Was I Sharked?

K

KoolKiller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was playing in a small tournament at my local pool hall last night. There was this new player who joined us for the first time.
We drew the numbers and I played him in the first round. He was OK until I was up by 4-0 in a race to 8. He won the 5th game and after I racked, he came over and said "re-rack, please". I double checked the rack and did see a small gap in the rack. So I re-racked, did the best I could, then called him over to check again, he then looked at the rack like someone is checking out an expensive diamond ring or something, and then pointed to a tiny gap in rack and requested re-rack. So I did, the problem is tables in the pool hall are not perfect and the plastic rack is not one of the best you need to do a perfect rack. And this Rack-Check-ReRack thing went on for about 5~6 rounds before he said OK, that's good. At this time I was pissed and tired a little bit from all that racking:mad: I lost the game and when it was time to rack, I gathered all the balls and offered him to rack it by himself. He quickly said OK but insisted he would still rack for me if I won the game.

I didn't care that much about racking so I don't check the tightness of rack and just let it go. Ironically he was only able to rack for himself twice before I won the set.

I played another 3 players that night and nobody even checked the rack. I consider myself a good sport and I never did loose rack in order to take advantage of a possible dry break.

I just started playing tournament and wonder if this is a normal behavior in the tournament play? What would you do if you were in a situation like I was last night?
 
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It happens...do you feel you deserve a good rack?

What can you do, you make a reasonable attempt at racking 'em good, if you can't then you pursue other options.

I won't let my opponent rack for himself unless it is an event that is rack your own. I'd call over the TD and request he rack 'em or make a 'binding;)' call on the matter.

KoolKiller said:
I was playing in a small tournament at my local pool hall last night. There was this new player who joined us for the first time.
We drew the numbers and I played him in the first round. He was OK until I was up by 4-0 in a race to 8. He won the 5th game and after I racked, he came over and said "re-rack, please". I double checked the rack and did see a small gap in the rack. So I re-racked, did the best I could, then called him over to check again, he then looked at the rack like someone is checking out an expensive diamond ring or something, and then pointed to a tiny gap in rack and requested re-rack. So I did, the problem is tables in the pool hall are not perfect and the plastic rack is not one of the best you need to do a perfect rack. And this Rack-Check-ReRack thing went on for about 5~6 rounds before he said OK, that's good. At this time I was pissed and tired a little bit from all that racking:mad: I lost the game and when it was time to rack, I offered him to rack it by himself. He quickly said OK but insisted he would still rack for me if I won the game.

I didn't care that much about racking so I don't check the tightness of rack and just let it go. Ironically he was only able to rack for himself twice before I won the set.

I played another 3 players that night and nobody even checked the rack. I consider myself a good sport and I never did loose rack in order to take advantage of a possible dry break.

I just started playing tournament and wonder if this is a normal behavior in the tournament play? What would you do if you were in a situation like I was last night?
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I don't think it is "normal' but it does happen. And it happens enough for some tournaments to go to rack your own to avoid arguments. Sounds like you handled it like a pro...and won! GJ!
 
Most tourney's have moved to rack your own format so there isn't this type of issue. Maybe you could suggest it to the director if it seems to be happening more and more.
 
This situation comes up enough where the breaker looks at every angle trying to find a gap. If they want a re-rack I just do it. Dont let it bother you, people just look for every edge they can get and if they find that it rattles you they will continue to do it... and rightfully so.

I have had some one call over the tournament director on a straight in shot on the 9 ball to win the set. He asked him to watch the hit. Thats a shark move!
 
This is simply my opinion. I think that there are far too many assholes playing the game of pocket billiards :sorry:.
Over the years I have had (and still have) many hobbies. I have run into some sorry-ass people in other areas of my enjoyment endeavors, but there certainly seems to me to be a disproportionate number of them in pool.

Obviously, you had a chance meeting with one in the tourmament.

Maniac (whaddaya gonna do?)
 
no

Doesn't sound like he was pulling a "move" on you.Racking is a big issue with 9-ball it seams like you handled it well.I would't go to rack-your-own because that can create a whole new set of problems.You just have to deal with it but stand your ground if you think someone is trying to take advantage of your fair mindedness.

You should also check your opponents racks.You don't have to nit pick the rack but you want to see how and if you can pocket a ball on your break.
 
What are the issues with rack-your-own? When I encounter this I always let the opponent rack his own and I rack my own. Seems it makes both parties happier and I doubt my opponent knows some secret to racking that nobody else knows.
 
droveto said:
What are the issues with rack-your-own? When I encounter this I always let the opponent rack his own and I rack my own. Seems it makes both parties happier and I doubt my opponent knows some secret to racking that nobody else knows.
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If the 9-on-the-snap counts as a win, a rack can be manipulated to where the 9-ball can be made more easily on the break. If your opponent knows how to do this and you do NOT, your tournament appearance may be short-lived!!!

