The Many Ways of How to Set Up Pool Balls

There are many ways to set up pool balls depending on the pool game or billiard game you want to play. It is important to understand that, for certain games, there are only some basic requirements you need to follow. For other games, there is a specific order in which the pool balls must be placed.

Whether you're just learning how to play pool or preparing for tournament-style play, knowing how to rack pool balls correctly is essential to ensure a fair and consistent start. In this guide, we’ll walk through the most popular billiard games and break down exactly how to set up the balls for each one, including 8-ball, 9-ball, snooker, and more.

Setting Up 8-Ball Pool

The most popular pool game is called 8-ball because it is the game where the objective is to sink all of your other balls first, and then the 8-ball to win the game. When setting up the balls, you want to make sure that the striped and solid balls are alternated as best as possible. You will use all 15 pool balls to set up a game of 8-ball pool.

To start with, use a triangle rack to rack the balls and place one corner over the marker on the pool table. The ball placed on the marker is referred to as the apex ball. The objective is to rotate between striped balls and solid balls as follows:

• Place a striped or solid ball in the apex position.
• The second row can be two striped balls, two solid balls, or one striped and one solid ball.
• For the third row, the 8-ball is placed in the middle. Place a striped ball on one side and a solid ball on the other side. If you used a striped and solid ball for the second row, then the solid ball should be below the striped and the striped ball below the solid.
• The fourth row should continue to alternate striped and solid balls. Start on either side and place the appropriate ball, such as a solid ball below the third row’s striped ball, and alternate between the two until the row is complete.
• For the fifth row, you must have one solid ball in one corner of the triangle rack and a striped ball in the other corner of the triangle rack. The remaining three balls can be placed in any configuration, so it is okay to have two solid balls or two striped balls next to each other.

Now, as you remove the triangular rack, make sure the balls are tight, and the apex ball remains over the marker.

There is an exception to setting up 8-ball pool, depending on the people with whom you are playing. Some players prefer that the 1-ball be placed in the apex position.

Setting Up 9-Ball Pool

9-ball pool is another billiard game some people like to play when they do not have time for a full 8-ball game. The objective is to shoot the balls from the lowest number to the highest number.

However, if you pocket any numbered ball during any shot, so long as you make contact with the next lowest numbered ball, the shot is considered legal. The person who pockets the 9-ball wins the game.

You will use all of the solid balls and the striped 9-ball to rack the pool balls. You can either use the triangular rack as a guide or use a diamond rack as follows:

• Place the rack on the middle of the table over the marker.
• The 1-ball will always be the apex ball.
• The 9-ball will always be the ball in the middle of the third row.
• All other balls can be placed randomly until the diamond shape is created.

Again, you want to make sure to get a tight rack with the balls for a decent break. One variation of 9-ball is to use the striped balls and the 8-ball. The 9-ball will be the apex ball when using this setup, and the 8-ball is the ball in the middle. The other striped balls are placed randomly.

However, some players prefer to number the balls in order from lowest to highest, so that the 8-ball or 15-ball are at the bottom of the diamond.

Setting Up 10-Ball Pool

10-ball pool is a variation of 9-ball that adds an extra layer of challenge. It uses balls numbered 1 through 10 and requires players to call both the ball and the pocket on every shot, making it a more skill-intensive game.

The game is played by always striking the lowest numbered ball on the table first. As long as the lowest ball is hit first, and a called shot is made, the turn continues. The game ends when the 10-ball is legally pocketed.

You will use balls 1 through 10 and a triangle rack to set up the game as follows:

• Place the rack in the center of the table over the marker.
• The 1-ball is placed at the apex (front) of the triangle.
• The 10-ball is always placed in the center of the third row.
• All other balls can be placed randomly around them until the triangle is complete.

As with other games, make sure the balls are packed tightly to get a solid break and clean spread of the balls.

Setting Up Straight Pool (14.1 Continuous)

Straight pool, also known as 14.1 continuous, is a classic billiards game where players try to reach a set number of points by pocketing any ball on the table. Each legally pocketed ball earns one point, and players must call both the ball and the intended pocket before every shot.

The game begins with all 15 balls, racked in a standard triangle formation. As players pocket balls, they continue shooting until they miss. Once 14 balls have been pocketed, the balls are re-racked with the apex position left open, and play continues using the 15th ball already on the table.

To rack for straight pool, follow these steps:

• Use all 15 balls and a standard triangle rack.
• Place the rack over the marker on the table.
• The apex ball sits on the foot spot; all other balls are placed randomly.
• There is no special placement for any numbered ball.

When re-racking during the game, make sure the 14 balls are placed as tight as possible, leaving the apex position vacant so the 15th ball and cue ball remain in play.

Setting Up One Pocket

One pocket is a two-player game where each player is assigned one of the corner pockets at the foot of the table. The goal is to be the first player to legally pocket eight balls into their assigned pocket.

Unlike other pool games, players may pocket any object ball, but only into their designated pocket. The strategy and defensive play in this game are what make it unique.

To set up a game of one pocket:

• Use all 15 balls and a standard triangle rack.
• Place the triangle over the foot spot on the table with one corner aligned over the marker.
• The ball order does not matter, so balls can be racked randomly.
• Make sure the balls are tight for a clean break.

Before play begins, each player agrees on which corner pocket they will aim for during the game.

Setting Up Cutthroat Pool

Cutthroat pool is a fun, three-player game where each player is assigned a group of five balls. The objective is to be the last player with at least one of your assigned balls still on the table.

Ball groups are divided as follows: Player 1 gets balls 1–5, Player 2 gets balls 6–10, and Player 3 gets balls 11–15. Players try to eliminate their opponents’ balls while protecting their own.

To set up a game of cutthroat:

• Use all 15 balls and a standard triangle rack.
• Place the rack on the foot spot with one corner aligned over the marker.
• Balls can be placed in any order—there are no placement rules based on group assignments.
• Make sure to tighten the rack before removing the triangle.

Once the break is complete, players take turns, and group assignments are typically made after the first ball is legally pocketed.

Setting Up Snooker

Snooker is a different type of billiard game that uses solid colored-billiard balls. The objective of snooker is to sink balls based on their point value. Red balls count as 1 point each. The other colored balls, not counting the cue ball, range in points from 2 to 7. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

• Rack the red balls using the triangle rack and ensure the rack is tight.
• Place the red balls, so they are just below the marker on the pool table.
• Place the pink ball on the marker on the pool table, so it is as close to the tip of the red apex ball.
• Behind the racked red balls, place the black ball and line it up with the pink ball with one ball’s width between the bottom of the racked balls and the black ball.
• There is a header area on the other end of the pool table where the baulk line is located. The brown ball is placed in the center of the baulk line.
• To the left of the brown ball, facing from the back of the table, place the yellow ball.
• To the right of the brown ball, facing from the back of the table, place the green ball.
• The cue ball is placed above the brown ball.
• The blue ball is placed directly in the middle of the table below the brown ball.
• The brown, yellow, green, blue, and cue ball formation should make a “kite” shape.
• To start the game, place the cue ball anywhere inside the “D” area—the upper part of the “kite” shape.

Elevate Every Game with Tables and Accessories From Blatt Billiards

Now that you know how to rack balls for a variety of games, make sure you’re playing on a table that’s built for both style and performance.

At Blatt Billiards, we offer handcrafted custom billiards tables, versatile semi-custom options, and budget-friendly economy pool tables—each made with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Complete your setup with professional-grade billiards accessories, including racks, ball sets, and cue sticks, to ensure every break starts right.

References:

Word Pool Association. The Rule Book: World Pool Rules.