Tennessee Joe6
Verified Member
I friend of mine tried to show me the half ball bank system. I couldn't understand it but he was a jam up banker. Has anyone had experience with it?
I'm a huge fan of the half ball bank. I learned it in 1971-72 in Providence . Hitting exactly 1/2 of the object ball is the easy part. This will sound crazy, but look at the object ball, notice the shadow it throws on the cloth. More times than most the shadow will be left or right. Sometimes the shadow is even. Whichever side the shadow is on, use that side spin on the cueball. Center shadow, center ball lDon't forget to compensate for the masse' effect. With a little practice you'll be splitting pockets. A note on one shot in particlar, head or foot rail one bank in the side. Its the same shot as a cross side from a side rail. Get it? The table is two squares. You need to shoot the shot much softer. Easy peasy. Go practice, thank me later.
I grew up 25 miles out in the burbs of Chicago, and even that far from downtown, out in the white suburbs....we played banks. I never did have a system, but having played allot of rotation, my up and downs and cross banks are all feel, pool is all about watching the shot results and developing your muscle memory and getting em both in sync.this allows you more quickly to adjust to what's at hand is ''what it's all about'' from my perspective. Your actually banking two balls making the first ball scratch and the second ball to not too, and also where the *uck's it going?????
PS....I watched that Sparks bank some balls @ Bogies, he sure hits thru em sometimes sweeeeeeeeeeet.
i grew up in the suburbs of chicago as well and we played a lot of one pocket and banks. The advice i always got was keep hitting 'em until you make them and you will remember the feeling!! Where did you grow up in the burbs?
I grew up in 60451 but made it to Red Shoes a lot growing up. I also use to frequent the Green Room in Downers Grove and played some 3 cushion with Adrian a little.
Rod, three weeks ago you set out to try the half-ball banking system. So, how did it go?
Does it assume an eight-foot fluorescent fixture over the table? Comments from all players who are familiar with the system will be appreciated - either endorsements or rejections.
I too grew up in the 60's about 25 miles outside of Chicago, playing at Stardust Bowl in Hammond, Ind. We played pushout nineball, banks, one pocket, and some snooker and 3c billiards. Some of the very best players from Chicago would play here all night, I watched them all.
For me, this is humerous, you can relate many conditions to how you play a specific table (i.e. humidity, cloth, rails, temperature, etc.), but you can't relate where the light comes from to decide which side of the CB to hit and how much English to apply.:lol:lol:sorry
Whatta ya gonna do if you play one day, have a rematch the next day, but your opponent had the light moved. Some tables have a single light, some have a strip light aligned lengthwise over the table, some have several lights over the table, and some have a large rectangle of lights over the table like diamonds. All cast different shadows.
Is this a hoax?
As for banking by the lights, whatever reflection is there will always be the same. It doesn't matter what kind of lights, a few practice shots and you're close to your target.
Not a hoax !
I remember as a kid at Janscos. In the two pitted tables in the Showbar area, they had 8 floods surrounded by a black canopy that was framed and above each table. The bank guys talked about how nice it was to have those 8 bulb light' patterns on each obj. ball.
As for banking by the lights, whatever reflection is there will always be the same. It doesn't matter what kind of lights, a few practice shots and you're close to your target.
Not a hoax !
I know someone who uses the light reflections on the balls. He told me he could turn the lights off and as long as there is a tv in the room somewhere he can use that reflection. Unfortunately he never gave me more specifics and I would really love to learn more because this kind of stuff fascinates me but that's all I know
There will usually be more than one reflection on both CB and OB. Pick one on the CB and aim it at one on the OB and adjust from there.