
Position the 8-ball in the center of the rack (third row from the top).Make sure the bottom corner balls are a spot and a stripe.

Place either a spot or a stripe at the front of the rack, called the “apex.”.Setting up the balls for American pool is more straightforward: Follow the same procedure for positioning the black 8-ball on the foot spot as described in the Red & Yellows section.Īmerican pool is played on a larger table with bigger balls, pockets, and cue tips.The ball behind the front ball, on the right, should be the same pattern, leaving the final space for the last ball, which should be a contrasting pattern.The front ball should be the same pattern as the ball in the bottom left corner.Place two alternating patterns inside the J, next to the black ball.Add a row of three alternating patterns on the bottom right corner, forming the shape of a letter J in the rack.Working upward diagonally from the corners, add two balls of alternating patterns next to those.Place different patterns in the two bottom corners of the triangle.Put the black ball back in and gently remove the triangle.Įnglish 8-Ball Pool (Spots & Stripes): Ball Setupįollow these steps for setting up spots and stripes in English 8-ball pool: Position the black 8-ball on the foot spot, remove it from the rack, and adjust the triangle until the spot is visible in the center of the gap.The ball behind the front ball, on the right, should be the same color, leaving the final space for the last ball, which should be an opposing color.The front ball should be the same color as the ball in the bottom left corner.Place two alternating colors inside the J, next to the black ball.Both corner balls should now be connected for the first time, forming the shape of a letter J in the rack. Add a row of three alternating colors on the bottom right corner.Working upward diagonally from the corners, add two balls of alternating colors next to those.

Official billiards rack how to#
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to rack pool balls for the most popular games, turning you into a master racker in no time.

Setting up pool balls, also known as racking, might seem complicated at first, but with some guidance, it’s actually quite simple. Master the Art of Racking Pool Balls: A Comprehensive Guide
