9 Ball Pattern Racking - Random 1 Ball Placement

HawaiianEye

HawaiianEye

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Aloha,

With all the discussions of "pattern racking", "rack mechanics", "placing the 9 ball on the spot", etc, etc., has anyone ever considerd racking the ONE ball randomly in the rack (as opposed to being the front ball)?

I think randomly racking all the balls, except for the 9 in the middle, would make the game a bit more "random". As long as the breaker can make a ball and "somewhat" control the cue ball and the ONE, they have a better chance of "controlling" the break. If the ONE ball was placed randomly from rack to rack, the breaker may no longer be able to "control" where the ONE ball goes on a consistent basis. I would suggest that the breaker be required to hit whatever ball is the "front" ball on the break.

Anybody got any ideas on this?
 
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How about that the nine no longer counts as a win on the break and the one ball is spotted if pocketed on a break?

Edit: this would be in addition to your suggestion above.
 
HawaiianEye said:
Aloha

With all the discussions of "pattern racking", "rack mechanics", "placing the 9 ball on the spot", etc, etc., has anyone ever considerd racking the ONE ball randomly in the rack (as opposed to being the front ball)?

I think randomly racking all the balls, except for the 9 in the middle, would make the game a bit more "random". As long as the breaker can make a ball and "somewhat" control the cue ball and the ONE, they have a better chance of "controlling" the break. If the ONE ball was placed randomly from rack to rack, the breaker may no longer be able to "control" where the ONE ball goes on a consistent basis.

Anybody got any ideas on this?
Click to expand...

Noble idea, but I think strong players would "randomly" put the 1 ball where it benefits them. Random racking for people in the know, ain't random.

For the rest of the people playing, that's an interesting idea.
 
Ah, how about this: Rack with all 15 balls, but with the one in front and nine the middle, followed by the convention 9 ball rack formation. Only supplement the rack with the remaining 6 balls in the corners of the rack. This would allow for a lot of "random" interplay between the balls during a break. Then after the dust settles, remove any of the remaining balls numbering 10 through 15. You could also stipulate that the breaker can only continue shooting only if balls 1 - 9 are pocketed on the snap.

Hmmm...I kinda like that. Might give it a go...
 
What happens if the breaker cannot legally contact the 1-ball first on the break shot ? (buried in the middle of the rack)

edit: oops didnt see that the front ball is the legal contact ball for the break (or it was a late edit) - ok so far so good.

Who determines what 'random' is ?
Who does the racking ?

I see problems, problems, problems...
Play 10-ball if 9-ball is too easy / too monotonous ?

edit: The 15 ball rack then removing balls 10 - 15 is a very interesting idea !
Cheers.
 
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KoolKat9Lives said:
Noble idea, but I think strong players would "randomly" put the 1 ball where it benefits them. Random racking for people in the know, ain't random.

For the rest of the people playing, that's an interesting idea.
Click to expand...

I agree, but this would require "knowing" where the ball "may" go to from one of the eight different placements it could be in the rack on any occasion. MOST players can't even control the ONE from the headspot on the break.

I actually have NO PROBLEM with ANYONE racking THEIR OWN and using a PATTERN if their opponent has the SAME OPTION. If you still lose with these rules, then maybe the other person is better.
 
Why are we trying to add more luck / rolls / randomness to a game that is already notoriously lucky?

Go check the stats again if you think the 9b break needs (even more) fixing.
AtLarge tracked 585 games of the 2013 US Open. Of those, the breaker won 326 times.
That's 56% of the time.

You wanna take away that small 6% edge and just make it a true coin flip?

I think players controlling the 1 ball is already a solved "problem" -
The break box forces them to cut break. The 1 might go in, or bank 1 rail near the corner.
The cue ball flies into the path of many object balls and gets kicked around.

Watching Shane vs. Corey might make you think we need to change this but remember
that A: they permitted break outside the box and B: these are the world's best.
The other 99% of us can get shafted on the break all on our own, without randomly screwing with the 1 ball.
 
CreeDo said:
Why are we trying to add more luck / rolls / randomness to a game that is already notoriously lucky?

Go check the stats again if you think the 9b break needs (even more) fixing.
AtLarge tracked 585 games of the 2013 US Open. Of those, the breaker won 326 times.
That's 56% of the time.

You wanna take away that small 6% edge and just make it a true coin flip?

I think players controlling the 1 ball is already a solved "problem" -
The break box forces them to cut break. The 1 might go in, or bank 1 rail near the corner.
The cue ball flies into the path of many object balls and gets kicked around.

Watching Shane vs. Corey might make you think we need to change this but remember
that A: they permitted break outside the box and B: these are the world's best.
The other 99% of us can get shafted on the break all on our own, without randomly screwing with the 1 ball.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, I have NO PROBLEM with the current way things are done. I just get tired of hearing everyone complaining about racking. I think the FAIREST way is using the Magic Rack and racking your own. I'm sure there is some way of "rigging" no matter which way you do it, but this seems to me to be the simplest way of fixing what people perceive as a problem.
 
soft break 9 Ball

i watch that clip of Cory D this morning when i got up where he was soft breaking and i watch where he put the balls.he did move the balls around a little other then 2 ball and 8 ball..now keep in mind i have just got up.i said what the crap im going break off a few racks like this and try it..after about 7 or 8 racks finally got my speed slow down right..then i went on to break and run 5 without taking BIH this was on a 9ft Diamond with 4.25 pockets i also was using the magic rack as well. the six rack i broke them bad..i have run more then five racks before on a good day..but thing was going good and i was in stroke..this morning i wasn't in stroke haven't even played in about 4 days..haven't try it again as of yet..just got back home.. it might have been beginner luck.lol but im going to mess with it alittle when i get time tonight for sure..not sure it would help me around here in tournaments no one uses Magic Racks..i just wish i could get the balls to rack right without the magic rack
 
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lmfao...just silly.

Either you can play run out pool or you can't.it's that simple.

Sure you have some that screw with the rack that try an tweak it
this way or that way off center..forward or back..but
I like to think most do not..yet there are those who cheat weather
their pro or not.

Play the game..stop messing with it..your either one of the greats or
your not..AND you never will be..so play for second or 33rd..lol.
 
scratchs said:
lmfao...just silly.

Either you can play run out pool or you can't.it's that simple.

Sure you have some that screw with the rack that try an tweak it
this way or that way off center..forward or back..but
I like to think most do not..yet there are those who cheat weather
their pro or not.

Play the game..stop messing with it..your either one of the greats or
your not..AND you never will be..so play for second or 33rd..lol.
Click to expand...

exactly................

Kim
 
How about we leave 9 ball as it is and stop trying fix what isn't broke.
It's a game if you don't like it don't play.
 
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