Set up 8 ball pool game

Article Summary. Method 1. Start off with the 1-ball at the front of the rack. This is also called the "apex" of the rack.

Make sure that the 8-ball is in the center of the rack. The center of the rack is the middle of the triangle. This should be the third row down counting from the top. Make sure the bottom corner balls are a stripe and a solid. It doesn't matter which is which, as long as you've got one stripe and one solid. Place all the other balls at random. Make sure the 1-ball is at the apex, the 8-ball is in the middle of the rack, and both a stripe and solid are at the bottom corner, but line up all the other balls in random fashion.

If solids and solids are together, or stripes and stripes, that's okay. One variant of this step in amateur play is to vary the edges of the rack so that the pattern is stripe, solid, stripe, solid, etc.

This will result in the two corner balls being the same, i. Another variant of this step in amateur play is to order the balls down and from left to right, according to their number. This will always result in the 1-ball being at the apex, the 11 and 15 being at the bottom corners, and the 5-ball being in the 8's customary position. Line the apex the first ball up with the middle diamond on the side of the pool table.

The center of the first ball should be in the middle of the table at one quarter of the length. Some tables have this spot marked with a small dot. Make sure that the balls are tightly packed together. A tight rack makes for an infinitely better break.

Preserving the tightness of the rack, lift the rack from the balls. You're ready to start your 8-ball game. Method 2. If possible, get a diamond-shaped rack for 9-ball. Since the racking technique is different in 9-ball from 8-ball, a different rack is preferred. The pattern of a diamond is The traditional triangular rack may be used for racking a 9-ball game, but it will produce a looser rack.

In all variants of 9-ball, keep the 1-ball at the apex and the 9-ball in the center. The 1-ball is always at the front of the rack, and the 9-ball is always directly in the center. Place all other balls in random order around the 1- and 9-ball. Like in 8-ball, traditional rules state that all other balls are placed randomly. If done properly, the 1-ball will be at the apex and the 8-ball will be at the bottom.

If a player is on black, he only gets one shot for any foul, even if the other player still has colors left. Not Helpful 18 Helpful If the same player both racked and broke, then he could set it up to give himself an unfair advantage.

Not Helpful 32 Helpful For more tips on positioning the rack, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article.

We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Let the player who will break first rack the balls. To do the lag, position 1 ball on either side of the table, and have each person shoot to the other end cushion.

The person whose ball hits the cushion and bounces back closest to the spot where they shot their ball will pick who breaks. In a professional game, the player with the lowest official standing in the league always breaks first. Locate the black and white dot at the end of the pool table. The foot spot is the spot furthest from the end of the table where the players stand during the break shot. The spot will align with the 2nd mark on the edge of the table between the corner and side pockets.

Place the triangle rack with the top point over the foot spot. Make sure you can see the black and white dot touching the top of the interior of the triangle. Position the rack so that the base is parallel to the short end of the table. Once you have the apex positioned on top of the foot spot, make sure the bottom of the triangle is straight.

The corners of the rack should be equal distances from the corner pockets on their side of the table. If the base is crooked, this can cause one of the sides of the rack to have a greater chance of going into a pocket. Part 2. Place any ball other than the 8-ball inside the triangle at its apex. Pick any one of the 7 striped or 7 solid balls, and position it on top of the foot spot inside of the rack. Many players like to use the 1-ball at the top of the rack, but there are no official rules regarding which ball should go at the apex.

This is different from 9 and 10 ball pool, which both require the 1-ball to be at the apex of the rack. Place a solid ball in one corner and a striped ball in the other corner. Pick any one of the remaining striped and solid balls to put them in the corners to provide an equal chance of one of them going in a pocket. If one of the balls goes into a pocket on the break, the player can choose to keep shooting for that type of ball, or they can choose the other type. For instance, if the solid 6-ball went in the pocket, the player would be able to keep shooting solids or they can choose to shoot stripes instead.

Fill in the space between the corners with the rest of the balls. Place the balls in any order of solids and stripes, filling in any of the open spaces and making sure not to move any of the previously placed balls. Most players position a solid and a stripe in the lower 2 spots of the inner triangle. Place the 8-ball in the center of the third row of the rack.

This is done to reduce the likelihood of the 8-ball being pocketed on the break. Placing it in the center of the rack reduces the likelihood of this happening. Roll the rack up and down to ensure that it is packed tightly.

Push your fingers into the rack under the bottom row of balls, and then slightly push the rack forward. Pull the rack back again so that the apex ball is aligned with the foot spot and the base is parallel to the back of the table. Playing 8-ball pool online is one of the best ways to spend your free time. The game inspires your competitive spirit and challenges you to refine your talents. Before starting your pool game, you have the option to choose easy, medium, and hard.

The harder it is the more accurate the opponent's moves will be. You aim your pool cue and set the power of a shot by holding the mouse button. Your goal is to pocket the colored pool balls of your type, while preventing your opponent from doing the same. After you pocket all seven of your pool balls, you need to pocket the eight ball black ball to win — hence the name 8-ball pool.

You must also pocket the black ball exactly into the pocket you choose. Be careful! Hitting the black ball into the wrong pocket, or pocketing the black ball before the other seven, results in an instant loss.

Do you keep losing to the computer when you play 8-ball pool? Learn a winning technique by taking note of these top tips:. Play pool like a pro by extending your aim with a piece of paper.

Fill the space with paper to guarantee ultimate accuracy. Rushing your shot is a common way to make a mistake. English refers to the spin on a cue ball when you play pool.