What do you say to a bad rack?

I'm really old, played a long time and and at last count have won six games!!! I've come close lots of times, but they got lucky on me.

Just my sense of humor. It was just such a big opening to make a smart remark.
 
When I see a bad rack I usually start with, "Oops, it looks like the head ball rolled off." This doesn't get anyone mad or point fingers that they did it on purpose. Sometimes if it happens again I'll joke about the table being bad for racking.

In 8-ball, if the person does a crooked rack or leaves a gap in the first 3 balls I just check to see which way and switch to the 2nd ball break or switch sides that I break on.
 
When I was competing on a regular basis, I always watched the balls when my opponent racked. I could usually tell if the ONE rolled out pretty easily and would tell the racker so. Rerack.
If the racker just threw the balls into the rack and rolled them up to the spot and lifted the rack without checking the tightness, I would say the one rolled out and if the racker kept throwing balls up to the spot and lifting the rack without checking, I would just say the one ball rolled out.
Usually out of frustration, the opponent would just give up the rack and let me rack my own.

Then there are the rack checkers that only pick on certain opponents to constantly check racks and demand a rerack. Some of these guys have to use those drug store reading glasses to see small print in a newspaper, yet can tell if there is the slightest gap between balls. I made it a point to get a 3rd opinion and usually asked if he had his reading glasses available for checking?

When one player is trying to pull the 'rack game' with his opponent in a tournament, I will always take over and rack myself. That usually stops the bantering. I also tell them, they still have the right to check the rack.

There isn't a foul for intentional placement of the balls in a rack, the racker just reracks with the one on the apex, nine in the middle and the rest are randomly placed.
 
This came up the other night while I was sitting. This guy gets a slug rack and he's like "dude. . . " with the evil look. Next rack he's like "Dude" and gives the death stare. Last rack , and I mean last rack , he screams " WHAT THE **** ! " And throws his cue at the guy. Not ideal but effective. :)
 
Bad Racks

Do you say anything to an opponent who is obviously giving you bad racks? If they're positioning balls to where I might be at a disadvantage after the break, normally I don't say anything, I just play them how they roll. I don't think I've ever asked for a re-rack. If they're racking the balls loose, which may be hard to spot until after you've already hit the break, normally I'll ask them to tighten the rack.


Well it's like this, if someone is racking me bad , I just return the favor, I tell um when your racking gets better , mine will too!


David Harcrow
 
I have absolutely NO problem asking for a re-rack if I think the rack looks loose or off angle. Some do it on purpose, others not so much. Everyone locally knows that I will walk up and check the rack, so I rarely run into it anymore, but if I do, I explain to them the problem, invite them up for a look-see, and then kindly ask them for a re-rack. Doesn't get me worked up at all, but boy howdy, for those trying to intentionally give you a bad rack, it can get them kinda twisted...LoL!

Lisa ====> flat out won't accept a sloppy rack.

Lisa,
I have to talk to you in person, don't take that the wrong way, because you even write with an accent lol. I just get the feeling that you are from the south or at least mid-west some place.:smile:
I had to chuckle when I read your post.
 
The first time it happens I say in my politest voice, "Hey buddy, would you mind tightening that rack up for me?".

The second time it happens, I walk down to the rack to see the obvious loose rack and turn to him with one of those half-hearted WTF looks.

The third time it happens, I say rather loudly, "Do you want to play rack your own?"

One dirt bag that I used to play with said yes to that and you should have seen how hard he was racking his own. Must have took him 3 minutes to rack every rack after that. When he was racking for me, he took no more than 15 seconds and they stayed loose as a goose. LOL
JoeyA

When reading this I imagine watching you do this to a player, and I can especially see your expression in the face the second time it happens, with one eyebrow lifted :D

Good luck in Galveston. Hope you won't get bad racks there!
 
When reading this I imagine watching you do this to a player, and I can especially see your expression in the face the second time it happens, with one eyebrow lifted :D

Good luck in Galveston. Hope you won't get bad racks there!

Part with some of those big bucks and get on down here. You know you're never young twice and you shouldn't go through life with too many regrets.

If Moody Gardens is what I think it is, I'm going to have a great time even if I don't hit a ball.

Thanks for the good luck wishes. I'll be needing it fo' shizzle.

This time, I'm ready for all sharking, intentional or not. I'm ready for bad racks but for now everything is ALL GOOD. :D

JoeyA
 
Just politely ask your opponent to rerack'em and give you an honest a tight rack. If he refuses, go tell the TD and have him check the rack for you. See how fun your opponent would find that.
 
A guy was tapping balls on me once in a tournament and I used the softest possible break which started him squawking about not enough balls rolling up table. That's when I brought up his racking mechanics in a loud enough way to get the room's attention. Brought it to a screeching halt.
 
didn't realize how spoiled I am

I used a cheap plastic rack for the first time in ages yesterday. I have gotten so spoiled using Diamond or other heavy wooden racks that I didn't remember how hard it was to rack with a noodle around the balls!

Hu
 
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