Rack checking

K

Koop

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Begin Rant

Is it just me or has rack checking gone to an absurd level?
I understand why the pro’s do it, to an extent, but can anyone explain to me why a bunch of B and C players, myself included, need to be nit picking about the rack. Better yet, league players nit picking about the rack.
I’m not talking about seeing the head ball fall off. I am talking about examining the rack like we are some brain surgeons looking for this paper thin gap...like now all of the sudden it’s a slug rack and how dare you leave a gap between those two balls back there, in the back of the rack.
To me, this is one of the reasons why rack your own is such a good idea and why, when it’s not rack your own, I would rather watch two 90 year old men playing chess with bad bladders.

Rant over

Koop - pontificating
 
Koop said:
Begin Rant

Is it just me or has rack checking gone to an absurd level?
I understand why the pro’s do it, to an extent, but can anyone explain to me why a bunch of B and C players, myself included, need to be nit picking about the rack. Better yet, league players nit picking about the rack.
I’m not talking about seeing the head ball fall off. I am talking about examining the rack like we are some brain surgeons looking for this paper thin gap...like now all of the sudden it’s a slug rack and how dare you leave a gap between those two balls back there, in the back of the rack.
To me, this is one of the reasons why rack your own is such a good idea and why, when it’s not rack your own, I would rather watch two 90 year old men playing chess with bad bladders.

Rant over

Koop - pontificating
Click to expand...

The best part Koop is that most don't know what they are looking at. I look at the rack to find hints regarding Joe Tuckers racking secrets. I think most people are checking the roundness of the balls. :)
 
two words... Magic Rack!!!

this thing is the nutz!!! perfect rack everytime!!! my 9ball break has improved 200% I can make the wing ball 97% of the time.

not sure if this is gonna help, I always get weird looks when I check the rack (but its usually people who don't have a clue how to rack in the first place)

they always say that the break is the most important part of the game, but maybe its racking ;)
 
I prefer rack your own as well. And it isn't just for the reasons you mentioned. I try to be careful when I'm racking for an opponent but whenever I do and they don't get a good spread - even if it was because they hit the break poorly - I feel bad.

In pool when it is not your shot you sit in your chair and have no involvement, except when your opponent is breaking and you have to rack for them. I just prefer to have no involvement - and therefore no responsibility - in their break shot.

Rack your own also saves time because I don't have to check their rack every time I'm breaking. If I'm racking my own I'm checking the rack in the same step. If the rack is no good i'm right there with the triangle in my hand to fix it. I don't have to now call my opponent back from his chair, show him the defect, have him put his cue down, get the rack out, fix it - and then have to go through the process all over again.
 
NewStroke said:
The best part Koop is that most don't know what they are looking at. I look at the rack to find hints regarding Joe Tuckers racking secrets. I think most people are checking the roundness of the balls. :)
Click to expand...

LMFAO...Exactly man. That, to me, is the funniest part of it.
 
In league or at tournaments I will check the rack a little just to keep the other person honest. But i don't get carried away with it. It literally takes my about 2 seconds to check a rack. I prefer rack your own. Also remember, so folks are doing that just to piss you off and get you out of your game.
 
It's only gone to an absurd level if you are winning everything. Why take a chance of 1 bad rack costing a game. Maybe, chalking after every shot is absurd or taking extra time on a really hard shot/game ball.

I think it is absurd people still try to slug rack! I think if you break and the rack is an obvious slug (not hard to tell when a group of balls are still touching) auto-rerack
 
Now that I know what Koop "likes" I am bringing a magnifying glass to check his racks. LOL!
 
Koop said:
Begin Rant

Is it just me or has rack checking gone to an absurd level?
I understand why the pro’s do it, to an extent, but can anyone explain to me why a bunch of B and C players, myself included, need to be nit picking about the rack. Better yet, league players nit picking about the rack.
I’m not talking about seeing the head ball fall off. I am talking about examining the rack like we are some brain surgeons looking for this paper thin gap...like now all of the sudden it’s a slug rack and how dare you leave a gap between those two balls back there, in the back of the rack.
To me, this is one of the reasons why rack your own is such a good idea and why, when it’s not rack your own, I would rather watch two 90 year old men playing chess with bad bladders.

Rant over

Koop - pontificating
Click to expand...

I agree with rack your own and the nine ball (on the break) in the two far corner pockets do not count on the break although if you make the nine on the break in either of those two pockets, it spots and you continue shooting.
 
Jason Robichaud said:
I think it is absurd people still try to slug rack! I think if you break and the rack is an obvious slug (not hard to tell when a group of balls are still touching) auto-rerack
Click to expand...

