Types of Billiard Racks

The various styles of billiard ball racks and billiard cue racks

"Rack 'em up!" Anyone who's entered a pool hall or bar has likely heard that phrase spoken dozens of times. But even though "rack 'em up" is to pool players what "start your engines" is to racecar drivers, it's not the only connection the word rack has to billiards. As a term for billiards equipment, rack can refer both to billiard ball racks and billiard cue racks. If you didn't already know the difference, you'd better read on to keep yourself from getting hustled.

Billiard ball racks

If you're new to billiards, you may think that one billiard ball rack is the same as any other. That's partially an issue of terminology.

Billiard ball racks are often referred to as triangles. Most billiard ball racks are indeed triangular, but not all of them. Billiard ball racks for games of 9-ball and poker pool (which uses 16 balls) are actually square. 9-ball racks can also be shaped like diamonds or parallelograms, though these are still commonly referred to as triangles (probably because saying the phrase "9-ball parallelogram" in a bar would get you beat up).

Triangular billiard ball racks are used for games of 8-ball, baseball pool (which uses 21 balls), straight pool, and snooker.

Besides these differences in shape, billiard ball racks can be made from solid wood or plastic, or other materials such as acrylic. Some higher quality billiard ball racks also house ball bearings in their corners for easier placement as you slide them across the pool table.

Billiard cue racks

Taking proper care of your billiard cues is important, because a warped or damaged billiard cue can alter the integrity of your shot. Billiard cues can also be some of the most expensive pieces of billiard equipment you own, so you'll want to protect your investment.

There are two basic types of billiard cue racks available:

Billiard cue wall rack

Billiard cue wall racks come in two rather different styles. The more elaborate form features a decorative vertical stand design, and is typically made from woods such as oak or mahogany. Many billiard cue wall racks also feature multiple shelves for storage of chalk and other accessories.

The simpler form of billiard cue wall racks is essentially a strip of wood or iron that is screwed into the wall and uses clips or padded holes to hold the billiard cues. Wooden or wrought iron billiard cue wall racks in this style can actually be very attractive, and have the added benefit of taking up very little space. If you have a choice, go with padded holes over clips, which can sometimes scratch the shaft of your pool cues.

Billiard cue floor rack

Billiard cue floor racks are simpler in design than their larger wall counterparts, often looking like three-legged stools or end tables with holes drilled through the top. Billiard cue floor racks can be made from wood, steel, brass, and other materials. Though less obtrusive than larger racks, the disadvantage of billiard cue floor racks is that cues are secured only near the base and this can result in a disordered and splayed appearance.

More information on billiard racks