Karl Boyes comments on racking

spartan

spartan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So Karl Boyes was guest commentator at World Cup of Pool Round 1 match between USA and Qatar.
He made some strong comments on racking of Shane and Mike Dechaine https://youtu.be/1XpqRlQQEwk?t=2124

Basically, he griped about rack reading by SVB and MD. He thought it is "massive advantage" and then exclaims that he considers it "cheating".

Is it sour grapes on his part?

I may be wrong but there is no rule against rack reading. Like in WCOP, players are allowed to view (or read) the rack but they cannot ask for rerack,
Maybe some rack experts can weigh in. :)
 
Takes one to know one, I guess.

FWIW, they all do it. Don't think they don't. :wink:
 
If all the balls aren't touching its a problem.

If there's gaps and a re-rack isn't an option, you should probably learn what each gap means.
 
I think it is cheating when they are purposely placed there. Of course that did not apply to world cup but it happens.
 
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I was shocked in the WCOP how many players just broke wide open like it was the 1980s. Cueball wasn't even under control half of the time.

How much practice does it take to get a consistent break making the wing ball, another to play the 1 in the side and a cut break? Then sure break #4 could be the gorilla break. I'd expect a professional pool player to be prepared to play the most important shot of the game. Sounds like laziness to me.
 
Aloha

I was personally turned off by the commentary that came from Karl, I did not see it as being very professional. His racking comments were just some of them...I.E....just prior to the Christmas card statements.

I think Karl might want to grow up and put on his big Boyes panties if he plans on doing more commentary. Then maybe grow up and learn how to read a rack, it might actually help his game.

Aloha
 
What a cry baby....:crying::crying::crying::crying:

Boo-Hoo.....I hope he draws Earl in the Open.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
What does Boyes say should be done about it? Not permit looking at the rack?

pj
chgo
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I don't think he has a solution, other than maybe magic racking.

The point is, he finds it frustrating to feel the need to put months or years into becoming a rack mechanic to compete on an equal basis.

And I think he has a good point.

But then again, the whole break dominance issue is a problem the game has, as quite a few have commented over the years. None of the traditional games had this issue.

Colin
 
I didn't like the way Karl commented but I do feel he is right. I have had many conversations about racking lately as there are 2 sides, the players who like to control the rack and those that want an even playing field using the magic rack. I do believe that it is very old school to still be using traditional triangles to rack and having loose balls therefore I feel magic racks should be used exclusively.
 
spartan said:
So Karl Boyes was guest commentator at World Cup of Pool Round 1 match between USA and Qatar.
He made some strong comments on racking of Shane and Mike Dechaine https://youtu.be/1XpqRlQQEwk?t=2124

Basically, he griped about rack reading by SVB and MD. He thought it is "massive advantage" and then exclaims that he considers it "cheating".

Is it sour grapes on his part?

I may be wrong but there is no rule against rack reading. Like in WCOP, players are allowed to view (or read) the rack but they cannot ask for rerack,
Maybe some rack experts can weigh in. :)
Click to expand...

Naw, you're right on point, Spartan. Racking reading is cheating? That's ridiculous!
Golfers read the greens, shooters read to wind conditions, and bowlers read the lane for patterns. What? Is all this cheating? Hell, no.
It behooves sportsmen/women to know what the current conditions are so as to make
strategic moves.

I like Boyles, but for him to inject this into the commentary about pool players reading the rack as bad, is nothing more than him trying to simply create dialogue as a commentary. Think of something else to say when being a commentator.
 
boogeyman said:
Naw, you're right on point, Spartan. Racking reading is cheating? That's ridiculous!
Golfers read the greens, shooters read to wind conditions, and bowlers read the lane for patterns. What? Is all this cheating? Hell, no.
It behooves sportsmen/women to know what the current conditions are so as to make
strategic moves.

I like Boyles, but for him to inject this into the commentary about pool players reading the rack as bad, is nothing more than him trying to simply create dialogue as a commentary. Think of something else to say when being a commentator.
Click to expand...

