The mirror method
A ball comes off a cushion at about the same angle it went in. So picture a second table on the other side of the rail, a mirror image of this one, and aim the ball at where the pocket would be on that mirror table. The spot where that line crosses the rail is your bank point.
- Hit the rail too far toward the pocket and the ball comes off short of it.
- Hit it too far back and the ball runs long, past the pocket.
- In real play, speed and spin change the angle. Firm banks come off a little shorter; soft banks run a little longer. This game shows the pure geometry, the place to start.
Learn more in the cross-corner bank trick shot, read the bank pool rules, and try the kick drill on a real table.