9-Ball Racking Question

no they do not

By the rules, all the other balls should be at random every rack.

If you watch matches like at the US OPEN when they play rack your own, you will notice a lot of the players will rack the exact same rack every time. They have a good idea where each ball will go after the break and the path for a break and run is similar every rack.

cleary said:

If you watch matches like at the US OPEN when they play rack your own, you will notice a lot of the players will rack the exact same rack every time. They have a good idea where each ball will go after the break and the path for a break and run is similar every rack.

Click to expand...

I've seen that and I've seen refs do it. By the rules as I understand them this is cheating. If we want to be deliberate about where the balls in the rack should be, we need to change the rules.

Obviously every table breaks a little different and every player has shots that they like and dislike, but isn't there a layout that is supposed to produce a more difficult runout and one that is supposed to produce an easier runout?

Poolfiend said:

Obviously every table breaks a little different and every player has shots that they like and dislike, but isn't there a layout that is supposed to produce a more difficult runout and one that is supposed to produce an easier runout?

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Yes, and opinions vary on it. There are several books that address just that.

There is definitely an easier setup and a harder setup, which is why the rule is in place at all. If your opponent or ref is racking a certain pattern every time, and it is obviously the same pattern every time, I would call them on it (unless they're giving you the easier rack of course )

Anyone care to share the two different racking orders for hardest and easiest layouts.

Who wrote the book on racking secrets?

Thank you in advance.

Joe Tucker

Poolfiend said:

Anyone care to share the two different racking orders for hardest and easiest layouts.

Who wrote the book on racking secrets?

Thank you in advance.

Click to expand...

Joe wrote the book on racking secrets in 1999 and it is still the bible of racking. I know several great players who swear by it.

Poolfiend said:

Who wrote the book on racking secrets?

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Joe Tucker... DVD now available.

If you ever play me, rack like this for me:

1
38
695
47
2

And Ill rack like this for you:

1
35
697
24
8

cleary said:

If you ever play me, rack like this for me:

1
38
695
47
2

And Ill rack like this for you:

1
35
697
24
8

Click to expand...

Printing.........
I'm going to play around with this a bit tonight.

Where do the balls go?

Poolfiend said:

Anyone care to share the two different racking orders for hardest and easiest layouts.

Who wrote the book on racking secrets?

Thank you in advance.

Click to expand...

Bob Jewett has an article on his web site by Dr. George Onoda. On pages 6 & 7 in this seven article .pdf file, he shows where the balls actually go when broke in a 9 ball rack and the speed that they travel. Very interesting read. http://www.sfbilliards.com/onoda_all_txt.pdf

Also, all Bob's articles are very interesting and knowledgeable for all pool players. They can be found at, http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/BD_articles.html

When racking for me, I place the balls as follows
1
38 (three on the side I am breaking from)
596
47
2

This will allow the 2 to come up table with the 1 and the cue ball. The 3 will stay somewhere around the side pocket for easier position playing.

If you are breaking, I rack about the same, but, I put the 2 where the 5 was and the 3 where the 2 was. This will keep the 2 at that end of the table away from the 1 and the 3 back up in the location of the 1. So the opponent has to go back and forth from one end to the other.

Edited to remove one of the 5's. Got caught..

klockdoc said:

When racking for me, I place the balls as follows
1
38 (three on the side I am breaking from)
596
45
2

Click to expand...

You should trade in one of your 5 balls for a 7 ball.

I know I wasn't the original poster, but thank you to all for the info.

9-ball rack

cleary said:

If you watch matches like at the US OPEN when they play rack your own, you will notice a lot of the players will rack the exact same rack every time. They have a good idea where each ball will go after the break and the path for a break and run is similar every rack.

Click to expand...

<<<<<<,,and thats the "Truth" if it ever was told!


David Harcrow

longhair said:

I've seen that and I've seen refs do it. By the rules as I understand them this is cheating. If we want to be deliberate about where the balls in the rack should be, we need to change the rules.

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The rule is somewhat ambiguous. It does not say that the balls (other than the 9) must be racked "randomly" but in random ORDER.

The argument could be made that so long as they are not racked in consecutive numeric order...1,2,3,9,4,5,6,7,8 that the ORDER is therefore random.

I don't agree with that because "random" means

1. Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective:

So, if a player racks the same way every time, there clearly is a pattern, purpose and objective.

Problem is that few refs are english majors. And even if they were, other than blindfolding the racker there would be no way to PROVE intentional ball placement.

Even if a specific ball ends up in exactly the same place, say, 3 times in a row, probabilities suggest that can happen randomly.

Besides, tactical racking is an age old practice and even property LAW can be changed by "custom and practices."

I think there would be little chance of getting the true random racking rule enforced in tournements and zero in gambling matches.

Regards,
Jim


5.2 RACKING THE BALLS
The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot
spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as
possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string.

cleary said:

You should trade in one of your 5 balls for a 7 ball.

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If I have two 5's, it is easier to get position on the 6. LOL My mistake. Thanks for catching. At work and in a rush to get home.