Magic Rack

SCCues

SCCues

< Searing Twins
Silver Member
Will someone please explain what a Magic Rack is and how you use it? I've heard the name used, but i'm not familiar with it. It looks like a thin piece of plastic with holes for each ball that you put on the table, but what happens to it after you break the balls?

Thanks,
James
 
You carefully remove it from the table after the break.If a ball is on it you might need to hold the ball steady as you wiggle it out or you can leave it until the ball is cleared
 
wouldnt it affect where the balls go because they are rolling over and off a peice of plastic?
 
dorabelle said:
wouldnt it affect where the balls go because they are rolling over and off a peice of plastic?
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Maybe, put the new ones are really thin and the effect is minimal. In any event the break is a fairly random event anyway. Also, at least in the 9 Ball rack, except for the 9 Ball there are no other balls inside the rack so there really is no effect on the initial movement of the balls since they are disbursed outward. Most of the time, as it should be in a good tight rack, the 9 and 10 balls hardly move at all unless they are kicked.

I would say the effect of a ball rolling over the rack is not really any more significant than a ball rolling over the foot spot.
 
SCCues said:
Will someone please explain what a Magic Rack is and how you use it? I've heard the name used, but i'm not familiar with it. It looks like a thin piece of plastic with holes for each ball that you put on the table, but what happens to it after you break the balls?

Thanks,
James
Click to expand...

James let me know next time you are going to Players and I will bring mine.
I really like them but I thinks they favor the one breaking,they work that well.
 
Originally Posted by Mark Griffin
FYI

CSI/BCAPL sells a 3 pack of Magic Break Rack. List is $25 per package.

They also have our logos on them - which makes them a lot easier to see. Since they are clear, they can be hard to find (LOL).

They are for sale at the APA event

You can also get them at any one of the events doen by Bad Boys Billiard Productions (Like the upcoming AZ SouthWest Regional).

These really are the nuts for 9 & 10 Ball. They are also very good for 8-Ball but no good for 1-pocket or straight pool.

Mark Griffin
 
Mark Griffin said:
CSI/BCAPL sells a 3 pack of Magic Break Rack. List is $25 per package.

They also have our logos on them - which makes them a lot easier to see. Since they are clear, they can be hard to find (LOL).

They are for sale at the APA event

Mark Griffin
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right?
 
I bought a set in May at the BCA. I absolutely love it. IMO It should be required to use. The rack is perfect every time. The 9 ball and 10 ball version is the best. The only down side is you will have to replace it time. My home table gets a lot of play and you can see it starting to wear a little. Though it still works great, I will happily buy another set when time comes.
 
Got to wondering if anyone has used the Magic Rack long enough to know if it tends to eventually tap the balls in the proper spot over time so that even use of a standard triangle then produces a better rack.
 
The only issue with the Magic Rack is that it is too consistent.

Only my home table, and oversized 8ft, I used a fine sharpie to mark the foot spot and then I put a perfectly square line from there toward the bottom rail (far enough to see when the balls are racked).

This lets me rack in the exact same position and perfectly square each time.

I can make the wing ball EVERY time with a medium controlled stroke and control the cue ball and one ball most of the time... and the 9ball usually stays within the rack, unless kicked... not many golden breaks.

A slightly different stroke is needed on a 9 foot... a little harder in my experience, but I can get nearly the same results, with a little less control.

Some might think this is a flaw, but I like taking as much luck as possible out of pool.

If pros were to use it on normal tables (not 4" ones like they did), they would be running a lot of racks, IMO. I'd think alternate brake would be needed in that case.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
Got to wondering if anyone has used the Magic Rack long enough to know if it tends to eventually tap the balls in the proper spot over time so that even use of a standard triangle then produces a better rack.
Click to expand...

I've had my magic racks about 9 months. I've broke 1000's of times with the 9/10-ball rack and I see very little wear at all. I believe using it breaking with dirty balls will wear it out faster than anything. I use a mild soap to clean the dirt build up on mine about once a month. I see no reason that a Magic Rack wouldn't last a year or more used everyday in a poolroom. Has anyone wore one out yet? It's a good product that works like it's advertised at a very fair price. Johnnyt
 
dorabelle said:
wouldnt it affect where the balls go because they are rolling over and off a peice of plastic?
Click to expand...
This is the part that bothers me. If the magic rack holds the balls in position before the break it seems like it would affect a slow rolling ball after the break.

James
 
SCCues said:
This is the part that bothers me. If the magic rack holds the balls in position before the break it seems like it would affect a slow rolling ball after the break.

James
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Like I said previously, only to the extent that a foot spot would affect it.
 
Interesting thing happened with the Magic Rack in the stream of the Woman's World 9 Ball last night. I think it was Gurel's match but not sure. Anyway, the 2 ball (I think) came to rest on the rack. After pocketing the 1 ball Gurel played at the 2 and as she rolled the cue ball over the rack the rack did move before the CB made contact with the 2 and she missed the shot (a combination actually).

What surprised me was that the ref left the rack in place rather than mark the ball and remove the rack. There really was no discussion about it so I wonder if it had been covered in the player's meeting that the procedure would be to play with the rack in place. I would think the proper way to handle this would be to mark the ball and remove the rack prior to proceeding. After all, the match was ref'd so it's not like the players would have to handle this on their own.

One caveat, I can't say for sure if they are playing with an actual Magic Rack or a Chinese knock-off. The table appears to be a knock-off of a Brunswick Metro so maybe the rack is too. It did appear to be the older style, not the current thin clear version.
 
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i just bought my Magic Rack Set an i love it i used it lastnite on my thursday nite 9ball pool league.

i still lost but me an the guy i was playin made 2 or more balls on the break only 2 times we broke an dident make a ball
 
robleyf7 said:
i just bought my Magic Rack Set an i love it i used it lastnite on my thursday nite 9ball pool league.

i still lost but me an the guy i was playin made 2 or more balls on the break only 2 times we broke an dident make a ball
Click to expand...

Letting him use your rack was your first mistake. :grin-square:
 
SCCues said:
This is the part that bothers me. If the magic rack holds the balls in position before the break it seems like it would affect a slow rolling ball after the break.

James
Click to expand...

The times I've used it this hasn't been a problem. It is very thin and it's also narrow - only holding the outer balls in the rack.

Chris
 
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