a one-rail kick, this is simply the

distance from rail 1 to the target. For a two-rail kick, it is the distance between rail 1 and 2, and also

add the distance between rail 2 and the target point. For a three rail kick, it is the distance between

rails 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 to the target point ... and so on for 4 rails, 5 rails, etc. After about 3 rails

the point of convergence is so narrow that it normally doesn't make any difference, just pick a spot at

least 3 tables away.

through-diamond rolling-cue-ball 2-to-1 one-rail kick and bank shot aiming system

How does the through-diamond rolling-cue-ball one-rail kick system work?

It is described in "VEPS GEMS - Part VI: One-Rail Kicks" (BD, June, 2010). Here's a video demonstration, from

Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS), with a complete explanation:
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2010/june10.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2011/feb11.pdfhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2011/feb11.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkr9z0bwLUE


26/31

Diamond system for aiming rolling-cue-ball kic...

Here's another useful video, from Disc III of the Billiard University (BU) Instructional DVD series:


two-rail bank shot aiming system off a short rail

Is there an aiming system for two-rail bank shots off the short rail?

You can use the Plus System for aiming two-rail banks off the short rail, but it will require practice to learn how

to adjust for the lack of running english and forward roll on the OB into the first cushion which varies with

distance and shot speed.

If the OB is fairly close to or frozen to the short rail, the systems below from Freddy Bentivegna work fairly well.

from freddy the beardAZB post:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=4219111&postcount=12http://-/?-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGrpwXCfFEhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grwLuzfleWw


27/31


28/31

two-rail parallel-line kick shot aiming system

Dr. Dave, I have been practicing the 2-rail parallel line kick shots you show in your book on pages 229 & 230 an

demonstrated in NV 7.9. It works fine if I set up the balls similar to what you show in your book but I am having

difficulty envisioning the same shot from other set ups. I don't think I fully understand how to determine the

center line between the 2 parallel lines. Can you elaborate on this idea?

The following video, from Disc III of the Billiard University (BU) Instructional DVD series, demonstrates the

system:


Unfortunately, the action of this shot depends on english, shot speed, and table (especially cushion) conditions.

Obviously, when practicing, you need to try to use consistent english and speed on a given table to see how the

cue ball responds at different angles.

For more information and demonstrations, see Shots 514 and 515 on Disc IV of the Video Encyclopedia of Pool

Shots.


You have to aim a little closer to the corner than the measurement suggests - experience will tell youhow much, depending on the angle to the first rail and the cleanliness of the table/balls.

In this drawing the blue line is the measured track, but the actual track will look more like the red line:
http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/http://dr-dave-billiards.com/veps/disc_IV.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGrpwXCfFEhttp://billiarduniversity.org/dvds.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/normal_videos/NV7-9.htmhttp://dr-dave-billiards.com/book/book_description.html


29/31

from Bob_Jewett:

... the "Amazing Double-mirror Image Method" or ADIM for short ... is explained on the second page of

http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2004.pdf (July). Mostly, it gives you a very easy way to put up a

target ball exactly where the real ball would appear for a perfect mirror system. ... This lets you see

immediately how pitifully awful the two-rail mirror system is, but it also allows you to try to find out

where it does work and maybe how to modify it so it works for more cases.

two-times-across and three-times across bank shots

What are "two-times" and "three-times" across bank shots, and how do they work?

See:

NV B.22 - Two-times (twice) and three-times a...


It's a series of spin events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQI8O443tshttp://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/2004.pdf


30/31

1. The CB colliding with the OB puts some "holdup" spin on the OB, which shortens the angle off the

first rail.

2. The OB colliding with the first rail at an angle reverses the spin that was put on by the CB (just like

any ball picks up "running" spin when it hits the rail).

3. The reversed spin throws the OB toward the side pocket off the second rail.

two-times-across Z-kick aiming system

How does Jimmy Reid's two-times-across Z-kick system work?



31/31

| top of page | main FAQ index | website home page |
http://billiards.colostate.edu/index.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads.htmlhttp://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/banks_and_kicks.html

billiards and pool banks and kicks faqs

Documents