Racking Nonsense

[David_Smith]

This device looks like it would work better to me , but in the thread I was checking it out in, this question was asked and never answered and it's the same concern I would have.

"First time I have heard of this rack system.... Is it wise to be putting divots on the table? Even if you tap it lightly, after hundreds of racks in the same spot wouldn't a divot be created? Excuse my ignorance...."

I have edited the post you quoted to apologize for my insulting language posted while under the influence of alcohol....

but to answer your question, yes, racking in the same exact place every time will create divots in the cloth no matter how it is accomplished. But the indentions from our template are not aligned with ball centers except for the center ball, they are spaced closer together so the balls lean on the edges. Eventually the balls create their own divots. Putting a drop or two of water on the spots or wiping the racking area with a wet rag helps to remove these divots.

With traditional racks you get trenches from rolling the rack full of balls up into position and the rack is rarely aligned the same so the effect is spread out and the racks are unpredictable.

 

[BasementDweller]

The wing ball also goes with the slug doctor, and the sardo racks. It goes with the wooden racks also if you can actually get them all froze. Tiny gaps make all the difference. If you put a TINY gap between the 9 and the ball behind it, the 9 is pretty much wired to the corner if you know where to break from.

Quiet down Neil - there are people listening.

It's quite surprising how many people don't know this.

 

[hang-the-9]

Yeah, I get it.

I am sure all of this wash hashed out a long while ago.

I was just shocked when I finally figured out what it was and that something was actually left on the table for the break.

I know people like it. I know it is efficient.

It's just going to take some time for me to get my head around the fact that the darn thing is left on the table for the break....to me that's a foul.

But....I am way behind the times, obvioulsy.

What's getting me is that I just only recently figured it out and there is this issue at the pro level? I mean...what the heck?

You can imagine, if you understand my shock at the mere fact that there is something on the table, how it looks to me for this inconsistency to arise at the pro level. To me it stands out as a really seriously crooked thing.

I mean, use it or don't....pick one.

It's not left on the table to help anyone, it's not like it will help by guiding the balls in a better spot. It's left in the same area for all breaks for all players. Just like the cloth and table you are using. If you have a crappy slow cloth that's hard to play on with rolls and bumps and bad slate, it's the same for both players. I'd call a table with a roll towards the pockets "crooked" before the Magic Rack. I mean a guy will miss a shot an inch off, and hit it slow, and the ball will neatly fall in. No that's crooked!

 

[nevermiss]

I think that the magic rack is the best option for rotation games and 8 ball. The only thing that I would like to see is a template marked on the cloth in order to ensure the rack is oriented properly (or at least consistently) on the table. As far as balls rolling over it, from what I have seen that is rarely an issue. Additionally, it happens to both players so how is that unfair? Traditional racking can become way to time consuming and many times has poor results. It surprises me how many people will rack this way and then touch the balls when the rack is off. The only thing that surprises me more is that I have never seen an opponent say no dice, rerack them, afterwards. Anyways, that is how I see it.

 

[nevermiss]

I am having a hard time equating using a magic rack with using faulty equipment or hurting players. If you have a reasonable argument how the rack affects the game I am all ears. From where I am standing the benefits outweigh the costs (which to my mind are negligible or nonexistent).

 

[blah blah]

all ears...

I am having a hard time equating using a magic rack with using faulty equipment or hurting players. If you have a reasonable argument how the rack affects the game I am all ears. From where I am standing the benefits outweigh the costs (which to my mind are negligible or nonexistent).

See post #20

 

[Paul Schofield]

There are 2 ways and only 2 ways to make balls on the break: The balls are either slopped in the pockets or they are wired in the pockets. I do not think that these balls should be rewarded. Racking gadgets are built to increase the likelihood of slopped and wired balls. What a lousy way to start our short games. Have we not learned anything from decades mired in all this racking and breaking controversy with endless fighting and a trendy new gadget every other year. It just goes on and on. Get rid of the impact of the slopped and wired ball and all the desire for these gadgets will just evaporate. No one will have a use for them. We will have better games.

I also am not a fan of the pattern racking made easy and that I see with these new racking gadgets.

 

[RobMan]

Where I play league, ALL the tables are so divoted at the foot spot, you need to rack the one ball either 1/2 inch north or 1/2 inch south to get a "decent" rack. Is that a better option than using the MR? I don't know.

For me, I can't sand giving someone a slug rack. Nor do I want one. Every opponent I have asked except one over the last two years would rather use the MR than a traditional triangle. I can rack 9-ball much faster and with a better rack on these tables with the MR.

Do agree on the pattern racking comment, however unless folks adopt Paul's racking requirements (which I think are great), people pattern rack REGARDLESS of the rack type.

 

[nevermiss]

See post #20

Sorry, I stopped reading when I got to the part about playing pool on small tables. Kidding aside, I do see your point about congestion in those circumstances.

 

[blah blah]

Sorry, I stopped reading when I got to the part about playing pool on small tables. Kidding aside, I do see your point about congestion in those circumstances.

No problem- I actually heard that wet smacking sound when your ears got sucked back into your head.

 

[brophog]

Get rid of the impact of the slopped and wired ball and all the desire for these gadgets will just evaporate. No one will have a use for them.

There are loads of gadgets in various industries that don't have much of a natural demand, yet they can sell due to other impulses. We can all go around the house and find loads of things we never did, nor currently do, have much of a use for yet someone bought them, anyhow.

There are a lot of racks on the market for another reason: they are cheaper to sell than balls and tables. Every sport has its accessory market, and pool is no different. Racks conveniently fit in that impulse shopping price range and therefore can sell even if they aren't strictly needed.

