Now if we could only do something about opponents soft racking during league play..
The only solutions to this that I can think of are both ridiculous and brilliant.
1. A triangular template that is suspended by strings from the ceiling on top of the balls instead of under the balls. The gravity provides constant inward pressure and forces the rack tight. Not too heavy though. When a break shot occurs the strings are pulled up and the rack quickly rises back to the ceiling. Like a boxing match microphone.
2. 15 holes are drilled into the slate of the table in locations that are strategic to cause the balls to roll towards each other, exactly like a magic rack. The cloth is then placed over the holes. Rods are inserted into the holes from the bottom of the slate and attached to an actuator. When the actuator is engaged, the rods move upwards until flush with the top of the slate, causing the dimples underneath the cloth to disappear.
In both ideas, the template doesn't interfere with the rolling balls, but forces a tight rack.
The ball just never disappears.