Templates Work The Best For Racking But I Hate Them.

Bavafongoul

Bavafongoul

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I dunno know how most folks feel but I think templates produce the tightest racking of pool balls for a full rack (15 balls) or 9 & 10 ball. Nonetheless, these racks just don’t hold up over usage and I carry 4-5 of different versions and none of them seem to last over time.

For the past couple Xmas holidays, I have given a couple of dear friends Delta Elite racks and included leather inserts since they have pool tables. When I play on their tables, I enjoy racking pool balls that I’ve done all my life before plastic templates came along, even the sound.

So I decided to get a Delta Elite rack for myself. I’ll store it at the pool hall under the counter. I just bought a new one on eBay and I’m going to start racking balls from now on. The pool balls, unless the table is off, form a tight rack using the Delta pool racks and all the balls touch.

I think I’ll skip adding the inserts on my rack like I included when I gave my friends their Delta Elite racks. I actually like the sound of racking pool balls instead of individually placing the balls on a flat piece of plastic that eventually starts loses shape. I’m returning to the old days.

I paid slightly over $100 for a new Delta Elite. I’d have preferred a blue or black version but since it was from a private seller, there was no color choice so mine is red. I know templates are popular nowadays but a tight rack is still a tight rack regardless of what method you may use. I wonder if plastic templates will still be popular a decade from now?
 

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Bavafongoul said:
For the past couple Xmas holidays, I have given a couple of dear friends Delta Elite racks and included leather inserts since they have pool tables. When I play on their tables, I enjoy racking pool balls that I’ve done all my life before plastic templates came along, even the sound.
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The room I called home during my misspent youth is long gone. But I still have that solid oak wooden rack with the room's name engraved on one side from Table 9, the only 9 footer in the room. Sure it would get a little sticky from time to time from hand oils and humidity. But that's nothing a little wipe down couldn't fix. Thanks for taking me back.

I do still prefer a well built rack. There was something about the balls not always being perfectly racked that made the game a little more interesting and unpredictable. Having said that, I get the need for templates, particularly in the professional realm. If for no other reason, some people got a little too good at racking perfectly imperfect. Of course, there are still moves with a template rack. But it's not quite as easy as it was with a standard rack.
 
I hate stuff that wears out. I use the 10 dollar Genuine Mother of Landfill rack. Put one each in 2 local bars. Third bar already uses it. Works as well as any the big wooden ones and has yet to show any wear.
 
Bavafongoul said:
I dunno know how most folks feel but I think templates produce the tightest racking of pool balls for a full rack (15 balls) or 9 & 10 ball. Nonetheless, these racks just don’t hold up over usage and I carry 4-5 of different versions and none of them seem to last over time.

For the past couple Xmas holidays, I have given a couple of dear friends Delta Elite racks and included leather inserts since they have pool tables. When I play on their tables, I enjoy racking pool balls that I’ve done all my life before plastic templates came along, even the sound.

So I decided to get a Delta Elite rack for myself. I’ll store it at the pool hall under the counter. I just bought a new one on eBay and I’m going to start racking balls from now on. The pool balls, unless the table is off, form a tight rack using the Delta pool racks and all the balls touch.

I think I’ll skip adding the inserts on my rack like I included when I gave my friends their Delta Elite racks. I actually like the sound of racking pool balls instead of individually placing the balls on a flat piece of plastic that eventually starts loses shape. I’m returning to the old days.

I paid slightly over $100 for a new Delta Elite. I’d have preferred a blue or black version but since it was from a private seller, there was no color choice so mine is red. I know templates are popular nowadays but a tight rack is still a tight rack regardless of what method you may use. I wonder if plastic templates will still be popular a decade from now?
Click to expand...
I have had my Delta Elite for at least 15 years, I love it!!
 
Placing balls one-at-a-time is akin to shagging them from the pockets. I resist both chores if avoidable. I also refused the inserts for my Delta. Deep finger grooves should be a mandatory feature in every rack.
 
The rack the ultimate pool league uses looks ok especially for carrying with you. The rear is open and it folds. I've only seen it on TV so it may not be as good as it looks.
 
Sheldon said:
I wish Delta still sold the cast version. It was only 30 or 40 bucks, and works great.


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I have both the Elite and the less expensive cast one. I rarely ever use the cast one. I suppose I would sell it to you if the offer was reasonable. PM me if interested.
 
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