I agree with this also. Believe me, I am not condoning intentional slug racking either.
 
Koop said:
Begin Rant

Is it just me or has rack checking gone to an absurd level?
I understand why the pro’s do it, to an extent, but can anyone explain to me why a bunch of B and C players, myself included, need to be nit picking about the rack. Better yet, league players nit picking about the rack.
I’m not talking about seeing the head ball fall off. I am talking about examining the rack like we are some brain surgeons looking for this paper thin gap...like now all of the sudden it’s a slug rack and how dare you leave a gap between those two balls back there, in the back of the rack.
To me, this is one of the reasons why rack your own is such a good idea and why, when it’s not rack your own, I would rather watch two 90 year old men playing chess with bad bladders.

Rant over

Koop - pontificating
Click to expand...

i watched joe tuckers dvd and i know what to look for. i know most dont know what the hell there looking for.

I check the rack when especially playing you koop you give the best slug racks ever!!!! lol jk

I dont check to often because im lazy but some tables like 14 at westgate just dosent rack right. you cant blame your opponent most of the time its the rack or the table but if they know what there looking for they can slug you and those are the people i check the racks on most often.
 
I dont check it during league but there are certain people who I gamble with who couldnt make a tight rack to save their life! I play rack your own with them and they still slug themselves! haha.
 
Koop said:
Begin Rant

Is it just me or has rack checking gone to an absurd level?
I understand why the pro’s do it, to an extent, but can anyone explain to me why a bunch of B and C players, myself included, need to be nit picking about the rack. Better yet, league players nit picking about the rack.
I’m not talking about seeing the head ball fall off. I am talking about examining the rack like we are some brain surgeons looking for this paper thin gap...like now all of the sudden it’s a slug rack and how dare you leave a gap between those two balls back there, in the back of the rack.
To me, this is one of the reasons why rack your own is such a good idea and why, when it’s not rack your own, I would rather watch two 90 year old men playing chess with bad bladders.

Rant over

Koop - pontificating
Click to expand...

I think most of us just want it to be fair.

I don't check the rack unless I get a couple of bad racks from someone.. I can tell by the way the balls separate or my ball flys off the table if the rack was good or not.

However, I will say that gambling between two decent players, if you get slug racks and you're giving him good racks it's like spotting the guy the 7 ball.

I prefer rack your own, mainly because i don't want some yo-yo accusing me of giving him slugs. You can use rack your own to your advantage also, especially if you know the table. In one race to 7 playing rack your own, a guy made three 9 balls on me and had it flying on every break. Not that he was trying, he didn't know how to rack. I wanted him to rack for me.

Magic Rack is definitely an improvement - it's fair to both players.

Chris
 
Last edited:
Racking

Just because we have gone to rack your own in most situations, you can still point to specific balls, argue with yourself,
and slow the match down as if your opponent racked them.
In BCA league play, rack your own, you could call a time out and get a second opinion on the rack.
 
If I check the rack...and the one ball is not touching either ball...guess what you get to rack again...if i then check the rack and the front 3 balls are not touching the rest of the rack guess what I'm having ya rack again...

now if I wasnt being "nitpicky" enough to check and break that...whose fault is it?


Mine...and I get to sit and watch you walk back to the table rewarded for failing on one of the most basic skills in the game...

Now if I am dropping a ball 80% of the time when I have you re-rack I am going to keep right on...

now if you are playing someone who isn't dropping a ball...doesnt have a clue....and cant break then maybe you gotta right to be pissed....

otherwise...just give them the best rack you can...tell them if they don't like it they can rack themselves and go about your day...
 
rack your own

NewStroke said:
The best part Koop is that most don't know what they are looking at. I look at the rack to find hints regarding Joe Tuckers racking secrets. I think most people are checking the roundness of the balls. :)
Click to expand...

Tucker's "racking secrets" can also be used to give yourself an advantage so your opponent will still want to check the rack
 
First; Every player has the right to inspect the rack.

I've been running tournaments for a very long time and YES, players do check the rack. Not every rack and not every player.

If I had to guess, in a 32 player DE 6w/4L with all matches being played to Hill-Hill that would be just over 500 racks.

Of those 500 racks... maybe 485 are NOT checked by the non-racker.

It is mostly Rack-your-own on the West Coast.

Most players that do check the rack are very quick about it and usually do not find any issues. When they do it is usually waranted.
 
I check to make sure the top 3 balls are touching. Other than that, the only racks I ever check are the kind that bounce when she wins a game. Now THOSE I'll check every time!
 
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