Any idea how they marked this nice thin outline around the rack? I want to do the same.
How to make perfect rack outline on cloth?
- Thread starter FeelDaShot
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boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Looks like they used a tailor's pencil. You just trace around the rack (make sure it's straight!).
On mine I used a pink colored sharpie from my wife's craft room. They sell them at hobby/craft stores. It's less distracting than a solid black outline, kind of blends into tournament blue a bit. You don't see it until you want to see it. I'm a big proponent on avoiding visual distractions. You want the shot picture to look right and not have added noise. If the added visual noise even results in one miss out of a hundred, that's too much!
She had some set of sharpies with probably twenty different colors in it. I used a scrap cloth to test them all and pink looked the best to me.
On mine I used a pink colored sharpie from my wife's craft room. They sell them at hobby/craft stores. It's less distracting than a solid black outline, kind of blends into tournament blue a bit. You don't see it until you want to see it. I'm a big proponent on avoiding visual distractions. You want the shot picture to look right and not have added noise. If the added visual noise even results in one miss out of a hundred, that's too much!
She had some set of sharpies with probably twenty different colors in it. I used a scrap cloth to test them all and pink looked the best to me.
CaptainBly
Registered
I use a # 2 pencil. Makes a line that can be seen but is thin and not distracting.
a rack and a marker
I used a fine point black sharpie. You need to be careful, though while supposedly permanent, after a year of routine table cleaning it’s mostly faded away. I drew the line with a thin metal triangle, but I typically rack with a larger Diamond wood model, and switch back when the last ball is close to the line.
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Buy the Dritz® White Water Soluble Marking Pencils, 12ct. at Michaels.com. The Dritz Water Soluble Marking Pencils are just what you need for marking pleats, buttonholes and darts. It is also great for transferring pattern markings and many other sewing and quilting projects.
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That outline may look really neat at first but it is too thick. For deciding in/out for a straight pool break ball, it's better not to have ambiguity in which part of the line you use.
Besides the simple pencils above, Dritz also makes this, which is what I use. It wears off in a couple of weeks. You get a choice of colors. About $13.
![CropperCapture[843].png](https://forums.azbilliards.com/attachments/croppercapture-843-png.621694/ "CropperCapture[843].png")
Besides the simple pencils above, Dritz also makes this, which is what I use. It wears off in a couple of weeks. You get a choice of colors. About $13.
The stores do still exist. JoAnn's and Michael's fabric/craft/hobby stores. They both carry Dritz products.
I can’t do it because I can’t draw. But I have someone who can use a triangle and a Sharpie or the pencil thing. I also get a straight edge and have a line go from the bottom of the rail to the top of the rack-a straight line to spot balls on or close to depending on traffic.
Is there any benefit to using a laser level to keep lines straight ?
You must play a lot of ‘Line-up’ (seems rather pointless otherwise, to draw the line that far). BTW: I find that extending the line past the footspot somewhat helps square up racking (if you also have a corresponding line on the triangle point).
Just don’t use a carpenter’s chalk line (like I did). Some chalk colors are near impossible to clean off the cloth.
How would you get the chalk/ink/pencil onto the table using a laser? I think you still need a ruler or something.
If you are going to play straight pool, it's essential. If not, I think most rack marking is unnecessary.
We prefer just drawing crosshair lines through the foot spot in our racking area, extending vertically above and below the top and bottom of the rack and also extending horizontally left and right outside of the sides of the rack. That assures the head ball is squared up on the spot, the rear ball is squared up, the wing balls are squared up, so the rack is absolutely squared up.
We use a laser line, a 48 inch straight edge, and a light blue fine point sharpie to blend in with the tournament blue Simonis cloth. However for 14.1, it is nice to have the outline of the rack drawn on the cloth, which is a lot harder to do using a sharpie tracing around the outside edges of the rack. If the rack moves on you or your hand slips while tracing, you’ll be looking at and reminded of that mistake for a long time.
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Two 2" lines on the bottom going up the sides about 1" will do all that.