One guy uses the magic rack - Everyone else the wooden rack

Some players try to change the rule, the setting, even the game, think that's gonna help they win. Others try to improve their own game. Guess who's gonna win eventually ?
That reminds me of the mosconi cup few years back where Team USA was complaining about the racking favors Team Europe. Then MC change the rule to the super small break box, no cut break, and no soft break as requested by Team USA. guess what ? Team USA still got crushed.
Just my .2ct.
 
Yup, that's right. 6-0. And I beat two players a rank above him 6-0 and 6-3..

I already said I intentionally two stroked everything, and looked the player right in the eye after every missed shot. It was much more about the principal of the matter to me.

By the by... You can back him in any non-magic rack game you want. Big table... Small table..

Hell... snooker table, even.... :grin: I consider myself a well-rounded player, yah know?

I'll even give him a ball in One Pocket, never having even seen him play a game. He certainly likes to practice banks on the small table. Same difference, right.

You want to be reallll careful about insinuating that he is a better player. The owner of the pool hall where we play had mentioned trying to get us matched up in the past. Me butchering a couple of AAAs in tournaments put an end to that.

Short Bus Russ


Sorry I really don't know you at all, but this post right here makes it sound like your opponent defeated you by using the magic rack, and they you made a point of crying and showing off the wounds after every half assed attempt at a shot. I agree that the tournament should have used different rules. I think regardless of preference or players' agreements, all matches should happen with the same equipment. No exceptions. However if you are the caliber of player that you say, you really have no experience with the magic rack? Is it winner breaks or alternating break. If its winner breaks, did he run the set on you? If alternating break, what happened on all your breaks? It sounds as though you should have just forfeited before the match instead of half heartedly embarrassing yourself. Sorry if that sounds harsh. "Heart" is a tough quality to build. In many cases you have it or you don't. If you really like competing in pool, you might have to do some careful self analysis...

KMRUNOUT
 
I appreciate your response as well and respect your viewpoint. I know their have been a million debates about magic rack. In my opinion, I think the 2 should go to the back of the rack and a certain number of balls should have to pass the head string for it to be a legal break. As others have suggested, maybe the 9 should be racked on the spot or people should just play 10ball. 9ball has been around forever and I doubt it will ever disappear completely. Regardless, the break shot and what rack will probably always be a little controversial because of rack rigging and wired balls, except for a select few games like straight pool and one pocket.

Marcus,

I do appreciate you coming on here to post your viewpoint on the matter, and I appreciate your non-confrontational manner. I will fully admit that I get pretty heated when it comes to the game and what I feel is proper and improper.

I will continue to hold the view that a player should not be allowed to bring a rack different than that provided by the venue, and then basically force his or her opponent to play with it.

My particular reasons for this are that I know for a fact it changes the game, having played many non-MR tournaments. I know for a fact it would have changed the game with myself and Bill Skinner. With the MR, he would have made a ball on the break at least 2 of his three racks.. Without it, he dry broke and lost. Bill plays well enough that if he makes a wired ball off the break, he is out 80% of the time. That would have been a 4 game swing.

In the end, those running a tournament can do whatever they want. They can run an 8 ball tournament with no requirement to get a rail after contact. I've played and won those before, but it embarrassed me to have to use "roll up to a ball to hook my opponent" tactics, but I had no choice, because I have to take advantage of my first chance at the table, or else my opponent was gonna do it right back to me.

Just because a tourney director decides to use some goofball rule like that doesn't mean I have to like it.

I do feel that one person bringing a magic rack to a tourney where everyone else is breaking firmly off a wooden rack and then forcing the opponent to switch in the last set is kind of hokey. If I see it happen, I am still gonna have my own judgement about that player, and that is just that.

That being said, I'll definitely put in a little more time with the magic rack, because at least some room owners in the area seem to prefer it as well as tournament directors. I also do acknowledge that I've probably had good results recently despite my mental game, not because of it. I guess the conditions/opponent really shouldn't matter, as this kind of adversity actually makes a win more memorable.

Short Bus Russ
 
https://youtu.be/tqzMx4v09cU

I just started watching this, but it looks like Shane is using the Magic Rack and Corey is using the triangle.


This match has been mentioned no less than 5 times in this thread.

1. They are not playing 9 ball.

2. The magic rack confers little to no advantage in 8 ball, because for the pros, making a ball on the break in 8 ball in nearly 80% anyways.

3. The venue provided magic racks on every table. This makes a BIG difference, as it makes everyone in the field equal. This was not the situation in the original post at all.

Short Bus Russ
 
Back
Top