Rack inspectors.

[PGHteacher]

With opponent racks or ref racks what’s your opinion of the “rack inspectors” not meaning those who come down and look it over if they think there may be a problem (because I think everyone does that; or at least a VERY high % of us) but rather those who carefully inspect every rack even though you gave them 100 perfect racks before they still come over and “check it out”. I have to restate this because there are a lot of people that skim posts. I AM ONLY THAT MEANS ONLY those people that INSPECT EVERY SINGLE RACK every single time; I am NOT talking about those people that go inspect it IF they think there MIGHT be a problem with it.

I have allowed multiple choice here as well, so you can take care of some of the “it’s situational” answers that is there if it just “all depends”.

 

[mlfield]

That is why "rack your own" is the only way to play any type of competitive match. But the 9 or 10 ball doesn't count in the bottom two pockets on the break. This is the only fair way to play. Eliminates giving or getting a slug rack and having someone look at your rack like they are looking for cancer on your head.

 

[Black-Balled]

Perhaps you are
1-wrong to be offended;
B-wrong to think that you can give a perfect rack with a triangle.

1- could opponent not be looking to get an idea of what will happen on the breakshot? Not to be critical.

B- you can't...nobody can.

 

[VIProfessor]

That is why "rack your own" is the only way to play any type of competitive match. But the 9 or 10 ball doesn't count in the bottom two pockets on the break. This is the only fair way to play. Eliminates giving or getting a slug rack and having someone look at your rack like they are looking for cancer on your head.

I cannot agree more with this response!!

Since players have become so knowledgeable about the rack it's hard to blame someone who has gotten into the habit of inspecting every rack. It's likely that the opponent has learned to incorporate the inspection into his/her pre-break routine, so it may have nothing to do with how he/she feels about you or your racking integrity.

And the end of the day though, I believe rack your own is the way to go if you're not using the Magic Rack.

 

[PGHteacher]

Perhaps you are
1-wrong to be offended;

That’s what I think

B-wrong to think that you can give a perfect rack with a triangle.

Really? Do you mean wood, plastic, metal or any?

1- could opponent not be looking to get an idea of what will happen on the breakshot? Not to be critical.

:scratchhead:

 

[Diamond69]

If it's ref racks (rare), they should get 1 challenge per match.

If it's opponent racks, 2 tries and then rack your own.

My biggest problem is at the level most people play, it is inconsequential. Unless it's a significant rolloff of one of the balls. But you get these anal people that want to make sure every ball is touching, they finally get what they want, break, don't sink anything, and scratch in the side!

 

[randallt6]

That is why "rack your own" is the only way to play any type of competitive match. But the 9 or 10 ball doesn't count in the bottom two pockets on the break. This is the only fair way to play. Eliminates giving or getting a slug rack and having someone look at your rack like they are looking for cancer on your head.

That's okay but for 9ball you can't allow soft breaks if it's rack your own cuz pattern racking makes it way to easy to run out and have the same pattern every time.

 

[Black-Balled]

That’s what I think



Really? Do you mean wood, plastic, metal or any?



:scratchhead:

I believe any rack that used a triangle has some degree of imperfection, be it gap or alignment.

The comment re: knowing where the balls are going means just that: some folks believ they have an idea about how spread will occur if the examine the rack. I don't buy it...at leas I don't buy that it can be done with any significant degree of accuracy.*

*having said that, maybe I am keeping secrets.

 

[TheNewSharkster]

With opponent racks or ref racks what’s your opinion of the “rack inspectors” not meaning those who come down and look it over if they think there may be a problem (because I think everyone does that; or at least a VERY high % of us) but rather those who carefully inspect every rack even though you gave them 100 perfect racks before they still come over and “check it out”. I have to restate this because there are a lot of people that skim posts. I AM ONLY THAT MEANS ONLY those people that INSPECT EVERY SINGLE RACK every single time; I am NOT talking about those people that go inspect it IF they think there MIGHT be a problem with it.

I have allowed multiple choice here as well, so you can take care of some of the “it’s situational” answers that is there if it just “all depends”.

The problem here is a lot of time a person is looking to make sure the rack is tight. Fair enough. Others want to find spaces so they can make the wing ball or 9ball on the break. Again fair enough. You probably owe it to yourself to check the rack.

I was playing 9ball against a guy on a table that had a mismatched set of balls. It is all but impossible to make them all touch. I did my best and he broke dry and blamed it on me. I laughed it off and told him I couldn't do anything about it unless the bar replaced the balls. Just for shits and giggles I pulled out the magic rack and showed him that it was impossible for a tight rack.

