How to Rack a Pool Table

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Billiards expert Michael Lin explains the proper way to rack for a game of 8-ball

Co-authored by Michael Lin

Last Updated: January 13, 2026 Fact Checked

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Rack a Standard 8-Ball Game

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Rack a Standard 9-Ball Game

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So you wanna play pool? Racking the billiard balls in correct fashion will help you play the game right and let you feel in command as the game begins. Although racking is relatively simple, there are some rules and tricks to racking properly. Read on for more information on how to rack a clutch of billiard balls the right way.

Racking a Pool Table for 8-Ball

Billiards expert Michael Lin says to align the apex of the rack with the second diamond on the pool table. Place the 8-ball in the center of the rack with the other balls around it. The ball at the top can be striped or solid. Just ensure that there is a striped ball in one bottom corner and a solid ball in the other.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Rack a Standard 8-Ball Game

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This is also called the "apex" of the rack.
The center of the rack is the middle of the triangle.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Michael Lin
Billiards Expert and Owner of Billiard Breakdown

Expert Interview} This should be the third row down counting from the top.

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It doesn't matter which is which, as long as you've got one stripe and one solid.^{[2]
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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.^{[3]
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- 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.e. either both stripe or both solid.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Michael Lin
  Billiards Expert and Owner of Billiard Breakdown
  
  Expert Interview}
- 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.
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.^{[5]
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A tight rack makes for an infinitely better break.^{[6]
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You're ready to start your 8-ball game.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Rack a Standard 9-Ball Game

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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 1-2-3-2-1.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Michael Lin
Billiards Expert and Owner of Billiard Breakdown

Expert Interview} The traditional triangular rack may be used for racking a 9-ball game, but it will produce a looser rack.^{[8]
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The 1-ball is always at the front of the rack, and the 9-ball is always directly in the center.^{[9]
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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.^{[10]
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- One amateur variant of 9-ball is that the billiard balls are placed in sequential orders, down and from left to right, excepting the 9-ball, which stays in the middle. If done properly, the 1-ball will be at the apex and the 8-ball will be at the bottom.

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Do we get two shots for a foul when there is only the black ball?

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If a player is on black, he only gets one shot for any foul, even if the other player still has colors left.

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Why does one player rack and the other one breaks?

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If the same player both racked and broke, then he could set it up to give himself an unfair advantage.

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Where should the center dot be for placing the rack?

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In the center of the table and at the quarter mark.

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Tips

If you are having trouble getting the balls to stay tightly packed, try moving the balls to the desired spot and then quickly stopping so that they stay close together. Trying to slowly move the triangle won't always give you the desired results.

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Many like to use the 1 ball as the first ball, but it is not required.

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Another racking set-up that people use is placing a solid in one back corner and a stripe in the other, so that the player breaking has an equal chance of sinking either one.

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