Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets and a question.

BVal

BVal

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I got Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets in the mail yesterday and watched it last night.
Let me say I think this dvd is awesome. I can't believe I waited this long to buy it.
I highly recommend it to everyone who is serious about obtaining excellent knowledge.
I really liked what he said about 10-ball and the reasons it is better than 9-ball.
It also explains (in my mind) why SVB is so dominant at 10-ball. The break is much more important than the rack (opposite of 9-ball).

I do have one question for anyone out there. I normally do not check the racks unless I see a ball roll or something like that. I am going to start looking at all the racks more closely. Now my question is. Is there anyone out there that already looks at A LOT of racks? How do you deal with your opponents while checking thier rack (Little comments or things they say).
 
Last edited:
A friend came over with the DVD's today........... Amazing information I never even considered to be a factor............... I highly reccomend it to ANYONE!!!!!!!
 
I usually say something like, "its not that I dont trust YOU, its just that these tables rack so bad..." They usually just let it go after that.

Southpaw
 
From what I have seen it mostly depends on the situation. If you are playing a set with someone for some cash they normally don't mind you checking there rack because once they see you check theirs, they will probably think it is fine to start checking yours.

Same thing with tournaments. Depending on the payout and seriousness of the tournament, most players wont care from what I have seen. I certainly don't mind. If they see something that I might have missed it saves me the embarrassment when they break and I accidentally slug them.

When it comes to league, thats a whole different story. A good chunk of your league players wont know what the hell you are doing. Some will know what you are doing, but have no idea what you are looking for exactly. The rest will probably get pissed, but thats more becuase of their own ignorance then you checking the rack.

I have racking secrets also and it really works wonders. Great DVD set. It's just another weapon in your arsenal now. When playing in a league match I normally dont check the rack unless it is obvious from my end of the table. Sometimes I will just go down and get a piece of chalk and glance to see if there is a gap or not. If the person slugs me, whether intentional or not, then I check them all.

I find a lot of slugs to be unintentional and just ignorance on your opponents part not knowing any better. If you start checking them and pointing out the problems, then your opponent will be less likely to slug you or someone else in the future.
 
Val - I check racks all the time... every time... even when practicing. Rarely do I find one to reject (such as, both balls are off the 1-ball... or neither 4-ball track is good). When I do, I kindly and unemotionally tell my opponent that... the one must have rolled a bit off after you lifted the rack... or something similar. Nobody has been snippy with me. Once they know that you're checking every rack, you're much more apt to get a good one every time.

And like Joe suggests in the video... if someone questions why I'm checking every rack, I tell them that... it helps me determine when I want to break from... that's all. I trust your racking and every rack doesn't need to be perfect... just close, OK? That usually appeases them.

The way that I look at it is... if you really want to improve your 9-ball break, you have to practice it... and looking at every rack before you break it is one way to do that.
 
Glad you like the DVDs and thanks for the response. And thanks to everyone else posting those responses, they're all right on with good advice, which saved me a lot of typing!
 
I check racks all the time, even in casual situations. I sometimes tell people that it's nothing against them, just a habit I've gotten into. Which isn't a lie, really.
 
Joe T said:
Glad you like the DVDs and thanks for the response. And thanks to everyone else posting those responses, they're all right on with good advice, which saved me a lot of typing!
Click to expand...

Joe, I've had several players check the rack and mention your name as the excuse for why they are doing it. Like "I just read Joe Tucker's book and I'm trying something out".
You really put yourself on the map with this one.
 
Joe, Ive heard a lot of great things about your product that I just ordered your Gauranteed Improvement combo yesterday. I cant wait to get it! I also sent you an email letting me know when you send it out. Next thing I think I will order is the 3rd eye sight trainer. That product looks interesting.
 
I just say "no not saying rerack.. just your bad racks tell me how to break"
 
No Checking At The State Tournament

I just finished refereeing the Texas State BCA Championships last week.

