Any Reason Why the Did Away with the Magic Rack?

I'm used to using a triangle, so I have no firsthand knowledge of the Magic Rack.

The tables at the local poolhall have a small magic marker dot on the felt because supposedly the Master adhesive spots could sometimes redirect a slow moving ball.

Exactly how thin/thick are these Magic Racks that they can possibly impede a ball's path ?
 
I bought some clear Magic Racks at the US OPEN last yeat. Never ever had a issue. Other people tried them and thought they where great and wanted to start using them for our local tournaments. We received the black magic racks and started having some issues not getting the balls tight. We found the problem. The little triangles where just a hair bit bigger than the original clear racks. This was one hundred percent the problem because we had both the clear and the black racks.
 
dannyb78 said:
I bought some clear Magic Racks at the US OPEN last yeat. Never ever had a issue. Other people tried them and thought they where great and wanted to start using them for our local tournaments. We received the black magic racks and started having some issues not getting the balls tight. We found the problem. The little triangles where just a hair bit bigger than the original clear racks. This was one hundred percent the problem because we had both the clear and the black racks.
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That'll do it. So much fun dealing with plastic. I go through this with each batch of tubes and other plastic parts we do.
 
JB Cases said:
The guy who makes the Magic Rack posts here. I know him and I can tell you that they tested it extensively before going into production. You can break 100 racks and I'd be willing to to bet serious money that if those 100 breaks are filmed that the rack impedes the rolling balls less than 5x out of 100 if that in any way that adversely affects the layout of the balls after the break.

For whatever reason it's the exception that they were having problems at the Mosconi Cup. The Magic Rack works perfectly, even too perfectly as it's really a perfect rack every time. I love it for the perfect racks. I hate it for the perfect racks. Only because people better than me are able to put packages on me where I have a little more of a chance if they don't get two balls in on the break every time. :-)

I guess I should just get better and then I can run packages!
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Agree 100% John. I've played sets in which we leave it on the table the whole time and NO issues. I would say even less than 5 in 100 racks causes even the slightest issue. And of course, a crappy loose rack *influences the path of the balls WAY MORE, EVERY TIME!!!* Food for thought (for those who think...)

KMRUNOUT
 
Actually that quote was first made by "Bert" (George C. Scott) talking to Fast Eddie. Eddie repeated it at the end of movie when he was beating
Fats.:wink:
 
I dont like the magic rack for 9 ball, especially at the mosconi cup. Break too hard and you blow your best chance at making the 1 ball. I'd much rather see self racking, or 10 ball with the magic rack.
 
rrich1 said:
it can affect the roll of a ball. if the ball is rolling slow enough it will stop on the MR
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Personally this is why I dont like the MR. Not that at my level Im having troubles with it, but at pro level everyone takes away the smallest dust of the cloth... but they leave a big piece of plastic on the table?
 
Goodbye and good riddance!!

Racking the balls is part of the game. It's a skill most have perfected in our development long before we shoot well enough to win the privilege of breaking much. If you can't rack the balls then you probably can't shoot straight either. Do yourself and pool a favor and find a new hobby.

Gimmick racks to achieve the "perfect" rack are like cloning humans. Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should. I can't wait until common sense returns and those things are rejected for good by real pool players. Sounds like it's started already. Hallelujah!!
 
Everyone thinks that the MR is ALL about freezing all the balls. It is not. Ultimately, it is ALL about making balls on the break. If the MR assured everyone, every time, that a ball would NEVER go on the break, no one would like it and no one would use it. The MR is merely a trick shot template that significantly increases the breakers chances of making a ball on the break. Certain balls are wired to certain pockets under certain conditions and in addition, more balls are slopped in.

I am not sure what any of this has to do with playing good pool and if the outcome of matches should ride on slopped and wired balls on the break.

This whole process reminds me of the Sardo Rack. History repeats itself. One of these days, some very good players are going to think this thing all the way through. Until then we will continue to chase our tails. The front end of our favorite games are a mess.
 
