Racking Solutions

L

LastTwo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
With all the complaints about the Sardo rack, what some people forget is that before it was invented, players complained because they couldn't get a good rack. I've watched tons of pool videos and quite often they had a problem with racking. It would take forever to rack the balls because they just couldn't get them to freeze together. The Sardo Rack is now the solution to that racking problem, because it gives you a perfect rack every time. Now people are complaining because of that. With a perfect rack every time, it becomes much easier to make a ball on the break and as a result players are stringing alot of racks together or at least pocketing balls on the break and controlling the table. In response to this problem, the break box and alternate breaks were implemented in some events. However, people continue to complain about the Sardo rack, because it does it's job well, actually TOO well. A friend of mine suggested to the UPA that for the 9-ball break, they add a tenth ball just for the break. The balls are racked just like 10-ball but with the 9 in the middle, and after the balls are broken you remove the 10th ball. It is much harder to make a ball on the break in a 10 ball rack so this could be a possible solution. The people who complain about the Sardo rack would probably still complain if it was removed. I say keep using the Sardo rack but rack it 10 ball and remove the 10th ball. People complain that the Sardo rack leaves tiny divots in the table. Do they not realize that their powerful breaks do more damage to the table than the Sardo rack ever could? The reason why they can't rack the balls tightly with a regular rack at pro tournaments is because all the pros have these monster breaks and it damages the spot, and the areas where they break from.

I really think that the game of 10-ball should replace 9-ball so you don't have to try to work out all of these solutions, but it doesn't seem like any of the organizations want 10ball. Does anyone else have any ideas?
 
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Tons'O'fun said:
TV networks want fast pool, they want balls dropped on every break and as few innings as possible.

IMHO - It's fine the way it is. The people that break well do well, the people that break poorly don't. Survival of the fittest in my books.

Ask yourself thsi, who is it that's complaining?. Is it the guys that consistently drop balls or the guys who can't break very well?. Nuff said.
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I've already considered what you said and it turns out that even the players who break well are complaining. Even players with weaker breaks can still pocket balls often with a perfect rack everytime. If the wingball is dead, it's dead. If the wingball is not dead, with the 1 being frozen to the first two balls every time, it is very easy to figure out how to make the 1 in the side consistently. All types of players are complaining, because they don't like sitting in their chair most of the match (even though they do that to other players sometimes). Before the Sardo rack came out, it WAS the players with the stronger breaks prevailing often (but not all the time of course). Now you see players soft breaking, etc. If you've ever seen Corey Deuel soft break with the Sardo rack you would know what they are talking about.
 
What I noticed

yesterday in looking up a rule in Texas Express, was
that tapping the balls in place when racking is a foul,
and a loss of 1 game. Never noticed that rule before,
and I thought it was interesting, especially since most
money matches are played using TE rules.
 
People will complain about everything. A player comes along and figures out an effective break and they change the rules. A great golfer comes along that can bomb it 350 and they lengthen the courses. And they say the players of yesteryear could hang with todays players. Not a chance.
 
Chameleon

Sweet Marissa said:
Has anyone seen the new Chameleon rack? It racks for 8-ball, 9-ball, and 6-ball. I got to see it in use in Vegas and thought it was much better than the Sardo.
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What was the price on the Chameleon Rack?
 
Sweet Marissa said:
Has anyone seen the new Chameleon rack? It racks for 8-ball, 9-ball, and 6-ball. I got to see it in use in Vegas and thought it was much better than the Sardo.
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I just looked at their little video. It looks like it's just an ordinary rack that converts to a 9-ball rack. Personally, I've never liked racks that were designed for 9-ball. I prefer just a regular ole wooden rack. I never have a problem racking them tight unless the table is all dinged up and the balls just won't freeze at all. In this case, the Sardo rack, or any other rack, isn't going to help. The thing that the Sardo rack DOES do, though, is it keeps the rack technicians from working their magic. Of course they're going to complain about the wing ball firing in the hole. They can't trick the rack up to stop it! :rolleyes:
 
Sometimes the balls aren't the same size, so there is no way to rack them tight.
 
Marissa,

do tell about this new rack machine the Chameleon? how was it different from the sardo?


I myself have never had a problem racking on any table. i mean if i need to, i just tap the 1ball till its froze, and set the rack.

If you have a decent rack, like the hard plastic ones, or the Diamond racks, those all work about the same. the ones i hate are the old wooden ones, that no matter what corner you have, you cant get a tight rack.

dave
 
Sweet Marissa said:
Has anyone seen the new Chameleon rack? It racks for 8-ball, 9-ball, and 6-ball. I got to see it in use in Vegas and thought it was much better than the Sardo.
Click to expand...

I saw this rack recently at the APA Vegas event as well. My first impression was that it is a good well thought out design. The rack is capable of racking for many games, 9 balls and 15 ball games being the best. The rack has spring loaded pins to help freeze the balls together located around the main body and on the yellow flip lever. The back of the rack also has a bar that can be squeezed up to freeze the back row of 15 ball racks. I watched as they racked 8 ball and 9 ball at various positions around the table and then inspected each one, and all balls were frozen. With new balls and cloth it worked great. The question remaining is how does it work with worn balls and cloth?

Rick
 
Jimmy M. said:
I just looked at their little video. It looks like it's just an ordinary rack that converts to a 9-ball rack. Personally, I've never liked racks that were designed for 9-ball.:
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It has a bar across the back to tighten an eight-ball rack. Racking for nine-ball, when you bring down the arm, its spring loaded pins push the balls forward for a perfect rack. The way the pins are located on the arm, you can rack for six-ball, also.

I believe they're running a special right now.
 
Sweet Marissa said:
It has a bar across the back to tighten an eight-ball rack. Racking for nine-ball, when you bring down the arm, its spring loaded pins push the balls forward for a perfect rack. The way the pins are located on the arm, you can rack for six-ball, also.

I believe they're running a special right now.
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I see its 89.50...but I wonder if a couple of us want to go together and get some, would the offer a discount? Compared to the Sardo, it is much cheaper...but it seems to be less moving parts also.

I like the idea behind it, basically just a bar that lets you crunch the balls forward and freeze them...much like we used to do with our hands on the old bar boxes back home.

I just wish they would invent something where "I" could rack the balls myself. It's such a pain for me crawl out onto the table or lean wayyyy over on the table to rack. Damn short arm disease! LOL

Shorty
 
Shorty said:
I see its 89.50...but I wonder if a couple of us want to go together and get some, would the offer a discount? Compared to the Sardo, it is much cheaper...but it seems to be less moving parts also.
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The Sardo M-5000 is $60 or $69. It'll be out in a week or so.
 
iacas said:
The Sardo M-5000 is $60 or $69. It'll be out in a week or so.
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Looks like some sites have it available now. Cheapest I saw it was $60. I think I might pick one up.
 
Icon of Sin said:
Looks like some sites have it available now. Cheapest I saw it was $60. I think I might pick one up.
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I just ordered it from BCn. They have it now.
 
I don't know if you all ever did this, but rack the balls at the other end of the table. It usually in better shape up there. I did this playing a guy that was a serious rack mechanic, and we ended up having another person rack for us. We were breaking from the same spot, and he made balls while I struggled. Turns out he was tilted the rack, among other crap he was doing. after the stand in racker I had no problems......Gerry
 
rackmsuckr said:
I am going to wait until the IPT version comes out to buy one.
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I thought the IPT was using the same model I am referring to, the new 5000? KT even referred specifically to this new cheaper version in his online audio presentation. Or do you mean IPT members will be getting sent them at a discount rate?
 
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