Arranging your balls.. is there a definative way ?

[RedThunder]

When I arrange my rack I do it like this. Where R is RED and Y is YELLOW.

Is it right or wrong? or so what.
___Y
__R Y
_Y B R
R Y R Y
Y R Y R R

[PatBlock]

____Y
___R Y
__Y B R
_R Y R Y
Y R R Y R

I do it this way.

-

[RedThunder]

____Y
___R Y
__Y B R
_R Y R Y
Y R R Y R

I do it this way.

-

Sort of on the same lines except the last row in reverse. At least I'm not miles adrift :-)

[PatBlock]

It's not actually in reverse, the point of imbalance on the bottom row, i.e. the 2 reds next to each other, is shifted from the outside of the pack toward the middle, theoretically making the split mathematically more even.

Probably a load of twaddle, but there you go.

-

[danam1]

It depends what rules you are playing.

------ R
----- Y R
---- R B Y
--- Y R Y R
---R Y Y R Y

This is the correct way for world rules.

Danny

[PatBlock]

Do the world rules say that you MUST start with a red at the top on every rack?
Or are the colours interchangable, being as it's completely arbitrary.

-

[danam1]

Yes you should start with the red at the top.

[PatBlock]

OK Thanks.

-

[Souwester]

World Rules show a diagram with red as the apex colour, meaning this is the pattern shown:

------ R
----- Y R
---- R B Y
--- Y R Y R
---R Y Y R Y

However, this is not stipulated in the rules, the text simply refers to

F. The Break
1. The Object Balls are racked with the Eight-Ball on the Spot.


Most County players I know interpret the rules though, that the red must be the apex red because that's the way it is shown.

[grimreaper]

I allways put the red as the apex ball but you do not have to theres nothing in the rules to stop you from using yellow.

[DeanH]

As others have mentioned, on the published rules the apex colour is red and many people deem that to be absolute, even though there is nothing in the text to say which colour specifically. Last year I went to an interleague competition, I did the rack (our side to ref) with a yellow as apex. The opponent ref (doing the timing) came over immediately and reset them to red at apex, stating to me in very condecending tone "must be red - it's in the rules!" Needless to say, I asked where does it "say" that it must be a red, as long as the pattern is correct (with the "tick" as we call it) I do not see any difference.
But I do find myself doing red apex usually anyway

[grimreaper]

I just had a look at the rules there is a picture of how to set the balls up next to that in brackets it clearly states red or yellow may be used .

[DeanH]

do you have the URL for this page that you looked at, I cannot see anything on the EPA and WEPA sites. cheers

[grimreaper]

I looked up Australian Eight Ball Federation then clicked on rules.

[DeanH]

Thanks for that, as you say they do clearly state that - Please Note Reds or Yellows may start at top of the rack.
The EPA and WEPA sites do not have this line anywhere.
I also noticed that AUS site is from 2008 and WEPA has been updated in 2009. Not done a comparison so not sure if anything major has changed.
All the best
Got a team league match tonight, should do well (famous last words )

Just noticed, in the download PDF from the AUS site these words are missing, they only appear in the webpage. nevermind