How to Set Pool Balls

Before you begin a game of pool, you need to set up the balls on the table. The way in which you set them will vary depending on the type of game you're going to play. It's easiest if you use a rack, which is a plastic or wooden tool used to contain the balls, so you can ensure they are properly spaced and in a tight formation. You can purchase a rack at most sporting goods stores if your set of balls did not come with one. You need a triangular rack for standard pool and a diamond-shaped rack for 9 ball.

Instructions

Instructions

1

Set your pool balls up for 8 ball, which is a game where one player sinks solids and one player sinks stripes, while sinking the 8 ball last. Stand at one of the shorter ends of the table and find the large dot in the middle of the felt. Place the triangular rack so that one of the edges is facing you and the opposite point of the triangle is on the dot. Put the 1 ball at that point and the 8 ball directly below it. Put the rest of the balls in randomly, alternating solids and stripes. Make sure there are not two solids or two stripes in the bottom corners of the triangle.

2

Set up for standard or bank pool, a game in which you simply try to sink the most shots, again using the triangular rack and placing it in the same spot as in Step 1. Put the balls anywhere in the rack, except for the 5 ball, which must go in the bottom left corner.

3

Set the balls for 9 ball using the diamond rack. Put one of the rounded points of the rack on the dot on the felt and make the other rounded point face you as you stand at a short edge of the table. Start with the 1 ball at the furthest away point, as in Step 1. Next, put the rest of the balls in order, left to right, as you fill up the rack. For example, the second row will have the 2 and 3 balls, in that order. There is one exception; you want the 9 ball in the middle. So the order will actually be 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8.

4

Pull the rack off the balls by lifting it vertically, being careful not to disturb their configuration. Now you are ready to play. Walk to the opposite end of the table to get started.