Tap or Template?

[Island Drive]

Watching the Treviso Open Filler match, I noticed right off, the ref did Not use a rack template.

They did two things I've not seen in pro pool, but this line #1 item is perfect, easy to do with new cloth.
It's highly functional/simple should be considered in pro 9 ball matches with new cloth.
Before the match had started, they did this.

1. They hard tapped the head ball to create a non-visual cloth/spot dent/divot on the new spot.
They did NOT use a template (Perfect) and each rack was ''tight and right''.
The lower 8 balls were also seated in the cloth this way with a softer hit/nice.
Watch the referee racking, when he rolls each set of lower balls upward into the 1 ball... they snug up/freeze they are Tight.
New cloth is thicker, and tapping is easy. ALL Lower balls are frozen to the balls above each set as they are rolled into place.

2. I think it was the 8th rack the ref, hand wiped the ball set, before racking the next game.
Nice, not seen that before, players appreciate it, causes less grabbing/inducing object ball rotation (dirty balls), When Whitey comes Slowly ''across the the face of the object ball contact point.

Tapping is better than leaving some object on table that can/does interfere with ball movement.

bm

 

[Poolmanis]

Tapping works good only little time. Divots expand and after that it is virtually impossible to make good rack..

It is good for tournaments because they don't need to last long time.

 

[Scratch85]

Watching the Treviso Open Filler match, I noticed right off, the ref did Not use a rack template.

They did two things I've not seen in pro pool, but this line #1 item is perfect, easy to do with new cloth. I like it, should be used in All pro matches with new cloth.
Before the match had started, they did this.

1. They hard tapped the head ball to create a non visual cloth divot in the new cloth.
Also, the 8 balls below the 9 were also tapped.
They did NOT use a template (Perfect) and each rack was ''tight and right''.
The lower 8 balls were also seated in the cloth this way/nice.
Watch the referee racking, when he rolls each set of lower balls upward into the (9)... they snug up/freeze they are Tight.
New cloth is thicker and tapping a divot is easy, ALL Lower balls are frozen to the balls above each set as they are rolled into place.

2. I think it was in the 8th rack the ref, he hand wiped the ball set, before racking the next game.
Nice, not seen that before, players appreciate it, causes less grabbing/inducing object ball rotation (dirty balls), When Whitey comes Slowly ''across the object ball contact point.

Tapping is better than template racking ''all day long''.

bm

I disagree. Template makes sense and seems to be the future to me. Not sure why we do anything other than a template rack. The template has a few potential problems but far fewer than all other racks, IMO.


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[Nick B]

Tapping works good only little time. Divots expand and after that it is virtually impossible to make good rack..

It is good for tournaments because they don't need to last long time.

That's been my observation as well. Also if not done well the first time you will fight with the bad spot for the rest of the tournament. Also requires a better skilled ref to execute.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Tapping works good only little time. Divots expand and after that it is virtually impossible to make good rack.. ...

It's possible to fix wandering divots but it's hard.

I believe the tapping is done with a template with holes the right spacing to help the balls stay tight, so a little closer to each other than a ball diameter.

 

[VarmintKong]

It's possible to fix wandering divots but it's hard.

I’d like to learn. Do tell.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Magic Ball Racks and their knockoff templates are the best racks ever, IMO. They have ramps built in that cause the balls to lean against each other. They are not influenced by wear on the cloth, wear on the spot, or prior divots from tapping the balls in. They are dirt cheap. I don't see how tapping the table could be a substitute for that. Maybe it will work for a few days of a brand new cloth in a professional setting. After that, what happens when normal players rack the balls in the wrong spots, and mess up all the divots?

 

[Island Drive]

I disagree. Template makes sense and seems to be the future to me.
Not sure why we do anything other than a template rack. The template has a few potential problems but far fewer than all other racks, IMO.
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Appreciate all the comments and opinions, that's how matters improve.

True Scratch 85.... I've NEVER liked anything left on the play surface.
Players pick off hair and? all the time during match play.

Leaving a plastic sheet on table DOES redirect ball paths, especially when it rolls along the lengthwise edge.

I've seen this redirection.... completely change game outcomes.

Also, if balls are clustered around the template after the break, it must stay there.

Someone made that choice to do this at this event, old school here liked it.
Cecil Messer told me about this in one of our training classes, he was the referee did this and never had a problem.

Someone chose to do this at this event.

I did like the refs decision (#2) to hand wipe the ball set mid match.

 

[skogstokig]

Appreciate all the comments and opinions, that's how matters improve.

True Scratch 85.... I've NEVER liked anything left on the play surface.
Players pick off hair and? all the time during match play.

