I don't get it.

[Tom In Cincy]

IMO as long as there are pool players there will be complaints about the rack.

I've seen the Magic Rack at work and it doesn't take a genius to figure out how well it works.

Until the USA goes to ALL BALL FOULS, in tournament play, just get the TD to remove the Magic Rack from the playing surface if the need is there.

I have to admit, with 9 or 10 balls of different sizes and the difficulty of the wooden or plastic racks... the Magic Rack gives a tight rack every time.

It is a good product. With the very few nit-picky complaints, it is well worth the cost.

 

[EZMoney]

I am just supporting a product that I like. I couldn't get the Delta to work on new cloth, balls would roll out. I can get magic rack to work on bad racking tables. Thats a good rack to me. Regular triangle racks will not freeze balls cause the cloth stops it. The magic rack takes the cloth out of picture with very little effect. After hundred of racks, the magic rack only changed the out come due to roll a few times.

If your game relies on riding 9's instead of running out, stick with regular racks!

Some people just can't accept change. The amount of positive things of this rack out weigh any of the negitive $hit. Maybe a Nit would have a problem with moving a ball to set free the rack, I don't what's the fuss. Bad balls rack just fine with the magic rack. The delta 13 has a problem with old balls. Plus the cost in minimal.

 

[jrt30004]

what do you do when the ball stops on the spot? samething with these racks

i am not a big fan of the spot being there either. if a table mechinc marks the felt properly you really don't even need it. but i'll take my chances with a little dot over a sheet of loose leaf.

 

[Island Drive]

i am not a big fan of the spot being there either. if a table mechinc marks the felt properly you really don't even need it. but i'll take my chances with a little dot over a sheet of loose leaf.

You as a business owner and a player need a spot....because everytime you break the balls it pinches the cloth when you strike the head ball and eventually cuts a hole through the cloth, makes a nice divot.

 

[jrt30004]

After hundred of racks, the magic rack only changed the out come due to roll a few times.

If your game relies on riding 9's instead of running out, stick with regular racks!

and if i'm putting my money up that few times is the same amount of times i MIGHT get slug racked and that's my fault for not checking. I am glad you like this product and i'm glad to see you supporting it. like my original post said it's not for me. if you like it i sicerely hope you continue to use it and supprt the company who makes it and those that distribute it. that's the only way to grow the sport is to spend cash and buy product. i only consider our back and forth here healthy discussion of different ways to achieve the same goal. i truly mean what i say when i say i'm gald to see you and others support any company trying to grow the billiard industry.

 

[blah blah]

So, call me a nitpicky complainer, then.

The balls rarely come to rest on the rack. It happens about 1% of time you would get slug racks, 9's traveling to pockets or even needing to check racks. It is easy to spot the ball to move rack or shoot over it (really slow rolling will move).

I find it hard to believe someone wouldn't want a great rack. What I find hard to believe is rooms not leveling tables, changing cloth, old chalk.etc... way bigger problems then leaving thin paper on the table.

Please don't mistake my concerns here as my demanding a bad rack. I truly never meant to hint that I didn't want a great rack, and I'm sorry that caused any confusion.

Please also don't think I live through tourneys by flying the moneyball, either (another Magic Rack's supporter's claim about people who aren't on the bandwagon). I have, however, hung 9's in corners, broken good racks dry and left dead leaves for my opponents, and played people who lived by riding the money ball. It was unfair to accuse dissenters as being mere cheese- chasers.

What I'm starting to think, from all of the ardent supporters, is that the way the Magic Rack works is that it holds various- sized balls tightly together in the correct place on a lumpy table, long enough to be broken well. Also, given those amazing abilities, the Magic Rack doesn't affect any play at all if balls land on top of it, but if it should ever be a concern for anyone, the balls can be lifted up and replaced by the players or the tournament director.

Is this right?

The thing is, I like to play pool. I do like breaking, making balls, playing safe, capitalizing, being hooked and kicking... I don't like (ok: i hate) long discussions with my opponent, calling for the tournament director, discussing what happened and what should be done next, getting a verdict that may still be discussed or sighed over afterwards...

It is not that I hate or fear change.

It's that I didn't get into a pool game for the conversation. The Magic Rack makes me concerned that conversations will be more frequent.

I'm honestly neither trying to insult nor be insulted.

I'm not trying to ruin someone else's business, either.

It was with the utmost respect that I offered my original idea that there should be a way of removing the rack that wouldn't disturb balls. Maybe that can't actully be done before the break, if the Magic Rack is actually holding the balls together.

btw- Tom, is HT using these now?

