Bank Shots

Generally there are three main differences to take into account when trying to bank a shot as compared to just going for a straight-up jump shot. Obviously the idea is to use the glass, but if you're farther than about 5 feet out, aiming isn't automatic. You need to factor in:
1) The arc of your shot: generally you'll shoot in a flatter arc to hit the square of the backboard.
2) The power: depends on the distance at which you are taking the shot, and
3) The area of the backboard you want to hit.
The first part, aiming at the backboard, is pretty easy; but getting the arc and power right is a little more difficult. If you want to bank a shot with a higher arc, you need the ball to come down and hit the right area of the backboard and at the exact angle, otherwise it will result in a miss. This is why when you take a bank shot, you want to shoot a flatter angle. Another vital part of bank shots is the energy or power in your shot, as the energy transfer from the backboard is what helps make a bank shot go in the net. The spin of a basketball when it hits the backboard is where all the difference is made. When a ball makes contact with a backboard, the spin reverses and helps transfer the energy from the basketball, to the backboard, to the basket. This is why a ball with backspin has a greater chance of deflecting off the backboard and passing through the hoop.