# What are your rules for racking 8 ball pool? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 22, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338 "2020-02-22T06:36:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/1 "2020-02-22T06:36:23Z")
For me, the 1 ball at the top, 8 ball in the middle, and solids alternating with stripes as best as possible and make the rack as tight as possible. These are just house rules that I picked up in college. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/2 "2020-02-22T07:26:39Z")
8 ball center, first ball doesn’t matter, left and right corner are one striped and one solid (so not the same). As far as I know, these are “the” rules, not “my” rules. Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(6) met Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/3 "2020-02-22T08:25:06Z")
1 at the top, 8 in the middle, and everything else random. ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/4 "2020-02-22T11:45:52Z")
going in diagonal lines: yellow in bottom left, then a line of reds then a line of yellows then a line going red black red red and finally a last line of yellow yellow red yellow red. (Or vice versa). ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/5 "2020-02-22T23:56:12Z")
Apparently, there’s an “official” method - working from the head spot: Solid Solid, Stripe Stripe, Eight Ball, Solid Solid, Stripe, Solid, Stripe Stripe, Solid, Stripe, Stripe, Solid ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/6 "2020-02-23T00:12:32Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Apparently, there’s an “official” method - working from the head spot: > Solid > Solid, Stripe > Stripe, Eight Ball, Solid > Solid, Stripe, Solid, Stripe > Stripe, Solid, Stripe, Stripe, Solid Redding mine. These need to be switched. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/7 "2020-02-23T00:49:13Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Redding mine. These need to be switched. You’re looking at it from behind the rack, which makes sense as I did list them in that order. I am looking at it from in front of the rack. Also, the head spot is usually the 1 ball, which is solid. I think we can agree on this: (head spot at the bottom) Stripe - Solid - Stripe - Stripe - Solid \_\_\_ Solid - Stripe - Solid - Stripe \_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ Stripe - Eight - Solid \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Solid - Stripe \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Solid \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/8 "2020-02-23T01:17:36Z")
> [@polar\_bear](#): > > 8 ball center, first ball doesn’t matter, left and right corner are one striped and one solid (so not the same). > > As far as I know, these are “the” rules, not “my” rules. Those are “the” rules, according to both [the WPA](https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/#eight-ball) and [the UPA](https://upatour.com/8-ball-rules/). World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA): > [@](#): > > 3.2 Eight Ball Rack > > The fifteen object balls are racked as tightly as possible in a triangle, with the apex ball on the foot spot and the eight ball as the first ball that is directly below the apex ball. One from each group of seven will be on the two lower corners of the triangle. The other balls are placed in the triangle **without purposeful or intentional pattern**. The United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA): > [@](#): > > 2.1 How to Rack > To begin the game of 8-ball, the **15 colored balls are placed randomly in a triangle, called a “rack”**. The base of the rack is parallel to the short end of the pool table and is positioned so the ball in the tip of the rack is located on the center of the foot spot. The balls in the rack are pressed together tightly to acquire a solid rack, and remain in contact after the rack is removed. **Within the rack, the 8-ball is centered while the two corners are occupied by the two opposite groups (one solid ball and one striped ball)**. ( **bolding** mine in both quotations) However, most casual players in the USA (IME, that is) don’t know this, and will insist upon a strict-alternation scheme such as those mentioned herein. Also IME, trying to tell them that “the rules” don’t require strict alternation is a lose-lose situation; one will either be taken for an idiot, or taken for a hustler. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/9 "2020-02-23T03:56:01Z")
The lower corners are opposite groups, the 8 ball goes in the middle, but the 1 ball should lead for a very particular reason - if it leads every time, it’ll be beaten up the most, and it keeps all the chips and cracks on one ball, which can then be replaced. The other balls will thus remain in mint condition, as the break is really the only shot that’s with any velocity. It’s got nothing to do with the game itself, and thus isn’t and shouldn’t be in a rulebook, but I consider it polite and respectful to the owner of the table. There’s no rule that says I can’t prop my feet on the table, but I don’t do that either. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/10 "2020-02-24T01:54:48Z")
> [@mjmlabs](#): > > Those are “the” rules, according to both [the WPA](https://wpapool.com/rules-of-play/#eight-ball) and [the UPA](https://upatour.com/8-ball-rules/). > > World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA): > The United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA): > ( **bolding** mine in both quotations) > > However, most casual players in the USA (IME, that is) don’t know this, and will insist upon a strict-alternation scheme such as those mentioned herein. > > Also IME, trying to tell them that “the rules” don’t require strict alternation is a lose-lose situation; one will either be taken for an idiot, or taken for a hustler. My layout comes from [the 8-ball rules of the Billiards Congress of America](https://bca-pool.com/associations/7744/files/EightBall_January2008.pdf)…which, er, points to the WPA rules, which, while it includes a layout, does mention that there’s no pattern. ---
**Author:** ![DorthyPrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@DorthyPrange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorthyPrange)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/11 "2020-03-08T07:22:57Z")
I play 8 ball pool with my friends when am on summer vacations and kids are away playing. I usually follow [How to rack pool balls](https://bargames101.com/howtorackpoolballs/) as am an amateur and needs some guide to follow. I prefer playing [board games](https://meebily.com/) with my kids as its engaging and takes less effort 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/12 "2020-03-08T07:34:06Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > …the 1 ball should lead for a very particular reason - if it leads every time, it’ll be beaten up the most, and it keeps all the chips and cracks on one ball, which can then be replaced. The other balls will thus remain in mint condition, as the break is really the only shot that’s with any velocity… Interesting. First time I’ve heard this. That implies that billiard ball manufacturers must produce far more ‘1’ balls than the others. And cue balls as well since they presumably take even more abuse than the ‘1’ ball. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/13 "2020-03-08T09:37:36Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Interesting. First time I’ve heard this. That implies that billiard ball manufacturers must produce far more ‘1’ balls than the others. And cue balls as well since they presumably take even more abuse than the ‘1’ ball. I worked at a bar for a while and I definitely know we definitely ordered extra cue balls. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/14 "2020-03-08T14:31:18Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I worked at a bar for a while and I definitely know we definitely ordered extra cue balls. It definitely makes sense with cue balls, since they seem to disappear more frequently, and also have a much higher chance of flying off the table, causing damage. But I’d love to see the stats on the ‘1’ ball. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-rules-for-racking-8-ball-pool/848338/15 "2020-03-08T20:56:45Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > It definitely makes sense with cue balls, since they seem to disappear more frequently, and also have a much higher chance of flying off the table, causing damage. But I’d love to see the stats on the ‘1’ ball. Plus there’s assholes who will steal the cue ball if they win.