 

[pocketpared]

If your game relies on riding 9's instead of running out, stick with regular racks!

lol What a bitter little man you are. You sound like you make money off the idea. I don't know anybody that uses the paper rack. And I know an awful lot of people.
ps I don't need a piece of paper for 9 ball..another piece of paper for 10 ball..another piece of paper for 7 ball..another piece of paper for one pocket...etc.
I guess robichaud hopes someone moves the ball off the paper so he can call a foul and grab the $20.

 

[TSW]

After hundred of racks, the magic rack only changed the out come due to roll a few times.

Sorry, for me that makes it a no-go. I'm willing to accept the occasional bad rack because I have the option to check it and demand a re-rack. If I don't, that's my fault and I'm okay with that.

What I'm not willing to accept is introducing a foreign element onto the playing surface that can change the course of play. That's unnecessary and that's why I wouldn't play with a magic rack.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

btw- Tom, is HT using these now?

Some players are using them when they play in the tournaments here.

Hard Times Billiards is not replacing the plastic racks with the Magic Rack anytime in the foreseeable future.

With the limited use of this product that I have had and seen, I am still very amazed that the balls are all touching EVERY TIME.

With very few exceptions has a ball landed on the Magic Rack template. The template is very flexible and can be lifted without disturbing balls inside the rack area.

I am not, by any means, 100% sold on this product, but so far I have liked what I see. I still am somewhat cautious of any device that has to be left on the table and that apparently lifts the balls into position.

 

[jrt30004]

You as a business owner and a player need a spot....because everytime you break the balls it pinches the cloth when you strike the head ball and eventually cuts a hole through the cloth, makes a nice divot.

yes, i know that the dot is a necessary evil. and i still won't use a sheet of paper for a rack. i am glad so many of you love it. it seems like a giant turd to me. again learn how to rack, learn to check the rack you get, rack your own, if you want to learn to read a rack just a little, all of these things seem better to me than a paper rack. i'll bet the first time somone winds up getting screwed by one in a tournament or gambling it will be very useful to wipe with when they s*it themselves. if this is a product you love great - use it. i wouldn't be caught dead with it.

 

[Island Drive]

yes, i know that the dot is a necessary evil. and i still won't use a sheet of paper for a rack. i am glad so many of you love it. it seems like a giant turd to me. again learn how to rack, learn to check the rack you get, rack your own, if you want to learn to read a rack just a little, all of these things seem better to me than a paper rack. i'll bet the first time somone winds up getting screwed by one in a tournament or gambling it will be very useful to wipe with when they s*it themselves. if this is a product you love great - use it. i wouldn't be caught dead with it.

I've always thought the glue down/lickem stickem spots that are traditionally used....should be white in the middle so they don't mark up the head ball.

 

[3RAILKICK]

No rack-no issue?

I have watched broadcasts of pro tournaments from Europe (9ball/10ball) where there is no rack used at all. I believe there was a spot for the head ball. The rack was checked, adjusted if needed and play continued.

How do they do that? Are the balls tapped or pounded into (new) cloth to create mini-divots that allow the balls to lean on each other in place?

I think the tournament promoters could afford some sort of racks.

Maybe this could only work on new tournament cloth.

I tend to think I wouldn't like to shoot balls that rest on, or roll over a template on top of the felt. Skid?/hop? roll off?. Precision respotting sounds tough to do-especially with multiple balls very close to each other. Sort of like using a protective break cloth that doesn't get picked up in time to prevent wacky rolls.

I'm in favor of a good solid rack every time. But remove rack before breaking if some type of rack is used.

3railkick

 

[fsarfino]

I bought a magic rack recently while I like the rack it gives I almost think that it is too predictable. If you hit break correctly I will always make the wing ball and the one in the side. It almost feels like cheating.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

I think everyone should give it a try or watch people use it instead of guessing what it will do. I would say 95% of the time you can remove the rack with no balls coming to rest on it. The 9 doesn't move probably 99% of time.

Good or bad, all I know is it will freeze balls and give a perfect rack. If that is important to a player, pay the 10$.

Everyone except 1 player likes it in the weekly event I play... He rides the 9 every trip to the table. This rack isn't good for him cause the 9 doesn't move to the pockets.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

lol What a bitter little man you are. You sound like you make money off the idea. I don't know anybody that uses the paper rack. And I know an awful lot of people.
ps I don't need a piece of paper for 9 ball..another piece of paper for 10 ball..another piece of paper for 7 ball..another piece of paper for one pocket...etc.
I guess robichaud hopes someone moves the ball off the paper so he can call a foul and grab the $20.