I know that you all are mostly talking about 9 Ball, and Joe's DVD's also talk about 8 Ball and other games (I have them too).

There was none of the usual sniping about racks since the BCAPL events are "Rack Your Own". I can't remember one instance of a player complaining about the rack that the breaker gave himself.

Having watched Joe's videos, I wonder if the same would hold true for a 9 Ball tourney since you can improve your chances by manipulating a 9 Ball rack?
 
checking racks

BVal said:
I got Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets in the mail yesterday and watched it last night.
Let me say I think this dvd is awesome. I can't believe I waited this long to buy it.
I highly recommend it to everyone who is serious about obtaining excellent knowledge.
I really liked what he said about 10-ball and the reasons it is better than 9-ball.
It also explains (in my mind) why SVB is so dominant at 10-ball. The break is much more important than the rack (opposite of 9-ball).

I do have one question for anyone out there. I normally do not check the racks unless I see a ball roll or something like that. I am going to start looking at all the racks more closely. Now my question is. Is there anyone out there that already looks at A LOT of racks? How do you deal with your opponents while checking thier rack (Little comments or things they say).
Click to expand...
Dennis O (prince) always checks 9 ball racks, but I didn't see him check many 10 ball racks at Alexanders at the first desert classic tournament. He's in your neighborhood. Ask him.
 
DRW said:
Dennis O (prince) always checks 9 ball racks, but I didn't see him check many 10 ball racks at Alexanders at the first desert classic tournament. He's in your neighborhood. Ask him.
Click to expand...
That makes sense that he didn't check the 10ball rack at the first stop. For one reason the 10ball rack is far more difficult to manipulate and second of all it was rack your own IIRC. Next time I see him I will ask him.

Thanks,

BVal
 
I do have one question for anyone out there. I normally do not check the racks unless I see a ball roll or something like that. I am going to start looking at all the racks more closely. Now my question is. Is there anyone out there that already looks at A LOT of racks? How do you deal with your opponents while checking thier rack (Little comments or things they say).[/QUOTE]

It depends on who I am playing. I will explain what I am doing in a casual game with friends, its good practice and they learn something. And when I am playing a match and my opponent asks me if the rack is good I say "sure is". " You rack them better than anyone that I have played lately." Even if they are loose.
 
I guess I'm a bit more evil

I check racks. When folks ask if there is a problem I reply, "Nope, just looking for something to exploit!"

Any surprise I get very tight racks after that? :D

Hu
 
Great DVD, Joe is great.

Consider combining it with the BreakRak by Charlie Bond, and you will increase your break consistency.

Even if you have the knowledge, you still have to execute the break right, thats where the combination of both really helps. Thats also why, I beleive, Joe's written material is integrated into Charlies book and the Breakrak practice.
 
BVal said:
How do you deal with your opponents while checking thier rack (Little comments or things they say).
Click to expand...

An honest player doesn't mind their racks getting checked.


The only thing I conciously do is avoid direct eye contact with my opponent just after I check unless there's something wrong. It might send a mixed message checking the rack and then looking at your opponent as you walk away from it.

Once a player in an APA singles 8 ball regional tourney came up to me as I was checking and asked if everything was okay in a borderline sort of way as if he was trying to intimidate me. The head ball was just a little off the two behind it and I don't think the guy realized how stupid he was acting. I just kind of smiled and said "sure" and lined the cue ball up on the right rail. I didn't snap in the eight, but I got the eight ball to move like I expected with a second ball break. The next rack was a little tighter. :D


Basically, anyone who makes a negative comment when you're checking their rack is an idiot.
 
cubc said:
I just say "no not saying rerack.. just your bad racks tell me how to break"
Click to expand...

I don't recommend this response but it is my favorite. Sure you name isn't Jimbo? Brutally honest!
 
When I play league I just mention how hard it is to get a good rack on these table no matter how hard you try. I have never heard anyone openly complain. I have never seen anyone look at a rack more closely than Kid Delicious. I have seen other pros get upset with him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top