Strategy in racking 8 ball?

TwoRailDave

TwoRailDave

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Strategy for racking 8 ball?

I usually just make sure the end balls are opposite. Sometimes I throw em in so that the stripes are on the other side opposite the solids, kind of like a mirror

(Not with all the stripes on the same side...but who knows, that might actually be a good way lol.) I wouldn't be surprised if Corey racks the balls

differently, depending on where his opponent is breaking from and how hard. I do realize that the spread will vary considerably without a magic rack or

even with a magic rack for that matter. Corey showed us that there are certainly ways to rack the balls so that they spread nicely for himself at certain speeds.

Surely there are ways to rack the balls that will generally provide less of a chance for an easy spread. It's just kind of interesting to me and wondered

what you guys like to do if anything.
 
Last edited:
The only way I believe you can rack the balls to purposely get a closer spread is by having a loose rack. By racking the balls loosely you can force anyone to have a closer spread no matter how hard they hit the cue ball. I personally don't really see a point in doing this, because it will hurt your game as well. It can only help you to a extent but at the same time I would consider that poor sportsmanship. I would like to think pool is more of a gentlemen's game.
 
Spread can be used to describe two things. One is that the balls are spread out over the table.

The other way I have often heard it used is to refer to the layout of the stripes and solids

(not how spread they are necesarily, but the pattern itself.) An easy spread or a good spread

would be one that offers an easy runout.I was not at all talking about ways

to slug rack your opponent. That is obviously poor etiquette while racking a particular pattern,

if it is within the confines of the rules, is not.
 
Last edited:
When I play 8 Ball I always examine the rack. A loose rack results in clusters but can sometimes be mitigated by using a third ball break. I usually break into the side that is tightest to the eight ball which promotes the most action on the eight. The slight gaps on the other side of the eight ball sometimes leave the eight a channel to get out of the pack.

If I am playing a weaker player, I will try to get the best spread and the least amount of clusters I can while still making a ball.

If I am playing a player that is stronger than I am, I will usually second or third ball break at a softer speed as to leave clusters, hope to make a ball and then play to a safety.

I have been experimenting with Corey's racking pattern and have noticed that it often leaves one group quite a bit better than the other. Unfortunately, in my league we seldom rack our own.
 


In APA when I rack my opponent's balls it looks like the above. Not exact ball positions - but solids and stripes are where they should be in the rack.

On the break the balls spread so the stripes block most of the solid shots - and being that the head, and 2 corner balls are solids they're the ones most likely to be potted.

Just a little something you can mess around with =P
 
Racking for myself, I try to recreate corey's break outlined in this post.
It ensures he has an easy run and his opponent has a crappy little cluster.
Just when playing for fun.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=354496

Racking for the opponent, or if playing in a tournament, I stick to the rules
and do them randomly (except the required corner balls and 8 in the middle).
 
There isn't supposed to be any strategy in racking 8-ball.

The rules specifically say (BCAPL, BCA, WPA, VNEA, many others) that the only requirement is that the 8 be in the middle of the third row and that the back two corners be opposite groups.

The rest of the balls are supposed to be placed without purpose or intent (meaning random) and the rack is supposed to be as tight as possible with all balls frozen together.

If you aren't doing that, you are cheating. And yes, that means Corey was cheating when he was racking 8-ball the way he was.

So don't be that guy. Rack em random and tight and win on your skill, not by cheating.
 
I fully support playing by the rules. If random racking is what is expected or agreed, then that is what I'll do. I don't play in leagues so I haven't

really ran across those requirements. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with making the rack as difficult as possible -that's what I would

expect my opponent to do, but I respect those that disagree. Most everyone I play, including myself, organize the balls as they see fit when

playing 8 ball. I don't even care if they rack em like many bar players do with the solids in the corners. I just let em do whatever they want when

its their rack. I don't like watching Donny Mills play rack your own 9 ball and I understand why many are very against pattern racking. I feel like it is

a part of the game whether we like it or not, and understanding the rack is just something I feel good players should learn. I learned a lot about how

to rack 9 ball from Tucker's secrets but I don't pattern rack when I'm playing a ring game -not because I think I'll get recognized, but because I

don't like the idea of it. I certainly realize when someone is trying to do it to me though. If I'm gambling, this is just another rule that should be

clarified. Its another game just like rack your own 9 ball. Its hard to get around unless you're playing with people you know and trust. I really liked

the idea one member brought up in another post where he suggested an app that randomly assigns an order for the rack, whether its 8,9, or 10 ball.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top