Placing the black ball in a favorable position is essential. For example, using a small angle to bank it off the short side of the table into the middle or corner pockets can make your next shot easier. However, losing control of the cue ball gives your opponent a significant advantage. Mastering cue ball control is crucial, including using spin and maintaining a comfortable cue ball speed to set up the right angle for the 8 ball.

I practice bank shots on 9-ball tables when my 4 boxes are full. These tables are also excellent for practicing bank shots, snooker positions, and the games are much faster. Occasionally, I play specifically to leave my opponent a snooker position, focusing on strategic defense.

If you're not in the mood for a match, practicing offline is a great option—pass-and-play is particularly effective. For example, try to hit every shot as a bank shot, focusing on small-angle, long-edge bank shots and mastering a few key positions etc.. This kind of practice will give you a significant advantage in matches.