9-ball rack

[CueHunter]

A question for you guys. When racking for your opponent in 9-ball, is there a certain order that you put the balls that make it more difficult for him/her to run out? I usually just put the 1 in the front and 9 in the center and not worry about the rest. Some people tell me there is an order to put them in that makes it harder anyway. Thanks.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Usually, if it is someone I know can run out, I'll make sure the 3 is up front with the 1 and the 2 is at the rear. That's about the extent of my rack planning.

 

[Zims Rack]

9 ball rack...

1
3 5
6 9 7
2 4
8

That's what I read one time in Billiards Digest and also from a couple Instructors. I seems to work well for me (when they pocket something), because 90% of the breaks the player has to go up/down table to the next shot.

Zim

 

[DoomCue]

1
3 5
6 9 7
2 4
8

That's what I read one time in Billiards Digest and also from a couple Instructors. I seems to work well for me (when they pocket something), because 90% of the breaks the player has to go up/down table to the next shot.

Zim

A friend of mine also swears by exactly this same rack. I've not found it to cause any more "up/down" play than other racks. The idea is that the 2 goes up table and the 3 stays by the foot, but if you break from the side (break from the side opposite the 3), you can also cause the 3 to come up table. Since the 4 will be coming up table (it's in the next to the last row), the supposed advantage gained by this rack is nullified.

BTW, in a tournament, if I see a player rack the balls the same way twice in a row, I'll ask for a re-rack. Other than the 1 and 9, the rules specify a "random" order....

-djb

 

[Head Hunter]

1
83
496
72
5


Was told once that it makes it harder to run out.
To make it easier you switch the 7 and the 3.

Don't know if it really works, but I always rack that way. I'm a little obsessive compulsive though, so it just doesn't look right if I don't

 

[Jon]

1
3 5
6 9 7
2 4
8

That's what I read one time in Billiards Digest and also from a couple Instructors. I seems to work well for me (when they pocket something), because 90% of the breaks the player has to go up/down table to the next shot.

Zim

hey zim,
that is the same rack i always use, but mirrored over , it just habit, by now, i think...

i've played the ghost racking random, and racking that way, and more times than not, the
1
53
796
42
8
makes a harder runout... JMHO

Thanks

Jon

 

[jjinfla]

The Florida Pro Tour allows players to rack their own with the stipulation that the 3 is above the 9 and the 2 alongside or below the 9.

In Sigel's video he recommends the 3 above and the 2 below the 9. With them both being on the opposite side the person is breaking from. With the hope that the 1 and 3 go up table and the 2 stays down table near the rail.

Then if the person is making the 1 on the break he switches the 2 and 3.

And of course if there is a spot ball it goes in row 2.

In practice I always rack 1 - 2,3 - 4,9,5 - 6,7 - 8
Then after the break I can always tell which ball went where.

But does it all matter? Probably not too much because running out is the exception among the players in the tournaments here.

Jake