MR format racking preferences

[Flakeandrun]

Racking the 2 ball at the back or wings of the rack has bee the requirement for a while now in this format.

When playing 'rack your own' - casual/petty cash games - I used to favour putting it on the left wing, matching the side I am breaking from (Logic being that there was a possibility the CB might knock it toward center table on the way in and out of the pack).

Lately, I started trying to experiment in practice sessions and recording the possibility of simply a shot on the 2, or clearing the table, and making notes on the spread. Seems to have had really good spread and results by placing the 2 ball at the bottom of the rack. I've been keeping track of short sessions for about three weeks now, spend 30 minutes at the start of my practice session each day breaking the balls (10 minutes with the 2 ball in each acceptable spot). I seem to have noticeably better results with the 2 ball at the bottom of the rack than at the wings. Far more likely to not just have a shot on the 2, but to clean the table.

I am giving it a fair bit of power, as mentioned in previous threads, and I have good success on the one in the side, while getting the CB in and out of the pack.

Just curious where others prefer to put the 2 ball if they're racking their own, and why?

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

When Efren and Ralf Souquet played in the Sands Regency Finals in Reno years ago Ralf would rack the 2B in the 2nd row, on the opposite side of where he broke from. The announcers even said he did that so it would come down table along with the 1B.

 

[sudocrushms]

I think the rack should be randomized for 9 and 10 ball. Fedor and SVB used a neat widget in their jumbo races to tell them where to rack everything. I think it should be like that. Fixing a ball in the rack (especially the deuce) is an advantage to these elite players. They know where it's going.

 

[Flakeandrun]

I think the rack should be randomized for 9 and 10 ball. Fedor and SVB used a neat widget in their jumbo races to tell them where to rack everything. I think it should be like that. Fixing a ball in the rack (especially the deuce) is an advantage to these elite players. They know where it's going.

Right, as I said, this is mostly during "rack your own" casual and petty cash play. Most tournaments here, if not racked by the ref, have enough refs to make you avoid the funny business. I am just curious if there is a noticeable 'best' configuration for this format. I have noticed that with the 2 at the bottom of the rack, it either heads back up table, or sometimes will carom of another ball into a bottom corner. So it is either playable, or made, more often than when I have placed it on the wing.

When Efren and Ralf Souquet played in the Sands Regency Finals in Reno years ago Ralf would rack the 2B in the 2nd row, on the opposite side of where he broke from. The announcers even said he did that so it would come down table along with the 1B.

Yeah, my logic for putting it at the bottom, is that it seems to make its way back up table with this MR break format. At least it has in the short time I have been making a more conscious effort to observe it.

 

[Frosty]

When Efren and Ralf Souquet played in the Sands Regency Finals in Reno years ago Ralf would rack the 2B in the 2nd row, on the opposite side of where he broke from. The announcers even said he did that so it would come down table along with the 1B.

Well, I don’t about what the announcers said, but if you’re breaking from the wing, the ball that you place behind the 1 in what you identify as the “second row” on the opposite side that you break from. That ball becomes the second most likely to go on the break, the first most likely being the wing ball, at least in the traditional manner of racking the 1 on the spot as it was back then when the match you reference occurred.

The ball in that position generally goes directly to that sides long rail, and often off that rail directly into the opposite side pocket.

 

[George the Greek]

I rack the 1 on the spot (9-ball) and 2 at the back. I break from the right side of the original box and the 1 comes up table to the left corner and the 2 to the right corner. I usually make a wing ball almost every break and if the CB doesn't scratch or get kicked I've got a shot on the 1 ball.

 

[bbb]

Well, I don’t about what the announcers said, but if you’re breaking from the wing, the ball that you place behind the 1 in what you identify as the “second row” on the opposite side that you break from. That ball becomes the second most likely to go on the break, the first most likely being the wing ball, at least in the traditional manner of racking the 1 on the spot as it was back then when the match you reference occurred.

The ball in that position generally goes directly to that sides long rail, and often off that rail directly into the opposite side pocket.

you are way more experienced than me so i have to respect your statement i bolded above
but
i thought that if you were giving me the wild 7 in 9 ball
most experienced players giving the spot would stipulate the 7 gets racked behind the 1 ball when racking
said another way
the money ball for me got spotted behind the 1
if its the second most made ball
why would it get spotted there?
am i wrong ?

 

[Vahmurka]

Just curious where others prefer to put the 2 ball if they're racking their own, and why?

I prefer a game played according to official WPA rules of play. There is a clear statement: balls are to be racked randomly. Hence, there is no ground for any personal preference.

Of course, there is always an option of following "my home, my rules" principle.