The 11 Best Pool Racks: Pros & Cons

No, you can’t just use your hands to position the balls for the break, there is no consistency in that! What you need is a reliable pool rack, and there are loads to choose from.

The best pool racks are strong, allowing the balls to slide effortlessly across the table. They also have a smooth finish and pleasing appearance. Without a smooth finish, they can snag on the felt and damage it. As it stands, the best pool rack right now is the CueSports Magic Ball rack.

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the best pool racks across different categories. We will also discuss the various features you should look out for when you are shopping around.

Best Pool Racks: At a Glance

Best Plastic Pool Racks in 2024

1. CueSports Magic Ball Rack Combo Pack — Most Consistent Rack

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, 10-ball pool
  • Material: Grade A plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.05 lb

Pros

  • Most consistent rack
  • Very lightweight
  • Supports three types of pool games
  • Will cause no damage to the felt

Cons

  • May impede a ball’s path
  • Not particularly robust

Rating: 9.8

With pool triangle racks you want consistency, and the standard method of moving a rack to cause the balls to cluster isn’t the most reliable. You see, when you remove the rack, it’s easy for the balls to shift slightly. That’s why we like the CueSports Magic ball rack so much — it does things differently.

It holds the balls in place and you only remove them after a player breaks them. So how on earth does this work? Well, it’s simple. The rack is ultra-thin, so the balls both go in the rack and on the rack itself.

The rack has small diamond cutouts marking where each outer ball should go, and when you place the balls, these precise cut-out holes cluster the balls tightly. Ensuring you have a perfect rack every single time. The main issue with this rack is that may impede the movement of the balls. However, it is so thin that you can’t tell from the naked eye.

Beyond stellar racking, the CueSports Magic racks will cause no damage to your table’s felt. They are lighter than a piece of paper and flexible — this also makes them easy to transport, although we recommend placing them next to something flat so they don’t get damaged.

As a final point, these two racks offer 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, and 10-ball pool. Making this one of only two racks on this list gives such a variety of options. So in our eyes, it’s the best 8-ball rack and the best 9-ball and 10-ball rack.

2. GSE Plastic Pool Rack

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.26 lb (package weight)

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Lightweight
  • 8-ball pool and 9-ball pool options
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • Plain appearance

Rating: 9.5

The GSE plastic pool rack is exactly what we are used to seeing when playing at a bar. It may look fairly plain but it’s a solid choice that will save you a few bucks. You can play 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, or both in triangle and diamond format. You’ll save around a dollar by picking both racks up as a bundle deal.

Like most pool racks, these have rounded edges, so the balls glide effortlessly around the table. And with the plastic construction, there is almost no risk of damaging the felt.

We think these racks are a solid choice for any setting, be it for the home or a commercial venue. Their robust enough that they should last a long time. And if they become mistreated by overzealous players, they are cheap enough to replace.

3. TIHOOD Magic Ball Racks — Best Value for Money

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, 10-ball pool
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.003 lb

Pros

  • Very consistent rack
  • Very lightweight
  • One rack supports three types of pool games
  • Will cause no damage to the felt
  • Great value for money

Cons

  • May impede a ball’s path
  • Not particularly robust

Rating: 9.5

Think of the TIHOOD Magic ball rack as a CueSports Magic ball rack rip-off. It uses the same thin plastic build with diamond cutouts to position the balls. Yet while it is a blatant copy, the TIHOOD ball rack is still well worth picking up.

Like the CueSports rack, it is ultra-thin at 0.08 mm. It also weighs just 0.003 lb. However, unlike its competitor, it is sold in packs of six rather than two. It’s also nearly half the price so it certainly has value for money going in its favor.

For home pool owners, having six pool racks is clearly overkill, so the TIHOOD rack set may be more appealing to the likes of a pool club or similar establishment. Given the racks are so thin, they are not very robust, so misuse in a bar could easily result in damage. That being said, given their price and quantity, they are still a solid option even for bar owners.