Leaving a plastic sheet on table DOES redirect ball paths, especially when it rolls along the lengthwise edge.

I've seen this redirection.... completely change game outcomes.

Also, if balls are clustered around the template after the break, it must stay there.

Someone made that choice to do this at this event, old school here liked it.
Cecil Messer told me about this in one of our training classes, he was the referee did this and never had a problem.

Someone chose to do this.

I did like the refs decision (#2) to hand wipe the ball set mid match.

template being so clustered in it can't be moved is a very rare occurance. the eurotour tables are tapped so much that it's basically equal to using a template. only benefit i can see is that it looks slightly better than a flimsy template

 

[Island Drive]

Rare, but it Does happen.
Not possible they way they did it at ''the Treviso Open''.

They made a choice to not do it.
Saw a recent pro/template match, in a middle easter country, wing ball went every time for both players.

 

[skogstokig]

Rare, but it Does happen.
Not possible they way they did it at ''the Treviso Open''.

They made a choice to not do it.
Saw a recent pro/template match, in a middle easter country, wing ball went every time for both players.

different matter, the wing ball will fly in with template and the one ball on the spot

 

[Island Drive]

I know, but that made watching that match Very boring.
The Treviso/tap/rack wing balls were not pouring in at all.

 

[garczar]

If playing 1ball on the spot and they're tight that happens all the time. Answer? Play 10ball with 9ball rules ala Derby Bigfoot rules. 9b on the spot and break from the box is only way to somewhat slow the wings flying in.

 

[Island Drive]

I'd rather play roll out.... but this threads not about that zar.

 

[TrxR]

I've seen videos of tapped tables that messed with slow rolling balls as well. They must of been tapped pretty deep.
But if you think about it the digits created by tapping need to be as deep as the thickness of the template rack otherwise it wouldn't hold the ball in place.

 

[skogstokig]

i think for event organizers templates are just easier than tapping and work well enough. the occasional ball rolling over it and changing direction is of little importance, the break shot is chaotic anyway

 

[ShootingArts]

I bought a few sets of new balls playing around after I got my home pool table. I found out fast it was the balls, not the rack, that are the problem. The table came used with very cheap balls, one of the racks sold at walmart, mostly junk cues.

The $6.99 rack from wallyworld racked perfectly with new balls, so did two different templates. I didn't tap the table and had someone else tried to I would have tapped their fingers. Most people tapping a table either don't know how or don't care. I hear people tapping a table from across a busy poolroom with tables with new cloth.

One place I am going to go against the flow. Aside from anything else I can rack all fifteen balls by hand with less than a minute lost compared to using a rack and I suspect faster than someone racking with a template.

The templates are designed with CAD software so that they hold the balls together under pressure. The balls spread better and I think that is why the players are happier with a template aside from racks also being able to map.

One thing I will grant, slug racks are impossible with a template in good condition.

Hu

 

[Island Drive]

I've seen videos of tapped tables that messed with slow rolling balls as well. They must of been tapped pretty deep.
But if you think about it the digits created by tapping need to be as deep as the thickness of the template rack otherwise it wouldn't hold the ball in place.

The ball on the new spot, with new cloth is tapped harder than the other 8.

 

[RickLafayette]

I've been using the Perma Rack system for over a year now, got the idea ever since Jason Shaw used something similar when he set his record. I use the clear Avery hole savers instead of the white ones because they are thinner. They are about HALF the thickness of any template (and I have them all). Anyone who has played on my table has remarked how they completely forget that they're there once they start playing, they are that unobtrusive. Stun shots, cut shots, extreme draw shots, no problem. I usually have to replace one or two on an average of every two months or so as they will start to lift. I have never had one completely separate from the cloth. I have a custom made wood rack that I never use.

 

[DeadStick]

I've been using the Perma Rack system for over a year now, got the idea ever since Jason Shaw used something similar when he set his record. I use the clear Avery hole savers instead of the white ones because they are thinner. They are about HALF the thickness of any template (and I have them all). Anyone who has played on my table has remarked how they completely forget that they're there once they start playing, they are that unobtrusive. Stun shots, cut shots, extreme draw shots, no problem. I usually have to replace one or two on an average of every two months or so as they will start to lift. I have never had one completely separate from the cloth. I have a custom made wood rack that I never use.
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I’ve done the same since 2013 or so, and will never stop. I don’t use the Perma-Rack, though - I just mark the centers with a pencil using a 15-ball Accu-Rack template, then place the clear donuts.

When racking, I use the wooden Diamond rack to quickly push the balls onto the donuts, and a couple little shifts is all it takes to feel them “lock”. Takes around 4-5 seconds once the balls are in the rack, much less tedious than easing them in place by hand.