Derby 9ball rack mechanics

nathandumoulin

WPBL / RUNOUT MEDIA
Silver Member
I won't include names, but watch how the player on the TV table racks the balls, then taps the head ball to ensure the head ball is tight.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Now watch what he's really doing. He's pushing the 1ball into the rack not to freeze it, but rather so that it indirectly applies pressure and loosens the wing ball.

Don't believe it? Watch the players body language. Its clear as day that he's not looking at the 1ball at all while he does it.

Touching the balls after the rack is removed should be banned.

EDIT: More details in my other post further down the page, on how this can be accomplished a second way without removing the rack).
 
Last edited:
The only open tournament I've ever played was the Poison Tour in FL. It's rack your own, but you are not allowed to touch the 1ball.

Now I know why.
 
The last US Open was a class in rack mechanics 101, and the tourney was won by one of those givng the lesson (although he was by no means the only one).

Rack your own 9-ball is a broken game, we have known this for decades and yet tourney directors still set up things so they come out like this.
 
Racking is the ruination of professional pool.

Well, one of many reasons.

I'd rather watch water boil than watch the racking "wars" during a professional pool tournament.

Maniac
 
The last US Open was a class in rack mechanics 101, and the tourney was won by one of those givng the lesson (although he was by no means the only one.

Exactly. He was able to wire the wing ball while hitting the head ball head on from the break box. That should be impossible to do consistently without mechanics.

The difference there was that he was spinning the back 3 balls with his palms when racking, to create the space *behind* the wing ball. Similar result as tapping the 1ball as I mentioned in the first post.
 
stop any and all the "Usual Suspects"

Cheaters gonna cheat!

I would like to see the rules changed where there's a MANDATORY roll out after the break. This would make the game much more skillful and stop any and all the "Usual Suspects". ;)
the-usual-suspects-1995-poster-eoh1b.jpg
The Rack Illuminati
 
I would like to see the rules changed where there's a MANDATORY roll out after the break. This would make the game much more skillful and stop any and all the "Usual Suspects"

There's a solution from a man who definitely thinks "outside of the box".

It's a step in the right direction. I like it (at least in a tornament format).

Maniac
 
I would like to see a must push out after the break. I would also love to see them get rid of BIH anywhere on the table, and just go to BIH in the kitchen.
 
I would like to see a must push out after the break. I would also love to see them get rid of BIH anywhere on the table, and just go to BIH in the kitchen.

That doesn't make much sense to me. Depending on the location of the lowest numbered ball on the table, it would be beneficial to take an intentional scratch often.

The mandatory pushout is definitely a viable solution to solve the racking issue, but it slows the game right down.
 
That doesn't make much sense to me. Depending on the location of the lowest numbered ball on the table, it would be beneficial to take an intentional scratch often.

The mandatory pushout is definitely a viable solution to solve the racking issue, but it slows the game right down.

You could always make it so the lowest numbered ball (if behind the line) would just get put on the spot. Problem solved.

As for push outs slowing the game down. Possibly. People have put so much emphasis on trying to cater the game to your average non pool playing viewer. But guess what? They aren't watching pool or supporting the players or paid streams.
 
I won't include names, but watch how the player on the TV table racks the balls, then taps the head ball to ensure the head ball is tight.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Now watch what he's really doing. He's pushing the 1ball into the rack not to freeze it, but rather so that it indirectly applies pressure and loosens the wing ball.

Don't believe it? Watch the players body language. Its clear as day that he's not looking at the 1ball at all while he does it.

Touching the balls after the rack is removed should be banned.

EDIT: More details in my other post further down the page, on how this can be accomplished a second way without removing the rack).

Good eye Nathan, never would have caught that. Interesting ......
 
9-ball is broken at the higher levels of play and alternating break works in favor of the weaker player(s)

And......there's still PLENTY of bit-chen goin' on even in rack your own 10-ball matches.

P*ssing and moaning about the rack and the unbelievable long time it takes some players to achieve what they believe to be an adequate rack is killing the enthusiasm of the spectators/viewers.

Definitely a player should NOT be allowed to tweak the rack with his/her fingers once the rack has been lifted. They should lose their right to break (or their next break if that particular offense was not during their break).

I still like the mandantory push-out rule after the break if they can't find another way to stop all this racking NONSENSE.

Maniac
 
Magic rack. Everyone gets the exact same rack, no one can b*tch and whine about it. No one would be able to win anything because of their racking aptitude.
 
Magic rack. Everyone gets the exact same rack, no one can b*tch and whine about it. No one would be able to win anything because of their racking aptitude.

Seriously??? You've never heard anybody b*tch about the MagicRack???

I personally don't like it for professional pool, especially 9-ball. Too easy to make a ball on the break. Heck, I personally know an APA SL2 that has made a ball on virtually every break I have seen her attempt using the MR, and it is over 20 break attempts (and normally, her breaking sux, big time). Wing ball is wired to the corner pocket (9-ball rack).

Maniac
 
Back
Top