Use a bank shot - where a ball is deflected, or "banked," against the side rail - when you don't have a straight shot at a pocket.
1. Bank a shot against a rail when you cannot hit a ball directly into a pocket.
2. Consider the route the ball will have to take. Is it clear?
3. Determine where the ball will need to hit the rail to deflect it into the pocket or another ball. Remember high school geometry: the angle at which the ball travels to hit the rail is the same angle by which the ball will move after it has banked off the rail.
4. Mark the ball's path mentally and put your cue in line. The tip and handle should line up exactly with the point where the ball will hit its target.
5. Use a smooth stroke and strike the ball squarely.
