Racking up - Pool

[tell-me-more]

When racking up pool balls, we use the pattern below, but the red and yellow balls could be the other way round, or the pattern could be mirrored so it starts with two balls of the same colour on the right hand side at the top instead of the left.

Taking into account the fact that the rack can be placed with any of its points facing up the table, how many moves would enable us to rack up somehow, no matter how the balls are placed in the rack at the beginning?

Sorry if that's not well explained, but I find it a really interesting question.

R

R Y

Y B R

R Y R Y

Y Y R Y R

[ugly_bob]

Not the answer, but in world rules, the R and Y on the bottom row (pos 3 + 4) are swapped for some reason.

[tell-me-more]

So it goes YYYRR?

[ugly_bob]

sorry, got confused, usually set them up back to front to you, would change 2&3 so it went YRYYR

[surreyman]

[img/]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/feefyefoefum/Pool /rack.gif[img]

[surreyman]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/feefyefoefum/Pool/rack.gif

This was how i used to rack them up when i played in a pool league. That was a few yearsr ago so the rules might have changed since then.

[198x]

I agree with ugly_bob that it's usually set up the inverse (so the bottom row is RYRYY) but I've never seen it where there isn't a 'C' of reds/yellows in the bottom right hand corner.

[tell-me-more]

I used to rack them like you Bob, but now I do it Surrey's way. Makes no odds to me as long as I pot one from the break.

Can anyone solve the problem?

[surreyman]

This site might help http://www.bapto.org.uk/html/rules.asp

[ugly_bob]

usually rack it up like the images, but in league have to swop two over in bottom row which makes a tick across the rack.

In answer to your question though, my gut reaction is that you can do it by moving 4 balls. Will have to have a proper look in order to show it.

[ugly_bob]

Sorry, meant 4 moves, ie 4 swaps, ie 8 balls

[shaun_04]

I always set it up like so: http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3580/poolrack2mg.png
is this incorrect?

[tubeway]

I am feeling my age now - when I used to play it was spots and stripes

[198x]

Yes Shaun, the way you're setting up is incorrect.

surreyman's link is the correct way to rack up. Most new pool tables actually have the racking picture printed onto the table canvas.