Really don't like these discussions but might be able help a little.
The book was an accident. I submitted a rather lengthy article to a magazine explaining all I knew about 9 Ball racks in an effort to expose the flaws, how big of a factor they can play in a match and why we should move on to 10B. That was almost 20 yrs ago lol Publisher called me back and asked "Joe you sure you want to give all this information away for free? You might be able to make a book on the topic?" So I went for it. some could say I caved or sold out but I don't care, I know what I set out to do and how it all came to be.
What the original poster did is exactly what I would do and what I tell every player that asks "What do you do Joe?" I rack until I have not slugged myself on one or both sides and never deliberately create spaces. You're not going to freeze them all and staying there until you don't slug yourself and reading the rack to determine which spot on the table you're going to break from is not cheating imo.
If you don't know how to read a rack of 9B then you should probably stay out of conversations like this, its the ole case of you don't know what you don't know. Lot of knowledgeable posters in here that do know and I appreciate them trying to help others understand as I really don't have it in me after 20yrs of these discussions, me tired.
Lots of good solutions coming about so its less and less of a problem.
Haven't had a racking argument in 3 years of American Rotation and that my friends, was not dumb luck :wink: