| nly real "rule" for a game of 8 ball is that the 8 ball be | | | | 7. Place the solid purple 4 ball to the right of the striped |
| placed in the middle of the rack. A game of 8 ball or | | | | red 11 ball. |
| rotation takes a three-sided, or triangular shaped, rack. | | | | 8. Place the striped purple 12 ball to the right of the |
| This procedure is for the color of standard billiard (pool) | | | | solid purple 4 ball. |
| balls and is also used for any game of billiards except | | | | 9. Place the solid orange 5 ball in the right corner to the |
| 9 ball. | | | | right of the striped purple 12 ball. |
| There is a very simple way to remember how to rack | | | | 10. Place the striped orange 13 ball in front along the |
| the balls for a game of 8 ball. A lot of people will tell | | | | right bar of the 8-ball rack in front of the solid orange 5 |
| you to alternate solid and stripe, solid and stripe. The | | | | ball. |
| following is the proper method to rack the ball for a | | | | 11. Place the solid green 6 ball in front of the striped |
| game of 8 ball. | | | | orange 13 ball. |
| 1. Start by placing the solid yellow 1 ball in the front V | | | | 12. Place the striped green 14 ball in front of the solid |
| of the 8-ball rack with the 8-ball rack placed so that | | | | green 6 ball. This will fill the outsides of the 8-ball rack. |
| the front V is over the pool table “dot” | | | | 13. Place the solid black 8 ball in the forward opening of |
| at the end of the billiard (pool) table where you rack | | | | the rack. |
| the balls. | | | | 14.Place the solid burgundy 7 ball and striped burgundy |
| 2. Place the striped yellow 9 ball on the left side behind | | | | 15 ball behind the 8 ball. |
| the solid yellow 1 ball. This maintains the solid stripe | | | | However, when all is said and done, it doesn’t |
| sequence and the balls are color coded. If you | | | | really matter which ball goes where, other than to |
| alternate the solid and stripe of each color, it’s | | | | maintain your solid-stripe rule. Now, be sure to roll the |
| easy to remember. Just use the solid color first. | | | | rack so that the 1 ball is exactly in the middle of the |
| 3. Using numeric order, place the solid blue 2 ball behind | | | | pool table “dot” on the billiard (pool) table. |
| the striped yellow 9 ball, maintaining the solid-strip | | | | Use all eight of your fingers--not your thumbs--and |
| format. | | | | push on the back roll of balls, forcing them tight in the |
| 4. Place the striped blue 10 ball behind the solid blue 2 | | | | 8-ball rack and making sure that the 1 ball is placed in |
| ball, maintaining the color format. | | | | the middle of the pool table “dot.” This is |
| 5. Next, place the solid red 3 ball behind the striped blue | | | | very important, since it is difficult for your opponent to |
| 10 ball, which will fill the left side of the rack. | | | | make a ball on the break if he’s shooting at a |
| 6. Place the striped red 11 ball to the right of the solid | | | | “tight rack. |
| red 3 ball, going across the back side of the 8-ball rack. | | | | |