Correct Way to Rack Pool Balls

Properly racking pool balls on the table before a game is a crucially important factor. Many styles of pool use different racking procedures, even those using the same ball amount and rack shape. Creating a tight rack increases the explosiveness of the first shot.

  1. 8-ball Pool

    • Use a triangle-shaped pool rack to rack the pool balls before a game of 8-ball. Arrange the pool balls so that the black 8-ball is in the center. Arrange all the other balls so that stripes and solids are evenly dispersed. The World Pool-Billiard Association rules state that one solid ball and one striped ball should be placed at the bottom corners. Eight-ball variations utilizing the triangle rack include Bank Pool, Kelly Pool and One-Pocket Pool, which have no specific racking order; Crossover, in which the 1- and the 15-balls are placed in the top or bottom rows of the rack; Convergence Pool, in which the 1-ball is placed at the top and the 15-ball rests in either of the bottom corners; and Straight Pool, in which the 1-ball is placed at the top and the 15-ball rests in the bottom right corner.

    9-Ball Pool

    • Use a diamond-shaped pool rack to rack balls before a 9-ball game. The World Pool-Billiard Association rules for 9-ball state that the 9-ball should be placed in the center of the diamond and the 1-ball at the diamond's apex. The rest of the balls may be placed into the diamond at random.

    Racking

    • Rack the pool balls together at either the extreme left or extreme right of the table. Grip the bottom of the rack so that your fingertips are grabbing the bottom plastic and your knuckles rest against the last row of pool balls, pushing them forward tightly. With diamond-shaped racks, you will need to angle your hands to achieve this effect.

      Move the rack back and forth a few times, letting the balls roll in place. Finish racking by rolling the rack toward the foot spot, which is a black circle, occasionally containing a white center. Continue pressing against the back row of pool balls with your knuckles. Leave the top ball in the rack directly over the foot spot. Remove the rack, unless you decide to tap the rack, by carefully lifting it away from the pool balls so as not to disturb any.

    Tapping the Rack

    • Tap the rack before removing the plastic rack to achieve a tighter pool ball rack before your game. According to World Pool-Billiard Association rules, only officials are allowed to tap the rack. Lightly rap the top of the rack's top ball with the cue ball two or three times. Remove the plastic rack from the pool balls when you have finished, being careful not to disturb the pool balls.