Trick to racking balls tight

naji said:
I saw Mr. Ken Shuman do this in one of the tournaments after few minutes spent by the players trying to freeze the balls. He simply rubbed the wooden rack against cloth at the rack area, they racked quickly after that!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpBYgl24Co&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...

He's trying to smooth out the cloth where some maroon has tapped them in wrong or where they have been tapped in several times... YMMV... IF they have been tapped hard rubbing all day with the wooden rack won't do it... I have had to use a steaming towel on the headspot divot at events to raise the surface back up and that works just don't get the cloth overly saturated...
 
The Renfro said:
He's trying to smooth out the cloth where some maroon has tapped them in wrong or where they have been tapped in several times... YMMV... IF they have been tapped hard rubbing all day with the wooden rack won't do it... I have had to use a steaming towel on the headspot divot at events to raise the surface back up and that works just don't get the cloth overly saturated...
Click to expand...

Hands work good too.
 
On new cloth they should draw an outline around the rack so the balls get racked in the same place.

Then tell the players to place the rack first, then load the balls. No rolling the rack back and forth.
 
JohnnyP said:
On new cloth they should draw an outline around the rack so the balls get racked in the same place.

Then tell the players to place the rack first, then load the balls. No rolling the rack back and forth.
Click to expand...

This is what I did. Now two years later I can get a tight rack without even using the rack.
Just roll the balls into place like they've been trained.
 
Yes, the magic racks are great (maybe too good), but for tourneys that use the triangles why not do what oldschool1478 and I suggest?
 
naji said:
I saw Mr. Ken Shuman do this in one of the tournaments after few minutes spent by the players trying to freeze the balls. He simply rubbed the wooden rack against cloth at the rack area, they racked quickly after that!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpBYgl24Co&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...

Rubbing the rack on the cloth probably had some (but small) effect.

The larger effect was that the Tournament Director racked the balls. You don't accuse the TD (Ken Shuman, no less) of trying to give you a slug rack. He racks the balls and then you break. You don't tell Ken to re-rack the balls.

Here's what's always worked for me. Place the one-ball on the spot in a place where it "rests". Put the triangle over the rack area and snug it up closely to the one-ball without moving the one-ball. The whole trick is not to fight the one-ball. It will naturally set up in the best place so don't move it.

After you've got the triangle snugged up to the one-ball, place the other balls carefully in the rack, row by row, making sure not to move the one-ball. You'll find this solves most racking problems because you're not arguing with the one-ball.

It's like I do in dog training: figure out what the dog wants to do...and then train him to do that. Figure out where the one-ball wants to sit and then work around that.
 
bdorman said:
Rubbing the rack on the cloth probably had some (but small) effect.

The larger effect was that the Tournament Director racked the balls. You don't accuse the TD (Ken Shuman, no less) of trying to give you a slug rack. He racks the balls and then you break. You don't tell Ken to re-rack the balls.

Here's what's always worked for me. Place the one-ball on the spot in a place where it "rests". Put the triangle over the rack area and snug it up closely to the one-ball without moving the one-ball. The whole trick is not to fight the one-ball. It will naturally set up in the best place so don't move it.

After you've got the triangle snugged up to the one-ball, place the other balls carefully in the rack, row by row, making sure not to move the one-ball. You'll find this solves most racking problems because you're not arguing with the one-ball.

It's like I do in dog training: figure out what the dog wants to do...and then train him to do that. Figure out where the one-ball wants to sit and then work around that.
Click to expand...

You are obviously speaking of 9 ball. It works the same for 8 ball too. I do it a hair different. I load the rack, find the spot where the head ball wants to sit. Then tighten the rack and the other balls against the head ball. While holding them tight, I use the palms of my hands to rotate the rear row of balls forward without moving the rack. Works on all but the worst tables. Balls usually stay tight in the whole rack.
 
JohnnyP said:
On new cloth they should draw an outline around the rack so the balls get racked in the same place.

Then tell the players to place the rack first, then load the balls. No rolling the rack back and forth.
Click to expand...

I prefer having lines going from north-south & east-west centered on the spot. The N/S should extend thru the bottom of the rack. In 9ball, you can ensure the line is between the 2nd and 4th rows. The W/E line shows you the center for the head ball. The biggest problem I have, is keeping my rack from being turned to one side. Which makes it easier to make one of the wing balls.
 
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