The DELTA-13 rack, is it good? too expensive or worth the cost?

Eating keyboard... er um... crow

Cuebacca said:
I just watched two of those. They were pretty bad! LOL.

One demonstrated to the viewer how the balls are supposed to be racked in numerical order. He also more-or-less slugged himself and left a dead 1-9 combo. :rotflmao:

The other guy implied that you should use the diamond-shaped 9-ball rack if it's available. LOL. Since he said theirs was broken, he demonstrated how you can improvise in a pinch and use the triangular-shaped racking device. :rolleyes:

He also recommended that if you're giving a ball as a handicap, you may want to use that as the wing ball since it's less likely to be pocketed on the break. :killingme:
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Cuebacca:

I should've posted a disclaimer on those, since I'm not particularly advocating any of them -- only posted that as an answer to the question. (Quite actually, I used the phrase "how to rack" on the ExpertVillage YouTube portal, and posted the results of that search.)

As to the first couple you watched and how poor the info was, perhaps I should've actually viewed them before posting the Search results.

My bad! I'll now eat my keyboard... <crunch> <crunch> <crunch>

-Sean
 
sfleinen said:
Cuebacca:

I should've posted a disclaimer on those, since I'm not particularly advocating any of them -- only posted that as an answer to the question. (Quite actually, I used the phrase "how to rack" on the ExpertVillage YouTube portal, and posted the results of that search.)

As to the first couple you watched and how poor the info was, perhaps I should've actually viewed them before posting the Search results.

My bad! I'll now eat my keyboard... <crunch> <crunch> <crunch>

-Sean
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Hehe. No worries! They had good entertainment value. :)
 
KoolKat9Lives said:
Thanks Sean. These videos are too elementary though. They don't address what to do when pushing up on balls in the rack doesn't get 'em tight.

Such as how to push the balls to spin them in hopes balls make better contact. When to take a problem ball and move it to the back of the rack, hoping the jigsaw puzzle fits better that way. When to push hard up on the rack, when not. When to spin just that one or two balls that are playing with your patience. Not to rub the frick outta the felt and prematurely wear it.

I see guys that have played for decades not employ any of these simple tips. It took me a long time to get proficient doing this, and it shouldn't have to take people 24,358 racks to finally "get it", only after someone wants to belt ya for leaving 'em a slug.

Tips like that, shown on a video might make life more pleasant for a lot of folk. And of course, shown using the Delta rack! :thumbup:
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The problem is that human nature doesn't drive us to notice that we gave a slug rack to our opponent and then seek out videos to help give him the rack he deserves. Not many people would bother to do that.

But if you make it rack your own, more people would learn how to rack, if they care about improving their pool game. If not, they have no one to blame but themselves when they make bad breaks.

I would encourage anyone who wants to learn how to rack to buy Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets.

It doesn't tell you physically how to get the balls tight as you were describing, but it tells you which gaps and which frozen balls affect how the balls break.

That, IMO, is the biggest stepping stone to getting good at racking. After one learns which balls to pay attention to, then he can focus on figuring out the physical techniques to get those most important balls tight.
 
I have 2 Delta-13 racks. One for home (black and gold) and one for travel (red and silver).
I love them!!! In 9 ball, the balls explode off the spot. Well worth the money.
"Delta-13, don't leave home without it"
 
When I use the Delta-13 rack, the rack slides so easily on the cloth that the balls roll easily to the front of the rack and DO press against each other correctly. I then simply confirm that they are tight by pressing against the back of the racked balls.
 
Undersized-ball relocation

nancewayne said:
When I use the Delta-13 rack, the rack slides so easily on the cloth that the balls roll easily to the front of the rack and DO press against each other correctly. I then simply confirm that they are tight by pressing against the back of the racked balls.
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You're fortunate, nancewayne -- it appears the balls in the set on your table are all properly sized. Wait 'til you encounter a set of balls where a couple of 'em are undersized (e.g. the beat-up bar-box in the pub nearest you). You'll press and press, and still you see gaps between balls. It's not until you relocate those undersized balls to the edges of the bottom row (or the furthest back ball in the diamond, if we're talking 9-ball) that you'll only then get a tight rack.

But even faced with this undersized-ball-relocation situation, the Delta-13 sure as heck beats those poor excuses for racks you'll find at those tables!

-Sean
 
I experimented with a worn (used) set of Aramith Premium house balls and even though they were all slightly smaller from being used, the 9-ball rack configuation still stayed together when pushed up from the back of the rack with your hands.
Not quite the same result with a 15 ball rack of balls. When you mixed in the balls (more used) for 9-ball with the (less used) 10 through 15 numbered balls, there were slight gaps.
F.Y.I.

PS: You can measure the height (amount of wear) of a used pool ball. Place the worn ball in line between 2 new (or newer) balls. Place the indented DELTA-13 rack edge on flat top of the three balls (with the worn one in the middle). Move the rack back and forth level across the three balls. You should see the middle ball not move much indicating it is smaller than the other two outside balls.

This is a good way to show the owner of your favorite pool establishment that it is time to BUY NEW BALLS !!!
 
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nancewayne said:
This is a good way to show the owner of your favorite pool establishment that it is time to BUY NEW BALLS !!!
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Wayne,

Did it work? What's the word? New balls please!!!

BTW, thanks for shining my balls the other day. I feel like a new man. :eek:

Maybe you can convince our prime estab to get a ball polisher too, so us John Schmidt type guys don't have to do it ourselves every once in a while, lol.

