Answer for Jay Helfert

[junkbond]

I just page my driver and have him come in and hold my cue while I rack the balls. Doesn't everyone do that?

In reality, it's been so long since I've been in a pool hall, that all I remember doing is calling out "Rack 'em."

 

[jay helfert]

Maybe you don't remember this - http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=100513&highlight=butt+rail

When I read it, I couldn't believe you were so adament about this subject. Many veteran players have a rhyme and reason for laying the butt end of the cue on the rail and it's not because they're trying to look cool. Also, it's not just break cues we're talking about. If the game is loser rack, then the racker is not usually walking up to the table with his break cue.

I'm not trying to bust your balls on this. I prefer to lay the butt on the rail but if others prefer something else, I'm not going to explain why my way is much better. I just don't care.

Thanks for finding this thread. Good advice then and still good advice now IMO. I don't see where I was adamant about anything, just offering my opinion. By the way, if it's loser racks why does he have his cue at the table anyway?

 

[8ballEinstein]

.... By the way, if it's loser racks why does he have his cue at the table anyway?

Jay, I'm sure you know that players like to keep their cue within reach and always visible.

 

[pt109]

i lend my cues alot - if they don't lay them flat on the table i take them back - some of my cues are over 40 years old and are still straight and i want them to stay that way

 

[skor]

I lay my cue flat on the table and roll it under the rail when I come to rack unless I put in the case before I approach the table to rack.

Rolling it under the rail will prevent anything hitting the shaft and dinging it such as ball thrown on the table by the other "careless" player....

 

[enzo]

i prefer to concentrate my efforts and manipulations on where women i'm interested in will be laying their butts.

 

[dabarbr]

About 40 years ago in a game at Circus billiards in San Jose Ca I had just racked the ball and didn't get a chance to back away from the table when the cue ball came flying to the stack, went off the one ball and into my chin.

It hit my jaw square in the middle that I believe that is what kept my jaw from getting broken. I believe that if it had hit me to one side or the other it would have broken my jaw. I couldn't make a ball for a good while after that and developed a good size headache from that blow.

From then on whenever I play a stranger and don't know their mannerism I place my cue flat on the bed of the table in front of the rack and on the diagonal. Never mind protecting my cue it's my head I'm concerned with.

 

[Nostroke]

About 40 years ago in a game at Circus billiards in San Jose Ca I had just racked the ball and didn't get a chance to back away from the table when the cue ball came flying to the stack, went off the one ball and into my chin.

It hit my jaw square in the middle that I believe that is what kept my jaw from getting broken. I believe that if it had hit me to one side or the other it would have broken my jaw. I couldn't make a ball for a good while after that and developed a good size headache from that blow.

From then on whenever I play a stranger and don't know their mannerism I place my cue flat on the bed of the table in front of the rack and on the diagonal. Never mind protecting my cue it's my head I'm concerned with.

Thats ridiculous. That should NEVER happen. What if it hit you right in the teeth?

Its always the big breakers too that seem to want to hit it before you get a chance to back up. Intimidation i guess but they only get one chance to do that with me.

 

[Run the Century]

Geez Frank

That must have left a mark. I think its probably a good policy to do what you say - with the addendum pick up the rack and put it away THEN take your cue off the diagonal.

 

[JohnnyOzone]

never put your cue stick in front of the rack and never lift the rack off the table if the breaker is aiming his shot. with the cue across the rack if he hits, the cue ball is going airborne right at you.
tell him to wait till you are away from the table. ive seen a few teeth go flying.

I've seen some dumba**es in my day, but I've never seen anyone stupid enough to break the balls when there was a cue stick laying across the middle of the table.

In leagues, I've occassionally put my stick diagonally across the table while racking the balls when I've noticed the other player already bridging and aiming his break shot while I am still racking. It is expressly to keep him from hitting the break shot while I am still replacing the rack.

I guess some people can't wait to kick their butt kicked! j/k

 

[Nostroke]

I've seen some dumba**es in my day, but I've never seen anyone stupid enough to break the balls when there was a cue stick laying across the middle of the table.
I guess some people can't wait to kick their butt kicked! j/k

Ive seen it where the stick was off to the side on the table and the guy broke. Just about any dumb thing you can think of has been done at one time or another.