Based on the picture do you think that the balls can be redirected by the template?
Break shot template rack
- Thread starter u12armresl
- Start date
I think the answer to the question is basically do you think you can slow a rolling car down with your foot?
Yeah, you can. But not always.
Yeah, you can. But not always.
Honestly in the pictured circumstance, I'd say no. If the template was made of a rigid material sure, but I have only seen a couple of what I would call 'off brand' templates that meet that characteristic.
Not to mention that moment appears to be after the head ball was struck during the break shot. The only ball that might touch the template in the next few moments (before the template settles) could possibly be the ten.
Not to mention that moment appears to be after the head ball was struck during the break shot. The only ball that might touch the template in the next few moments (before the template settles) could possibly be the ten.
I think if it did to any great extent they'd have stopped using them by now
Maybe I miss understood the intent in the OP.
Can a foreign object influence the path of a ball...?..., sure. Will it...?..., that's a different question. My exposure to quality templates lends me to believe that they will not effect ball path much more than a foot spot sticker will. Generally you need to put some effort into manually rolling a ball into a quality template on the necessary angle to effect path.
Personally, give me the perfect rack and I'll accept the small odds of a questionable roll.
I guess that's kind of what I'm saying. Unless it causes the balls to jump the table during a break it probably doesn't matter much since it is removed right away.
Does the spot routinely lift off the table though?
It is off the table in that picture and hasn't been moved away yet.
Just looking for people's thoughts.
Forgot to give credit to Mol Mike, it's from his page.
I leave it on the table when I use one and without actually tracking...
I'd guess it about 1/20 shots where i see a perceptible change to a ball's roll.
That isnt a permanent shape though. it would be much flatter at all times, except break shots.
Brake shots are of sufficient force to invoke the foot/ vehicle analogy. its a non-issue
Much of the conversation here is about a template on the table, not a template on the table at that moment.
That’s a amazing pic
Yes I think the balls can be redirected, but that’s just a opinion, a weak one at best.
Seems to me the faster the balls are going the less effect the template would have on their path.
From physics “A object in motion stays in motion until acted on my a outside force”
How velocity applies to that I don’t recall. I just know from a practical standpoint if on rolling a car it will be stopped by a curb, at 100mph I’ll go right over the curb(rip wheels).
At the end of the day I’ve never liked template racks. I know the rack mechanics like them, and some people for what ever reason. I’m not in either camp.
Wood Triangle please.
My best
Fatboy
If it did after striking the head ball in the same fashion would it matter...?
My thought..., it's a great pic to form an opinion around. However when you put it in context the template's vertical position is moot.
It seems as I may be misinterpreting the moniker of "rack mechanic". I always thought of a rack mechanic as one that 'tweaks' balls within a rack to gain an advantage. I wouldn't have thought someone wanting to alter the break results would like to use a template.
You heard correct.
I’ve been shown a few things, over the years by among the best “rackers” ever. I can’t make them work, it takes both the ability to “rack” and hit the CB perfectly to achieve meaningful results.
I didn’t put much effort into it and that not my thing anyways, but big advantages can be obtained using a template rack. Ethical and unethically.
To the credit of those who can exploit the template racks-it’s not easy. They work hard at it to get figure things out. And to be able to make adjustments for humidity, different tables etc. it’s a hell of a skill. I don’t endorse it, but it’s not tic-tak-toe easy.
Best
Fatboy <———never could break
I look at it this way, the table and balls and the break are all more or less random multiple factors to the shot. I just view the template rack as another factor that happens during the break, if it rolls off a bit here or there, it's no different than the balls randomly rolling around the table without it. I just think that is where they end up and don't worry if it's because of the rack or not. I don't see how the small amount of a possible change in final position is a drawback at all compared to the fact of getting a consistent solid rack every time with almost no effort. The randomness of a hand rack I bet creates way more variance in rolls than the template rack being on the table.