Rack (sometimes called a triangle) is a piece of equipment used to place billiard balls in their starting positions at the beginning of a pocket billiards game. The term may also be used as a verb to describe the act of setting billiard balls in their starting positions (e.g., "to rack the balls"), or as a noun to describe a set of balls that are in their starting positions (e.g., "a rack of balls", more often called a pack or pyramid in British English).
Equipment
Traditional racks are triangular frames, usually made from wood, plastic, or metal. The most common shape is an equilateral triangle, used for games such as eight-ball, straight pool, one-pocket, bank pool, and snooker. Diamond-shaped frames are sometimes used for nine-ball, though a triangular rack can also serve that purpose.
A modern variation, called a template rack, is made from a thin material (typically 0.14 mm or less) with precision cut-outs that hold the balls in place. Template racks are left on the table during the break shot and removed afterward. They are claimed to provide more consistent racking but are rarely used in games where a slow break is common, as the rack may interfere with slow-rolling balls.
Racking in Specific Games
Eight-ball
- 15 object balls are used.
- The 8 ball must be in the center of the rack (the second ball in the three-balls-wide row).
- The apex ball is placed directly over the table's foot spot.
- The two corner balls must be one stripe and one solid.
- All other balls are placed at random, subject to the corner ball rule.
- Balls should be pressed tightly together without gaps.
Nine-ball
- Balls 1 through 9 are used.
- The 1 ball is always placed at the apex (over the foot spot).
- The 9 ball is placed in the center of the rack.
- All other balls may be placed randomly.
Straight pool (14.1 continuous)
- 15 balls are racked in a triangular rack, with the apex over the foot spot.
- After the initial rack, when only the cue ball and one object ball remain, the 14 pocketed balls are re-racked (without an apex ball) and play continues.
Snooker
- 15 red balls are racked in a tightly packed triangle behind the pink ball.
- Six coloured balls are placed at designated spots: yellow (right of the "D"), green (left of the "D"), brown (center of the baulk line), blue (center of the table), pink (midway between the blue spot and the top cushion), and black (near the top cushion).
- Coloured balls are returned to their starting positions after being potted; reds are not.
One-pocket and bank pool
- All 15 object balls are racked entirely at random, with the apex over the foot spot.
Etymology and Usage
The word "rack" derives from the equipment's function of holding or "racking" the balls into a tight formation. As a verb, "to rack" means to arrange the balls in the rack and position them on the table. As a noun, "a rack" can refer either to the physical frame or to the set of balls arranged for play.