Do you think it is cheating to rack your own gaps in the U.S. open like Karl was talking about?
 
Colin Colenso said:
I don't think he has a solution, other than maybe magic racking.

The point is, he finds it frustrating to feel the need to put months or years into becoming a rack mechanic to compete on an equal basis.

And I think he has a good point.

But then again, the whole break dominance issue is a problem the game has, as quite a few have commented over the years. None of the traditional games had this issue.

Colin
Click to expand...

The break is a part of the game. I'd be willing to attribute most of that dominance to people who practiced the most. Its certainly not a body type advantage considering how Alex breaks 10 ball. Not very many pros take the game as seriously as a career or their own business. Its like having a great short game but having to hit the ball over 250 and you are ******. So now we have to even the playing field for the guy who can't hit off the tee very far? Do we play on 400 yd max holes now? I can't stand the idea of creating rules that limit the players that worked their asses off and benefits those that don't care to learn. The whole Chris Melling "If I knew how to rack the balls I would have won" BS is the worst mentality an athlete can have.
 
Tooler said:
They use the Accu Rack in the open, so how is it possible......?
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I've used the old accurack and it can be manipulated... I'm pretty sure the new one can too.

Besides last year the wooden rack was used.



Do you feel like racking gaps on purpose is cheating?
 
(((Satori))) said:
Do you think it is cheating to rack your own gaps in the U.S. open like Karl was talking about?
Click to expand...

I do think this was the point Boyes was trying to make about the U.S. Open, and I would agree with him that intentionally leaving gaps between the balls when racking is cheating.

OTOH, understanding the behavior of the balls on different breaks and different racks just seems to me to be naturally part of the game that a professional would want to learn about and understand.

In a perfect world every match would have a neutral racker, there would be no gaps between any of the balls, and none of the balls would be wired on the break. I think it takes away from the game when the wing ball is wired for the corner pocket, for example, but I don't have a problem with trying to make the 1 in the side or cross-corner with the cut break.
 
spartan said:
So Karl Boyes was guest commentator at World Cup of Pool Round 1 match between USA and Qatar.
He made some strong comments on racking of Shane and Mike Dechaine https://youtu.be/1XpqRlQQEwk?t=2124

Basically, he griped about rack reading by SVB and MD. He thought it is "massive advantage" and then exclaims that he considers it "cheating".

Is it sour grapes on his part?

I may be wrong but there is no rule against rack reading. Like in WCOP, players are allowed to view (or read) the rack but they cannot ask for rerack,
Maybe some rack experts can weigh in. :)
Click to expand...

I didn't think what he said was that bad. The "advantage" part was just pointing out the truth, and the "cheating" part he said kind of light-heartedly, almost like he could have been mildly joking. Even still, it was just his opinion, which he said as much. He didn't really insult anyone, he just disagreed with rack-reading.

Anyway, nothing wrong with rack-reading. It's the natural evolution of the game. Any time a player uses their knowledge within the rules, it's perfectly fine. That's the nature of competition.
 
(((Satori))) said:
I've used the old accurack and it can be manipulated... I'm pretty sure the new one can too.

Besides last year the wooden rack was used.



Do you feel like racking gaps on purpose is cheating?
Click to expand...


No, I don't consider it cheating. I consider it adjusting to the table conditions. This isn't golf, Other than 14.1, It's never going to be a gentleman's game. It's a hustlers game. EVERYBODY is looking for an edge.
If everyone is using the same racks, or if a neutral racker is being used, and/or, your racking your own,you better learn how to read a rack And if your racking your own, your opponent is allowed to look at your rack.....
Racking 9 ball has been going on now for what, around 60 years...? It's always going to be controversial, so why not learn how to at least, read the rack, instead of *****ing about someone who does it better than you.

The only thing I would change is put a clock on it. Nobody wants to watch someone standing over a rack for 3 minutes trying to get it just right.....lol.:eek:

You ever notice how some of the players don't even bother looking? They don't care.:rolleyes:
 
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