Maniac
 
droveto said:
What are the issues with rack-your-own? When I encounter this I always let the opponent rack his own and I rack my own. Seems it makes both parties happier and I doubt my opponent knows some secret to racking that nobody else knows.
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While it is true that a rack can be rigged to the breaker's benefit (or detriment), main reason I would likely deny it is because I am controlling that which the opponent wants.
 
Maniac said:
If the 9-on-the-snap counts as a win, a rack can be manipulated to where the 9-ball can be made more easily on the break. If your opponent knows how to do this and you do NOT, your tournament appearance may be short-lived!!!

Maniac
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Ah, cool. So, how is this done? I'm thinking if the opponent knows how to do this he very well may be trying to nit-pick until you give up and grant him the opportunity to rack his own...
 
droveto said:
Ah, cool. So, how is this done? I'm thinking if the opponent knows how to do this he very well may be trying to nit-pick until you give up and grant him the opportunity to rack his own...
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I don't know how exactly, but I have always heard that you have the balls BEHIND the 9-ball somewhat loose. I am an honest player. I rack the balls as tight as I can possibly get them, and expect the same fron my opponents. I do not pursue information that would be unsportsmanlike (imo) in any game of pool. I haven't read it, but I hear that Joe Tuckers Racking Secrets book(s) is a must read.

Maniac
 
Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. It sounds like the guy was being a little anal but then again I don't now the extent of how bad the rack was. When I have people ask me to re rack (it doesn't happen often) I happily oblige. No point in letting it get to you. If after the third attempt and he/she still isn't happy and the rack is decent I would probably say no, that's as good as it's gonna get!
 
droveto said:
What are the issues with rack-your-own? When I encounter this I always let the opponent rack his own and I rack my own. Seems it makes both parties happier and I doubt my opponent knows some secret to racking that nobody else knows.
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Just last week at a weekly 9-ball tourney...I was taking a bit of time racking and my opponent told me basically that he didn't care if it was tight just throw them up there.I explained that I was trying to get some of the back balls frozen so the 9 doesn't take off flying around the table.

At a recent regional 9 ball tourney...The rules where rack-your-own,magic rack if both agree,winner breaks.In the 3rd/4th place game one of the players ran out the set with his opponent only coming to the table for 1 shot(the shot was a long thin back-cut that was left by a safety)The winning player used a soft cut break,there was a no pattern racking rule but that didn't keep him from breaking and running all but one game of the set.A very strong performance for sure and I don't know if his opponent was checking for a pattern in his racks.

Rack your own is probably ok for B and C players but you still need to check the rack witch takes us right back to where we were with rack for your opponent.
 
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In 9ball if you have a space on either side of the 1ball (not both though) you can almost always make the wing ball. I check for that reason. Most people just want a tight rack. Either way the guy probably wasn't sharking you. I bet he does that to everybody. Since you were up 4-0 he hadn't broke yet so you weren't aware of his ability to check the rack.
 
I think all formats should be rack your own and 9 ball should not count on the break in the 2 back corners. I don't really make people rerack in 9 ball but i always make people rerack in one pocket b/c that back ball is so important so it doesn't squirt out.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
In 9ball if you have a space on either side of the 1ball (not both though) you can almost always make the wing ball. I check for that reason. Most people just want a tight rack. Either way the guy probably wasn't sharking you. I bet he does that to everybody. Since you were up 4-0 he hadn't broke yet so you weren't aware of his ability to check the rack.
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Same here,I check to see witch wing ball to make.People usually think I am checking to see if it is a good rack.
 
On some tables, not all balls are the same size and almost impossible for all the balls to be touching.

I didn't think there was a rule that you must give a perfectly tight rack. :rolleyes:

I'll try and make them tight and if you don't like it...you can rack your own.:smile:
 
poolguy4u said:
On some tables, not all balls are the same size and almost impossible for all the balls to be touching.

I didn't think there was a rule that you must give a perfectly tight rack. :rolleyes:

I'll try and make them tight and if you don't like it...you can rack your own.:smile:
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Hahah I like this^

I play in a in house league at a place that doesn't ever replace the ball sets. So if a ball goes missing they pull a new one out of the back. So you have mismatched sets of balls. Try to get a tight rack isn't really possible. I even tried with my magic rack and they weren't all touching!
 
to answer your question, no you were not sharked. u can only be sharked if u let it happen, and u didn't; u won. this is a good lesson for all players: u can only be sharked if u let it "get to u" and u lose. otherwise it's just bad behavior, and we have all seen plenty of that.
 
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