Bank Shot
A fun gadget shot

The bank shot is one of the coolest added dimension to the game of foosball. The bank shot allows the wall and the man to become as one. A bank shot is done when a man hits the ball in such a way that the ball hits the wall and then goes into the hole. Normally, the bank shot is a low percentage shot, but I have seen players who consistently rip a part defenses with it.

Bank Shot Near Side

You may find this hard to believe, but bank shots can be attempted and completed from any where on the table. I have even seen a guy in Texas who could even do a push-kick bank shot combination consistently. There is no limit to what you can do with bank shots.

There is one thing I have noticed over the years about bank shots, and that is their effectiveness. I have noticed that the smoother the playing surface is, the easier it is to do banks. For instance, doing banks on a Stryker table is much easier to do than on a Tornado, because the playing surface is a lot smoother. Therefore, bank shots are more effective and can have a greater role in one's arsenal of weapons. On the other hand, unless you are an expert with bank shot, you will find that because of the slick surface, it is harder to set up and control bank shots on a Stryker than on a Tornado.

To do a bank shots is relatively easy. You just set the ball up, hit on the side, and then watch it ricochet off the wall and go in. From the front position, players generally bank anywhere from an inch to about four inches away from either the near or far wall. Of course, you can bank from any position along the front 3-bar.

far wall

near wall

The ideal position to place the ball is slightly back or more depending on the table. Sometimes the ball can be place in the forward position but that is a matter of preference. Most offend the ball is in the back position.

ideal position

Bank shots done from the offensive front middle man can be a very effective weapon. Especially when mixed or used with a back pin. Mike Eaton of La Porte, Texas would do this very well. First he would setup and do bank shots from the middle position. Then after a while the defender would see him setting up to what looks like another bank shot and shift his men to block it. This usually meant leave the opposite end of the pocket open. Mike would then take full advantage and pinned the ball into the undefended part of the pocket. I never seen any body do it better than Mike.

Bank shots are mainly for show, yet it is a very affective shot in the hands of a skillful shooter. The bank shot is not a very high percentage shot so you will rarely see it used in a tournament as a primary shot. Still, it is a fun and affective shot to have in your little bag of tricks, and the good thing is that it is not a difficult shot to master.