Hey, don't worry, you know I like ya, just not THAT way. :grin-square:
 
nancewayne said:
I failed to mention that there is a regular DELTA-13 rack, not fancy, retail priced at $69.95. Same engineering, same specs.!
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In reading the various comments, it sounds like the less expensive Delta-13 rack racks the balls just as good as the more expensive Delta-13 Elite rack.

From the standpoint of performance and functionality, does the Delta-13 Elite rack offer anything to justify paying substantially more than the regular Delta-13 rack?
 
This is a good way to show the owner of your favorite pool establishment that it is time to BUY NEW BALLS !!![/QUOTE said:
Ball enhancement........nows theres and idea worth pursuing.;)
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I bought one for about $60 new, off their web site a few months ago. It racks tight and won't ever wear out. I think they both fuction the same...just that the double your price one doesn.t double your racking pleasure. Talking about all this rack stuff is making me horny. Hmm, wife will be home for lunch soon:D. Johnnyt
 
nancewayne said:
I have used a DELTA-13 (now Delta-13 Elite) rack for 9 months now and simply LOVE it! When using my own at my local pool room, I show fellow players how the 10 ball (when playing 10 ball), just sits there and only gets moved when another ball rebounds into it. The only complaint I hear is that it is noisy when racking and it cost $134.95. All things considered though, is it worth it? Does it do the job BEST?
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Yes it is noisy and we got a cheaper one at the US Open. At first I didn't like the clank noise, but then after trying it a few times I noticed that it racked the balls much better at 8 ball and at 9 ball compared to the nice wooden rack I had.

But, I will tell you one thing, the Sardo rack cannot be beat. I use the Sardo if I am going to place some serious pool, but for a nice speedy rack job I prefer the Delta.

I noticed at the US Open however that the Delta rack did NOT compare to the Sardo when it comes to asking for re-racks.. On the TV table I could have booed out loud at Archer, Immonen, and others as they constantly hovered over the rack and called for a re-rack too many times for my tastes. I didn't know whether to blame the refs, the players, or that stupid rack :D. When I found out that my wife bought one, I felt bad since I had some prejudice against it right off. Upon trying it out though I really liked it.
 
Sompin2do said:
Wouldn't pay retail though. Got an SVB autographed Delta 13 Elite on here for 1/2 retail shipped. :thumbup:
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Where did you buy this Delta 13 Elite for 1/2 price?

The best prices that I've found so far are on seyberts.com. The standard Delta 13 rack goes for $56 and the Elite goes for $120.
 
Noise issue "solved"!

whitewolf said:
Yes it is noisy and we got a cheaper one at the US Open. At first I didn't like the clank noise, but then after trying it a few times I noticed that it racked the balls much better at 8 ball and at 9 ball compared to the nice wooden rack I had.

But, I will tell you one thing, the Sardo rack cannot be beat. I use the Sardo if I am going to place some serious pool, but for a nice speedy rack job I prefer the Delta.

I noticed at the US Open however that the Delta rack did NOT compare to the Sardo when it comes to asking for re-racks.. On the TV table I could have booed out loud at Archer, Immonen, and others as they constantly hovered over the rack and called for a re-rack too many times for my tastes. I didn't know whether to blame the refs, the players, or that stupid rack :D. When I found out that my wife bought one, I felt bad since I had some prejudice against it right off. Upon trying it out though I really liked it.
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Anyone at the last Open noticed the racking issues. I don't understand how brand new balls, tables and racks could lead to such issue. Maybe someone can elaborate?

NOISE: A local hall here has the Delta. They had some sort of black rubber foam adhered into all 3 exterior sides (there's an elongated oblong depression on each side). I didn't notice they'd done it until my first rack with it. For a split second I thought to myself "what the hell, is this a plastic rack?". It was so quiet, so different, that I was caught off guard.

The noise "issue" is easily solved. :thumbup:
 
I understand from the DELTA-13 folks that they are in R & D on a way to reduce the "clank" of the racks.
 
I have the cheaper Delta 13 rack and Super Aramith Billiards balls, and it racks the balls tight every time I've used it. It's very durable. I've had lots of wooden racks break on me. It is loud when you rack the balls, but the sound doesn't bother me.
 
nancewayne said:
I have used a DELTA-13 (now Delta-13 Elite) rack for 9 months now and simply LOVE it! When using my own at my local pool room, I show fellow players how the 10 ball (when playing 10 ball), just sits there and only gets moved when another ball rebounds into it. The only complaint I hear is that it is noisy when racking and it cost $134.95. All things considered though, is it worth it? Does it do the job BEST?
Click to expand...

Absolutely worth the money if you want a just about perfect rack on any table. You can buy it online for $79.95 includes shipping from Delta.
 
A hall I frequent has thick oak racks. On a humid/wet day, after I push the balls up in it, next I slide the rack a fraction forward - and often the damn one ball sticks to the apex of the rack. Arrgh!

So on these days I can't push the balls up into the wooden rack as hard, and inevitably have to dick around with the balls an aggravating amount of time. ARRRRGGGHHHHH! :angry:
 
I feel for you, we have some old, very beat thick oak racks too. The owner had them painted various bright colors... which I thought I could live with, but about 2 years later they are peeling badly and leaving little paint flakes on the cloth. Can't stand these racks now :/
 
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