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FTR, I purchased the MR set a couple of months ago. They are black. I had to peel a blue film off of the 8-ball version but not the 9/10-ball version. I seldom use the 8-ball version, but frequently use the 9/10-ball version on my home table during practice sessions. After I broke a few racks with it, the 9/10-ball Magic Rack now curls under at the apex. It will only lay flat on the table if there are balls sitting on it. This DOES change the direction of slow-rolling balls a lot more than I consider acceptable for a "serious" game of pool. I have seen with my own eyes on many occasions during the break shot a ball rolling toward the back of the rack come to a complete stop after contacting the back portion of the rack. So there are two places on the rack that impedes balls, at least on my table.

I do like the MR as it does give one a truly tight rack. It's great for practicing or rereational playing. I stop short of calling it perfect as it does impede ball movement on occasion. On a table with a well-worn breaking area, it's the nutz. On a tournament table with new-to-fairly new cloth, I don't feel it's necessary. What's more necessary imo are more stringent rules about racking/re-racking (some pros are just absolutely too not-picky). Maybe a time clock for racking (when racking your own) or a maximum number of times you can re-rack the balls (better take a rack if you get them close as it may be the best rack you get in this scenario).

Just my $,02.

Maniac (would pick the Delta-13 if I HAD to choose only one)
 
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Paul Schofield said:
Everyone thinks that the MR is ALL about freezing all the balls. It is not. Ultimately, it is ALL about making balls on the break. If the MR assured everyone, every time, that a ball would NEVER go on the break, no one would like it and no one would use it.
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This is true and I will add that I almost ALWAYS make a ball or two (or three ;)) on the break using the MR.

Maniac
 
Paul Schofield said:
Everyone thinks that the MR is ALL about freezing all the balls. It is not. Ultimately, it is ALL about making balls on the break. If the MR assured everyone, every time, that a ball would NEVER go on the break, no one would like it and no one would use it. The MR is merely a trick shot template that significantly increases the breakers chances of making a ball on the break. Certain balls are wired to certain pockets under certain conditions and in addition, more balls are slopped in.
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I don't agree with this. If this was true then why has ten ball continued to gain momentum at the expense of 9 Ball even since the MR has been out?

I do agree that certain balls are wired in 9 ball but not because of the MR, just because that's the way it is with 9 Ball if given a proper tight rack with ANY device. I also agree that no one would like the MR if you were guaranteed a dry break as you say, but that would be true with any racking system. Everyone wants to have at least a chance to make a ball on the snap.
 
smoooothstroke said:
Been using the magic rack quite a bit.On most breaks the 9ball rolls slowly towards the foot spot and will stop when it hits the mr.
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I've noticed that too when I've used them. Even if the 9 ball would only have rolled a small amount more if the Magic Rack was not there it is definitely altering it's movement and tends to result in identical 9 ball placement after every break.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
I don't agree with this. If this was true then why has ten ball continued to gain momentum at the expense of 9 Ball even since the MR has been out?

I do agree that certain balls are wired in 9 ball but not because of the MR, just because that's the way it is with 9 Ball if given a proper tight rack with ANY device. I also agree that no one would like the MR if you were guaranteed a dry break as you say, but that would be true with any racking system. Everyone wants to have at least a chance to make a ball on the snap.
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Ten-Ball is nowhere and it is staying there. It is a cult game for the elite.
 
Maniac & Dogs Playing Pool,

It's about time you two showed a sense of humor. We are talking pool and not politics, thank goodness. Pool is fun.

I only wish that the pros would do something relevant. Everything that they do, right down to the games they play, is of little significance to the regular poolroom.

This MR thing is really out there. Sometimes, the best way to address a problem is to just get rid of the problem rather than trying to fix it. Think about it. (I have had customers that were a problem.)
 
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Mickey Qualls said:
I'm used to using a triangle, so I have no firsthand knowledge of the Magic Rack.

The tables at the local poolhall have a small magic marker dot on the felt because supposedly the Master adhesive spots could sometimes redirect a slow moving ball.

Exactly how thin/thick are these Magic Racks that they can possibly impede a ball's path ?
Click to expand...

In pro snooker they elimated the spots a fair while back and replaced them with tiny white 'x's because the spots affect the roll of the ball.
 
Paul Schofield said:
This whole process reminds me of the Sardo Rack. History repeats itself. One of these days, some very good players are going to think this thing all the way through. Until then we will continue to chase our tails. The front end of our favorite games are a mess.
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AMEN!:cool:
 
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