
You should also have a conventional 15-ball triangle rack as well as a diamond rack for 9-ball. 'to rack the balls'), or as a noun to describe. Rack may also be used as a verb to describe the act of setting billiard balls in their starting positions (e.g.

However, if you have a pool table and want to dress it up a little, you should invest in a wooden rack. Rack (billiards) A rack (sometimes called a triangle) is a piece of equipment that is used to place billiard balls in their starting positions at the beginning of a pocket billiards game. To avoid clustering, limit the number of solids or stripes in a row to two.Ī plastic triangle billiard ball rack is generally adequate. The additional balls should be placed in the triangle at random, with no planned or intended design. Make sure each bottom corner of the triangle has a stripe and a solid. If you need a refresher on where to find the foot area on a pool table, check out this page about pool table anatomy. This will be indicated on the majority of tables. The apex ball is positioned on the foot area. This is the first ball immediately beneath the apex ball. There are 15 object balls stacked in a triangle in eight-ball. This is the far more usual approach, and it is handled by the regulations that follow. While this is the greatest way, most of us will be playing at home, in a bar, or at a friend’s house, and will be utilizing the typical wooden or plastic triangle or diamond shaped racks.

Some tournament-level tables will even have the template printed on them.
#Official billiards rack how to#
There are also differences in the amount of balls and the type of rack.Ĭontinue reading to learn how to rack pool balls in 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, straight pool, and cutthroat pool.īefore we get into the rules, it’s important to note that most experts recommend utilizing a racking template and tapping the balls into place. So, at the at least, we should all understand the fundamental laws of how to rack these games, as well as the proper technique for achieving a tight and coherent rack.įollowing an explanation of the proper pool ball set-up and rules for the most popular games, this section will provide you some pointers on how to make a good compact rack to increase the quality of your games.Īs most of us are aware, there are several regulations regarding how to rack pool balls depending on the game. When you have a faulty or loose rack, the break suffers, as does the overall game.Ī loose rack with incorrect ball placement, for example, can result in a weak break with a cluster of easy shots generated right in the centre of the table for your opponent.įortunately, whether you’re playing 8-ball, 9-ball, or another billiard game, learning how to rack effectively is simple. However, the rack’s quality should not be disregarded. Racking the balls before a game of pool isn’t something we generally think about.