I've played in big events and called fouls on myself, marked games when people forgot, told players they are shooting the wrong ball etc. You get a fair game from me... I like to win because of skill, not sharking.

Bitter... it was a joke! If you like riding 9's don't use this rack. $20... I play for more than $20's just ask!

I could do a video with the rack being used if anyone is interested!

 

[dabarbr]

Ok from I'm getting here is that this rack does give you an honest rack. I would think that this is what we all would want.

Brandon Crockett brought one in to our local room and we tried it for a few racks and I got to say that it does work. My question is how do you carry it around with you. It appears to be somewhat fragile. Is there a case for it. It doesn't look like something that can be folded. Is it durable? Will the holes get larger with time? Has anyone here had one for a good period of time?

 

[jay helfert]

At the recent World Ten Ball, when a ball came to rest on the Magic Rack, the referee offered the incoming player one of two options. Either play with the rack on the table (not really a problem) until the ball moves or is made, or mark the ball and then remove the rack, replacing the ball afterward. Works fine either way.

I hated the Magic Rack at first. Now I'm a believer. Simply put, it works! Great for Ten Ball too, as the ten ball rarely moves more than an inch or two. By using the Magic Rack, you could now have the ten count on the break, which is the way the game should be played anyway. Use of the Magic Rack eliminates one of the main problems plaguing 9-Ball (and Ten Ball) tournaments. I call them "racking wars", where players spend more time laboring over the rack then they do actually playing the game.

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

Just try it and then review it

At the recent World Ten Ball, when a ball came to rest on the Magic Rack, the referee offered the incoming player one of two options. Either play with the rack on the table (not really a problem) until the ball moves or is made, or mark the ball and then remove the rack, replacing the ball afterward. Works fine either way.

I hated the Magic Rack at first. Now I'm a believer. Simply put, it works! Great for Ten Ball too, as the ten ball rarely moves more than an inch or two. By using the Magic Rack, you could now have the ten count on the break, which is the way the game should be played anyway. Use of the Magic Rack eliminates one of the main problems plaguing 9-Ball (and Ten Ball) tournaments. I call them "racking wars", where players spend more time laboring over the rack then they do actually playing the game.

When Jay types, people listen (or sumtin like that). :thumbup:

I love it. I've been using the same magic rack for @ 8 months. In all my games not one opponent has come to dislike it. In the 3% of breaks where a ball remains on it, we always mark the ball and remove the rack. IT'S CAKE and it's second nature. Not an issue.

Seems the overwhelming # of detractors on this thread have never even tried it. Regardless of your initial impressions, I'd suggest you try it for a couple hour session and then offer a fully informed review.

Sorry, but just watch the 16 tables at the US Open at any given time. Someone said "learn how to rack" - well it's not that simple. There's so much time burned racking and bit*hing over racking, it's tiresome and takes away from the game.

And the mechanics that gain an unfair advantage be damned.
Magic Rack = a more honest game

10 ball is the game and magic rack is the bomb IMO. 9 ball is great too, but it IS so predictable. It's good to use if you like packages and have a good seat.

Please, just try it, pool will be better for it IMO. (and no, I don't sell or gain from my thumbs up on what I believe is the best pool invention of the decade).

ps: they used it for the World 10 ball in the Phillipines this year and on numerous other non-US tour stops. Seems the US is behind on this one. I have an opinion as to why, but that's a different controversial topic.

 

[metallicane]

Anyone have a picture of the Magic Rack?

 

[EZMoney]

Ok from I'm getting here is that this rack does give you an honest rack. I would think that this is what we all would want.

Brandon Crockett brought one in to our local room and we tried it for a few racks and I got to say that it does work. My question is how do you carry it around with you. It appears to be somewhat fragile. Is there a case for it. It doesn't look like something that can be folded. Is it durable? Will the holes get larger with time? Has anyone here had one for a good period of time?

I've used one now for 6 to 9 mths. It comes in a package of two, one 9B and one 10B rack. The 10 ball rack can be used as a 9b rack if needed. We use the 10B rack most of the time. It has worn some and could stand to be replaced. It's less than $10. The holes do get some what bigger and can produce a gap between the second and third ball. It seems to me that KK9 works that to his advantage.:smile: