Racking template (?)

DynoDan

DynoDan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Guys, been out of the loop for a very long time, and thus the appearance of this device was a surprise to me. What’s the deal? I seems to me that anything capable of holding the balls in position would also alter their path (?). Also, what about the balls that would inevitably come to rest on it? Is there a universally recognized procedure for retrieving the template?
I recently watched some locals using a specific model to rack 10 ball. They didn’t use a triangle, but hand placed each ball instead (seemed overly time consuming).
Reminds me of why I lost interest in drag racing after they replaced the flag man with Xmas tree lights (I miss the performance drama). The art & controversy of ‘racking’ has always been a traditional part of the game. What’s next, a trigger-activated spring-loaded cue with laser sights? Since dedicated jump & break cues are now officially accepted, it wouldn’t surprise me.
 
They work fine, I don't like how long it takes to rack them lol
 
A decent template works great.
I recommend the Magic Rack, works great and is pretty durable and last long.

It doesn't take much time to rack, unless you are paranoid.
I for example rack way way faster with a template than with a triangle. I can't seem to get the balls touching with a triangle, with the template i just grab the balls and be somewhat careful when placing them and that's it, it takes me literary less than 25 seconds.

If a ball rests on the template after the break you should tell your opponent that you're going to remove the template. Again, unless he/she is paranoid (if he/she is, then I would even go to the extend of suggesting to not play that certain person at all) he/she will give you consent to remove it. If the ball resting on the template is not touching other balls and is clearly pocketable, I usually just hold the ball in place with my hand and with the other hand slip the template away. If the ball is touching another ball, you can use 2 pieces of chalk just to be extra sure that you are going to place the ball exactly on the right spot. In the first scenario the process takes about 5 seconds to do (3 seconds to notify the opponent about removing the template and get the usual response ("yup") and about 2 to actually remove it. In the second scenario it could take as long as 13 seconds (I know, boring, huh? )

If you are going to be offended by a racking template I have no advice for you. Even if you don't use them I am 10000% certain you will find something else that will bother you. Good luck with that.
 
I like using the magic rack but I agree that sometimes it can take a while. You have to actually concentrate on putting the balls into the template properly
 
I like the template rack.

I don't like loose racks.

But I will never, ever get back that extra few seconds it takes. :rolleyes:
 
DynoDan said:
Guys, been out of the loop for a very long time, and thus the appearance of this device was a surprise to me. What’s the deal? I seems to me that anything capable of holding the balls in position would also alter their path (?). Also, what about the balls that would inevitably come to rest on it? Is there a universally recognized procedure for retrieving the template?
I recently watched some locals using a specific model to rack 10 ball. They didn’t use a triangle, but hand placed each ball instead (seemed overly time consuming).
Reminds me of why I lost interest in drag racing after they replaced the flag man with Xmas tree lights (I miss the performance drama). The art & controversy of ‘racking’ has always been a traditional part of the game. What’s next, a trigger-activated spring-loaded cue with laser sights? Since dedicated jump & break cues are now officially accepted, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Click to expand...

If I'm playing someone that "does not" break and run out as often as I do, I prefer a template.

If my opponent "can" run out as often as myself "or even better" , I prefer a wooden rack.

The above is, to me, only the offensive reasons. There are other reasons why I would or would not want a template.

If you play much stronger safes than I do, well, I for sure want a template since there are far less clusters in games using a template for most people. Less clusters usually means less safety play. Then again, this only holds true on games where I "break and run". Every time I break dry, miss a shot or play a safe that is not locked up.......well, if you have a stronger safe game then at that point it will not matter which rack, your gonna win in long race.

On the other hand, If my safes are much stronger than yours but you are a better shot maker............well, yep, a wooden rack again due to the same reasons above where I would want more clusters on break........more safety battles.

Bottom line IMO:

If I'm a stronger player in general than you are, well, I'm most likely going to beat you with a magic rack or a wooden rack........or vice versa if you are a stronger player in general.

That's one reason better players like long races.

You stir the pot long enough and the creme will eventually come to the top no matter what bowl or spoon you use.

Rake
 
jimmyco said:
I like the template rack.

I don't like loose racks.

But I will never, ever get back that extra few seconds it takes. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I’m with you. And if you watch players fiddle with a triangle trying to get a tight rack, I’m not at all sure a template takes more time.
 
AlienObserver;6202866 If you are going to be offended by a racking template I have no advice for you. Even if you don't use them I am 10000% certain you will find something else that will bother you. Good luck with that.[/QUOTE said:
Not so much ‘offended’ as ‘puzzled’.
Not against progress, and will admit achieving a tight rack on worn cloth CAN be challenging (AND very time consuming), but on new 860, just don’t see how the complication is justified. I assume the goal is ‘consistency’, and the elimination of any squabbling over how well the balls have been racked (?). Likely the same philosophical attitude that inspired the ‘shot clock’.
But, In an un-refereed match, your opponent is the umpire. If your play involves really excessive ‘foot-dragging’, he likely disqualifies you & claims victory. You may disagree, and never play him again. If he complains that you consistently mis-rack the balls... same result. Just don’t see why resisting the unjustified erosion of tradition might deserve scorn.
Click to expand...
 
In ordinary play and local tournaments you don't see the constant fiddling and re-racking with the wooden rack, so using the template doesn't make much difference one way or the other.

But in the pro tournaments without a referee and it's rack your own, there should be a time clock set at 15 seconds, or maybe even 10, that limits the time a player can take to rack the balls. IMO there's no bigger turnoff from a spectator's POV than watching Dechaine and Hatch spend more time racking and complaining about the other player's racks than they do trying to run the table. And ideally in pro tournaments the Magic Rack would be mandatory.
 
I think the template rack, Magic Rack in particular, are a great advance in pool.

and I'm fairly certain they speed up play at tourneys where even the most fussy players don't have to do nearly as much fussing to get a good tight rack.

jctherake has brought up some excellent strategic points, however, that could be very helpful for choosing when or if to use templates vs traditional racks (if you get to choose). :yeah:

best,
brian kc
 
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jrctherake said:
If I'm playing someone that "does not" break and run out as often as I do, I prefer a template.

If my opponent "can" run out as often as myself "or even better" , I prefer a wooden rack.

The above is, to me, only the offensive reasons. There are other reasons why I would or would not want a template.

If you play much stronger safes than I do, well, I for sure want a template since there are far less clusters in games using a template for most people. Less clusters usually means less safety play. Then again, this only holds true on games where I "break and run". Every time I break dry, miss a shot or play a safe that is not locked up.......well, if you have a stronger safe game then at that point it will not matter which rack, your gonna win in long race.

On the other hand, If my safes are much stronger than yours but you are a better shot maker............well, yep, a wooden rack again due to the same reasons above where I would want more clusters on break........more safety battles.

Bottom line IMO:

If I'm a stronger player in general than you are, well, I'm most likely going to beat you with a magic rack or a wooden rack........or vice versa if you are a stronger player in general.

That's one reason better players like long races.

You stir the pot long enough and the creme will eventually come to the top no matter what bowl or spoon you use.

Rake
Click to expand...

Right on, have to play to strengths. I mostly use a triangle only for practicing purposes because in our tournaments both players have to agree to using it in a match, 99% of the time they agree to not use a magic rack. So it being rack your own, it pays to be able to put together a tight rack with a triangle.
 
If you think of the template as just another random roll of the balls on the table there is no issue with it being there at all. I would take the balls running over the thin rack over someone that slug racks or having the 9 ball go into or near the corner pocket half the time. It only starts to be any sort of an issue when you have good rackers along with players that can run out often after the break where the template in 9 ball makes it easy to pocket a ball, and having good rackers negates the benefit of it.
 
DynoDan said:
Guys, been out of the loop for a very long time, and thus the appearance of this device was a surprise to me. What’s the deal?
Click to expand...

Guess I should have searched the archives before posting, as this subject has been exhaustively discussed previously (quite an issue of contention). Lots of opinions pro & con re: template use.
Personally, I still favor the triangle. A perfectly tight rack (like a perfect table roll) is not something we necessarily have a right to expect. After reading all the relevant past post submissions, I’ve come to this conclusion:

IMO, a player should never be allowed to challenge the rack, no matter what the level or venue of competition, or who does the racking. If your opponent spends too much time fiddling with the balls (whether suspiciously rigging them, OR honestly attempting to tighten them), he is warned of impending disqualification for ‘slow play’. If your opponent consistently gives you a sloppy rack, you simply return the favor. THAT should put the whole issue to bed, and officially define rack tightness/position as “LUCK OF THE DRAW”. No more whining about the running of endless rack-strings of 9 ball using the template (or balls that roll funny or have to be moved), and no more crying about the tight pack of balls left after a slug 8-ball break when nothing dropped. Every honorable competitor (AND referee) should be expected to make a good-faith attempt to rack the balls tightly, but if it can’t be done quickly, then too bad. No big deal. I don’t believe even the most gifted template racker can keep up someone who merely dumps the balls in a triangle, shoves the rack to the spot and lifts!
 
Looks like the obvious answer would be to have the breaker rack his own balls subject to inspection by his opponent and/or a referee. You wanna use a "MAGIC" rack....bring your own.....got a special triangle....bring it with you....racking your own eliminates 100% of controversy over the process.
 
DynoDan said:
Guess I should have searched the archives before posting, as this subject has been exhaustively discussed previously (quite an issue of contention). Lots of opinions pro & con re: template use.
Personally, I still favor the triangle. A perfectly tight rack (like a perfect table roll) is not something we necessarily have a right to expect. After reading all the relevant past post submissions, I’ve come to this conclusion:

IMO, a player should never be allowed to challenge the rack, no matter what the level or venue of competition, or who does the racking. If your opponent spends too much time fiddling with the balls (whether suspiciously rigging them, OR honestly attempting to tighten them), he is warned of impending disqualification for ‘slow play’. If your opponent consistently gives you a sloppy rack, you simply return the favor. THAT should put the whole issue to bed, and officially define rack tightness/position as “LUCK OF THE DRAW”. No more whining about the running of endless rack-strings of 9 ball using the template (or balls that roll funny or have to be moved), and no more crying about the tight pack of balls left after a slug 8-ball break when nothing dropped. Every honorable competitor (AND referee) should be expected to make a good-faith attempt to rack the balls tightly, but if it can’t be done quickly, then too bad. No big deal. I don’t believe even the most gifted template racker can keep up someone who merely dumps the balls in a triangle, shoves the rack to the spot and lifts!
Click to expand...
A sloppy rack/break is like to cause the game to last much longer, and where's your time saving then?! The time it takes to rack is negligible compared to the duration of the play.

Julian
 
danquixote said:
Looks like the obvious answer would be to have the breaker rack his own balls subject to inspection by his opponent and/or a referee. You wanna use a "MAGIC" rack....bring your own.....got a special triangle....bring it with you....racking your own eliminates 100% of controversy over the process.
Click to expand...

What dream world are you living in, bruddah?!
 
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