Rack - Billiard Term Definition
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Definition of Rack
Rack is a billiards term that is a part of Billiard Accessory Terminology.
The term rack as it relates to cue sports can be both a noun or a verb. As a verb, the term rack refers to the actual act of setting up the object balls at the beginning of a game for the break shot. In casual play, there are several conventions for when players rack the balls. They can rack for themselves or for each other, or, the losing player can rack for the winner of the last game. As a noun, the term rack has several meanings. A rack can refer to the simple plastic or wooden geometric form which is used to help with ball set up in various cue sport games. This helps provide the breaking player with a consistently tighter grouping of the object balls which is needed to ensure a successful break shot. Most games call for a rack of 15 balls, but because of the racks geometric shape, less than 15 can be used depending on the the specific game's rules. When less balls are used, they can be pushed in to the head of the rack which ensures that a tight rack is still maintained. Alternatively, rack refers to a racked grouping of object balls before they have been subject to the break shot. This is known as a colloquial shorthand term for a set of racked balls. It can also be used to refer to a single frame.
See: triangle, racking, re-rack, pyramid for more on the meaning of "Rack".
Rack - Usage
Where is the rack? Wasn't it hanging under the table? That is such a tight rack! It is going to break really nicely. Jimmy won four straight racks in a row.
Billiards - Rack
- Title: Rack
- Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
- Published: 3/13/2006
- Last Updated: 10/24/2007 9:49:52 AM
- Last Updated By: billiardsforum
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