Depending upon the game, the rack method is different, and the rules being played can also change the required rack. For 8 ball, the 8 ball goes in the, and under APA rues, no other balls matter, but under BCA Rules, the back corners must be 1 solid and 1 stripe.
Chat with our AI personalities
start from the top with the littles and then both sides bigs and littles and so on until you have made an equal pattern aroung the triangle and then place the remaing 3 balls as you would like as long as 8 ball is the middle
For 8 Ball - the only required ball position is the 8 ball, which must be in the center with a ball to its left and a to its right. The 1 ball is usually placed at the front, the foot spot, but it is not required.
For 9 Ball - The 9 ball must be in center and the 1 ball must be at the front, the foot spot.
For Straight Pool - the 1 ball is typically placed at the foot spot, but it is not required.
Although many players have their own ideas on where certain balls should be in addition to the rules, nothing else is truly considered "proper".