There are a few factors in determining whether you should slice (cut) or bank an object ball. Obviously the first answer that comes to mind is which one do you feel that you can make. Everyone has an opinion on what they think they can make, and generally that is your best bet. If you can see the shot being sliced-in the pocket and you can not see it being banked-in then you better slice it. And vice versa if you can see it being banked-in and not sliced. One thing I have learned over the years is you have to see the shot being made in your head. And what I mean by that is you need to be able to see where you need to aim to make it. I have had the easiest shot in the world and for some reason not been able to see where to aim at it to make it and guess what I missed it. So it comes down to what you think you can make.
However, if your aim is good, a slice shot is not affected by anything else if you have a clear path to the pocket. And if you think the shot through before you shoot it, you can roughly determine where your cue ball will go. You can also affect the cue ball trajectory with some type of english, but that discussion is for another day.
The disadvantages of banking your shot is, your object ball has to bounce off at least one rail. Some rails do not give a consistant bounce, which could affect your trajectory. Your speed of the cue ball, any english put on the cue ball could affect the object ball adversely for a bank shot. For example, if you put low english on cue ball it seems to make the bank angle of your object ball less.
In conclusion, a slice shot is not affected by anything but your aim. A bank shot could be affected by the rail and or the cue ball trajectory. The final decision is up to the one holding the pool cue.
Written for We-R-Billiards.com.