 

[runoutsRme]

I try and rack the balls as tight and straight as possible every time!

Using the magic rack, Should Eliminate any Doubters!!!!

 

[Saimaja]

I have magic rack in my case all the time. That eliminates re-rack problem

Jarno

 

[PGHteacher]

The problem here is a lot of time a person is looking to make sure the rack is tight. Fair enough. Others want to find spaces so they can make the wing ball or 9ball on the break. Again fair enough. You probably owe it to yourself to check the rack.

I highlighted this because some people will go and check that rack with you and a rerack might not be what you want. You MAY WANT that rack that is not 100%, depending on what’s “wrong” with it. Some people may view this as cheating or unscrupulous but I do not. Racking is part of the game and if you don’t know how to rack and I can take advantage of that I will, just like if you don’t know how to jump, safe or draw. Now I think if it is “rack your own” and you “manipulate” the rack other than 100% tight (as possible) and 100% back of rack parallel with the short rail, yea that’s cheating. Some may disagree and that’s ok no big deal IMHO.

Very recently I was in an 8ball match I had my break stick standing at the head of the table; the guy racks and the head ball moves out to the left. He is literally looking up at the ceiling when this happens, so I go to get my shooting cue (because I can see much more of this 2nd ball and even on this table I can smack that 2nd ball real full making an 8ball break more likely) and then a guy on MY team says “hey that rack isn’t tight” he tightens up the rack, I put back my shooting cue and go back and get my break cue, break and the match continued. I didn’t say anything to my teammate that said “hey that rack isn’t tight” I just moved along as if everything was normal and IMHO it is/was.

So if in 9ball a wing ball is slightly out or you’re in a ring game and he leaves the 5 (assuming that’s a $ ball) as a wing ball, or that rack is crooked to one side or the other such that you cab break into that on a particular side and get a fuller hit from the side etc.. etc.. I just go about doing what I think is the best way to handle that. Now if the rack is to my DISADVANTAGE; say I am playing 9ball and that 1 ball is loose NOW I am going to say “hey can you tighten that 1ball up please?”

I was playing 9ball against a guy on a table that had a mismatched set of balls. It is all but impossible to make them all touch. I did my best and he broke dry and blamed it on me. I laughed it off and told him I couldn't do anything about it unless the bar replaced the balls. Just for shits and giggles I pulled out the magic rack and showed him that it was impossible for a tight rack.

Good story, yea I am down with that.

So I don’t inspect EVERY rack but I look at it and take the appropriate action (that which will give me the best chance to win the game)

 

[strmanglr scott]

Tourneys should be rack your own. Many times if isn't I'll tell my opponent to rack his own. He can still rack mine but I'm going to check it.

It shouldn't really take much longer, part of your pre-break routine. I just walk by or go down to that end of the table to chalk and take a look. I'm not down there like I was a new gynecologist.

 

[PGHteacher]

Tourneys should be rack your own. Many times if isn't I'll tell my opponent to rack his own. He can still rack mine but I'm going to check it.

It shouldn't really take much longer, part of your pre-break routine. I just walk by or go down to that end of the table to chalk and take a look. I'm not down there like I was a new gynecologist.

This is an outstanding answer and I think I will start doing this; thank you!

 

[poolfool1957]

Your poll should have somehow included the "rack your own" option.....nobody can gripe about house-racking themselves.

 

[CreeDo]

You'd probably have a hard time fading me and some of my students or teammates. We're "inspect every single rack" guys.

It's got nothing to do with me thinking you're a bad person who's trying to cheat and give me a shitty rack.

We've all watched Joe Tucker's DVD and know that the secret to getting good results in your 9 ball break is to read the rack and understand how the gaps are going to affect the wing ball (and also the 9).

95% of the time I will not ask someone to rerack, even though I see small gaps. I know that most times, they thought it was tight, and I don't bother pointing out that it wasn't.

Instead I simply use those small gaps to decide where I'm breaking from. If I did it right, the wing ball goes in despite the gaps. This is a very handy skill in situations where people can't/won't use the magic rack. Even with a magic rack, it's possible for gaps to exist if the balls are a little irregular, if there are big divots in the table, or if the racker is just completely careless.

I don't expect people to sit there agonizing over the rack for gaps half the thickness of a credit card. I understand that on many tables, especially with lousy triangles, it's just not gonna happen.

Try not to take it personally or blow it out of proportion. The actual time it takes isn't even an issue, I've seen guys drag out a single swallow of beer for longer than it takes for me to check a rack. They can burn that much time just practice stroking.