After all, how many diamond shaped '9 ball racks' are floating out there. :smile:

 

[justadub]

There are loads of gadgets in various industries that don't have much of a natural demand, yet they can sell due to other impulses. We can all go around the house and find loads of things we never did, nor currently do, have much of a use for yet someone bought them, anyhow.

There are a lot of racks on the market for another reason: they are cheaper to sell than balls and tables. Every sport has its accessory market, and pool is no different. Racks conveniently fit in that impulse shopping price range and therefore can sell even if they aren't strictly needed.

After all, how many diamond shaped '9 ball racks' are floating out there. :smile:

Oh no, let's don't do that.... why would we EVER want the game that we love to have an industry that creates new equipment, and is successful? Nope, we need to do away with all the "gadgets", just a plain wooden rack and some one piece cues, and some drywall powder for chalk. That's it. No more gadgets, dammit!

 

[RunoutJJ]

OK THIS WILL BE MY VERY LAST POST ON RACKING ISSUES AND YOU CAN SAVE THIS VERY POST!!!


SLUG DOCTOR / TIGHT RACK SYSTEM IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE BEST RACKING SYSTEM PERIOD!!!! END OF DISCUSSION!! I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT THIS IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.. THEN AND ONLY THEN I CAN TELL YOU ALL THAT I TOLD YOU SO. RACK THIS RACK THAT ITS THE ONLY TRUE TIGHT RACK WITH NO PROBLEMS WHEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY. YOU WANNA CHALLENGE THAT??? SORRY BUT I CANT HEAR BECAUSE IM DEAF. BY CHOICE OF COURSE....

ENJOY YOUR CONSTANT ARGUMENTS AND BS THAT PEOPLE SPOUT ON HERE ABOUT THE WHOLE RACKING DEBATES... IM DONE!!!

 

[ignomirello]

Rack your own !

This would be my solution.

Rack your own !

What ever your tournament supplies you with, you should use that equipment.

If you can't rack your own in a minute. Then your oponnet will rack for you with a 30 second time limit.
If your oponett racks you can not ask for a re-rack. Remember your useing the same equipment.

I don't like getting slugged either but I don't think (MR) is the answer either.

My opinion & a friend who is a pro has the same opinion (MR) makes the game a joke.

 

[whitewolf]

I can't tell you how much reading I had to do before I figured out what the heck this Magic Rack thing was, and I only figured it out last week.

Finally I saw a video and I understood this "device". As far as I am concerned it is crooked pool.

Let me explain..... You can't leave anything on the table in the world I played pool in. Maybe the color of the sky has changed...maybe pigs fly...but I'll be darned if I am going to play pool with something other than the balls on the table. That includes if it's only for the break shot.

Figure out a way to get the thing off the table for the break shot and I would be cool with it. But for that it would really need to be magic.

Now this? I can't believe this is going on at that level of the game!

Good post, and I agree. IMO, we should all go back to the Sardo rack. I have one at home and it is MUCH MUCH better than my Delta 13 metal rack. And, IMHO, you don't need to 'prime the dimples' before using the Sardo rack.

 

[whitewolf]

Chopdoc-

There are a LOT of threads and data on the Magic Ball Rack.

Please check around and you will see that they are in use in many pro and amateur events. And most people really like them.

Tell you what, I will send you a free set so you can test them out.
I think you will find them amazing and familiarity will eliminate most of your concerns.

I realize the concept appears 'odd' but just use one for awhile.

Hope you take me up on my offer.

Mark Griffin
702-719-7665 work
Markg@playcsipool.com

Ahh yes, wasn't there just a major tournament where they had to throw the magic racks in the trash can because they kept crimping up? I know Jay Helfert was there and after this happened I had to give a big internet laugh to Jay for so fervently backing the magic rack piece of crap.

 

[whitewolf]

I hate the magic rack and under most rules I am familiar with it is illegal. Granted, that makes no difference because TD's are just selecting what rules they want to use/enforce anyhow.

It doesn't just give a tight rack--it also stays on the table while the balls are moving and influences the balls until it can be removed.

dld

I know I have blasted the magic rack, but don't laugh when I say that I just ordered this 'thing' for league play. Reason, it is freaking impossible to get a tight rack on these league tables. I mean, it is really bad. While no one is looking I have been know to rip the spot right of the table. But they should not be allowed in pro tournaments.

 

[whitewolf]

OK THIS WILL BE MY VERY LAST POST ON RACKING ISSUES AND YOU CAN SAVE THIS VERY POST!!!


SLUG DOCTOR / TIGHT RACK SYSTEM IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE BEST RACKING SYSTEM PERIOD!!!! END OF DISCUSSION!! I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT THIS IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.. THEN AND ONLY THEN I CAN TELL YOU ALL THAT I TOLD YOU SO. RACK THIS RACK THAT ITS THE ONLY TRUE TIGHT RACK WITH NO PROBLEMS WHEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY. YOU WANNA CHALLENGE THAT??? SORRY BUT I CANT HEAR BECAUSE IM DEAF. BY CHOICE OF COURSE....

ENJOY YOUR CONSTANT ARGUMENTS AND BS THAT PEOPLE SPOUT ON HERE ABOUT THE WHOLE RACKING DEBATES... IM DONE!!!

Ughhhhhh - the Slug doctor doesn't do 8 ball racks, does it?

 

[RunoutJJ]

Ughhhhhh - the Slug doctor doesn't do 8 ball racks, does it?

I play straight pool with it so Im sure 8 ball wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Paul Schofield]

SLUG DOCTOR / TIGHT RACK SYSTEM IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE BEST RACKING SYSTEM PERIOD!!!! END OF DISCUSSION!! I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT THIS IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.. THEN AND ONLY THEN I CAN TELL YOU ALL THAT I TOLD YOU SO.

Not quite. This is a trick shot template. Balls are wired to pockets. Wired balls should not be rewarded. It also invites pattern racking.