Rack et Science ?

RRfireblade

Grammer Are For Stupids
Silver Member
< Rant >

What is the deal with getting a good rack from people ? Is it really so hard to find the spot the 1 settles in and put a tight rack on it ? Do I have to give weight AND the racks away too ?

I'm so sick and tired of giving tight rack after tight rack so they can soft lob the CB into it , make 2-3 balls and have shot and then I , on the other hand , have to launch a freakin' missile at the rack just to get half the balls off the spot and pretty much no hope of parking the rock.

Sheesh. It's like 3/4 people I play , it seems like. Not to mention having to stand there for like 20 minutes while they put more miles on the rack than I have on my car and carve a nice group of grooves in the cloth.

< End Rant >

:)
 
along with changing 9 ball to call pocket, we need to change the old "loser racks" rule. Racking for yourself should be a reward for winning.

Either you are getting the rack put on you or they don't know how to rack. If you ever find a good player who can play your speed AND takes pride in give perfect racks, hold on to him/her forever :)
 
Welcome to the club, I've had this problem for about 10 yrs now. It's not so bad with the weaker players gambling but at open or pro events it's torture. Choice "A" accept slugs and lesson your chances of winning the match, choice "B" appear to be the bad guy to get an even chance at winning it. Florida Pro tour has done the best job to fix these problems.
10 Ball Rack your own and the 10 spots if you make it in the 2 lower pockets. Thank you John Ditoro and players voting for this format.
 
CaptiveBred said:
along with changing 9 ball to call pocket, we need to change the old "loser racks" rule. Racking for yourself should be a reward for winning.

Either you are getting the rack put on you or they don't know how to rack. If you ever find a good player who can play your speed AND takes pride in give perfect racks, hold on to him/her forever :)


I totally agree. I'm almost getting tired of 9 ball around here because all the bangers trying to make the 9 on every freakin' shot.

And I also agree on the rack your own, our weekly 8ball tourney at the local Moose Lodge did that for a while because so many people were complaining.
 
Yes, it's frustrating all over. You deal with it in league and money games regulary. I'm giving up weight already and then know that I'm giving away the table after the break. I honestly don't think most people do it on purpose , I mean , I have a pretty big break and they always turn red with embarassment when I break and the 'crack' makes everyone nearby jump but no balls move. OFten times they offer to rack again but it's just a waste of time.

I just don't understand why it's so hard to figure out where the balls want to lay and rack it there.

Whats the uninsulting way to suggest racking your own ?
 
I've often wondered why the breaker doesn't get to rack his own rack. It just seems logical to me.

I think whoever is breaking should rack the balls and let the opponent ok the rack as far as it's correct placement. I've always given the best rack to whoever I'm playing against, it's just a personal pride thing, but I've caught others giving me loose/offset racks more than a few times. The best solution I've come up with is I stand off to the side and intently watch them racking and I don't have these issues as often anymore. I've had a few people seem to take it personally that I'm inspecting their rack but I don't feel that way if someone does the same to me so if someone has a problem with me watching them rack and making sure they are doing it right then screw'em. :D
 
RRfireblade said:
Yes, it's frustrating all over. You deal with it in league and money games regulary. I'm giving up weight already and then know that I'm giving away the table after the break. I honestly don't think most people do it on purpose , I mean , I have a pretty big break and they always turn red with embarassment when I break and the 'crack' makes everyone nearby jump but no balls move. OFten times they offer to rack again but it's just a waste of time.

I just don't understand why it's so hard to figure out where the balls want to lay and rack it there.

Whats the uninsulting way to suggest racking your own ?


"Here, let me show you how to do it RIGHT!" :D

or maybe not.....
 
I've figured out how to fix this locally :D

I soft break anyway even if it's a slug rack then when it doesnt spread they get sick of me playing 1000 safeties and start to make sure it's racked tight. ;)

edit: that's only if it's a true slug rack. I bought Joe's video and that made a world of difference. Some racks people think it's bad but I make a ball anyway. But true slugs I'll soft break and let them deal with the safeties while I piece the balls out.

After watching and practicing his video it's kinda amusing in league hearing people complain while I'm looking at the rack saying to their teammates they wish they knew what I was looking for because I always make a f*'ing ball without even hitting it hard. And with this apa point system on 9' tables as a high rating it's crucial to make a ball on the break to continue the string. Hard to give up a huge spot and get dry breaks. Thanks Joe!
 
Last edited:
The only 2 problems I have with rack your own 9 ball is;
#1 now I have to stay there and make sure I don't give myself a 9 on the break which they might have done for me. 2 weeks ago I was loosing a race to 5 3-1, won that game and then my opponent racked me 3 9 balls in row all in the same pocket!
#2 I had 1 great player suggest we rack our own and I agreed. He was winning and making the corner ball and I had no problem till I win a game, break, make the corner ball run out and now all of a suddden after one runout he's up checking my rack and asking me to freeze everything in sight after I just sat there and let him runout to like a 7-3 lead. So I just racked it till he was satisfied AND till the opposite corner ball was dead!
The last rack he racked he tried to rack himself a 9 ball but ended up slugging himself.
 
If you rack your own and make a lot of balls everytime you will be accused of twisting or moving the rack so a corner ball goes in everytime. You can also arrange the balls so you don't have to go back and forth on the table to run out. Both Joe Tucker's and Danny Basavich's tapes talk about what to look for. Joe's tape goes into great detail. It is two dvd's. You have every right to ask for a rerack. I don't understand why if you play a competive sport some people feel they have to cheat to win. If you can't win fairly, why play. Cheating is not competition. Where's the fun in it.
 
Joe T said:
Welcome to the club, I've had this problem for about 10 yrs now. It's not so bad with the weaker players gambling but at open or pro events it's torture. Choice "A" accept slugs and lesson your chances of winning the match, choice "B" appear to be the bad guy to get an even chance at winning it. Florida Pro tour has done the best job to fix these problems.
10 Ball Rack your own and the 10 spots if you make it in the 2 lower pockets. Thank you John Ditoro and players voting for this format.
I agree 100 percent. They have the perfect format. Not only rack your own and 10ball spots if snapped in the lower pockets, but the 2 and 3 have to be racked on the back corners of the rack as well.

It seems to be a format that others have adopted as well, like TAR with the Action Challenges being done the same way. It really is ideal.
 
Players

breaking have always had the option to inspect the rack, and call for a rerack if they want, until they accept the rack. Most players are just too lazy to do that, or in too big a hurry.
 
inspect the rack

If doing anything serious, inspect the rack carefully. Most folks will ask if there is a problem. "Nope, just seeing what you left that I can take advantage of." Sometimes it is true, sometimes not, but it usually makes for very careful racking afterwards! :D :D :D

Hu
 
RRfireblade said:
< Rant >

What is the deal with getting a good rack from people ? Is it really so hard to find the spot the 1 settles in and put a tight rack on it ? Do I have to give weight AND the racks away too ?

I'm so sick and tired of giving tight rack after tight rack so they can soft lob the CB into it , make 2-3 balls and have shot and then I , on the other hand , have to launch a freakin' missile at the rack just to get half the balls off the spot and pretty much no hope of parking the rock.

Sheesh. It's like 3/4 people I play , it seems like. Not to mention having to stand there for like 20 minutes while they put more miles on the rack than I have on my car and carve a nice group of grooves in the cloth.

< End Rant >

:)

You don't have to accept your opponent's rack. Make 'em keep trying...or offer to show them how are call the ref/td if it's a tournament.

Regards,
Jim
 
Back
Top