4. Action CueStix International Heavy Duty 8-Ball Pool Rack

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool
  • Material: Reinforced plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.59 lb (package weight)

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Lightweight
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • Plain appearance

Rating: 9.3

The Action CueStix pool rack is a solid choice if you want the lightness that plastic offers but increased strength. Constructed from fiber-reinforced plastic, it’s among the strongest plastic pool rack you can get. The corners have additional thickness to ensure the triangle holds its shape.

This is somewhat reflected in the price as it costs more than a typical plastic rack. Albeit, it’s not expensive — it costs the same as most wooden pool racks.

While this rack is shaped for standard 8-ball pool, you can still use it for 9-ball pool. You simply need to position the balls at the top of the triangle and push them at the bottom to form a diamond.

5. Imperial Billiard 9-Ball Pool Rack — Cheapest Rack

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Weight: 0.15 lb

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • Plain appearance

Rating: 9.1

Our first 8-ball pool-only offering is by Imperial. It’s a lightweight pool rack that weighs just 0.15 lb, making it super easy to transport wherever you go. It features rounded corners like most do for easy ball rolling, yet unlike most, it has a rolled bottom lip, making movement even more seamless.

Imperial claims that the rack is indestructible, but we’ll put that down to greatly exaggerated marketing. As the rack is made from plastic that’s not even reinforced, it is among the weaker racks that you can purchase.

Considering the low cost, we feel that this is a great rack to buy if you’re not bothered about appearance. It would feel equally at home in a games room setup or a bar.

Read More: 3 Best Pool Dining Tables

 

Best Wooden Pool Racks in 2024

1. GSE Solid Wood Rack — Best Looking

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool
  • Material: Pine
  • Color: Black, pine, mahogany
  • Weight: 0.64 lb

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Variety of colors available
  • 8-ball pool and 9-ball pool options
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • None

Rating: 9.7

Kicking off the best pool ball racks made of wood, we have the solid wood rack by GSE. While we liked their plastic rack, we are a much bigger fan of their wooden version.

There is a good selection on offer for you to choose from. All the racks are made from solid pine wood, but you can choose your desired finish. Choose between black, pine, or mahogany. You can also pick them up as triangles or diamonds for 8-ball pool or 9-ball pool.

Our favorite is the pine wood 2-tone rack. It’s a real eye-catcher and looks very sophisticated. We feel it’s the perfect addition for a home setup or perhaps a pool club. Such a rack would feel almost out of place at a bar, and any damage would greatly reduce its visual appeal.

2. OwnMy Set of 2 Wooden Pool Racks

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool
  • Material: Solid hardwood
  • Color: Black or red
  • Weight: 1.1 lb (package weight)

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Two colors available
  • 8-ball pool and 9-ball pool options
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • The finish could be better
  • Only available as a bundle

Rating: 9.2

The OwnMy wooden pool racks are made from solid hardwood for maximum rigidity. The corners are also rounded and reinforced, so neither durability nor poor ball rolling is an issue. However, the finish of the rack could be much better. It’s not very smooth and could certainly do with some additional sanding. This runs the risk of the rack wearing away at your table’s felt over time.

You get to choose between either black or red for the finish, and the racks only come as a pair. This means if you want either only an 8-ball rack or only a 9-ball rack you’ll have to look elsewhere.

3. OUTLAW RK9OL Diamond Rack

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 9-ball pool
  • Material: Wood
  • Color: Honey
  • Weight: 0.44 lb

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • 11-year warranty
  • 4.8-star average reviews
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • No color options
  • No 8-ball rack option available

Rating: 9.2

The OUTLAW RK9OL is our only exclusively 9-ball rack. The reason we chose this above others is because of its superb customer reviews, stylish appearance, and warranty.

Although it’s a relative newcomer, the OUTLAW RK9OL currently sits with a 4.8-star review average on Amazon. This places it the highest on our list in that regard. It also looks very appealing with its honey finish and logo.

The OUTLAW logo, along with what appears to be thorns, has been burned into the outside of the rack. This sets itself apart from the other racks you see on the market. Most of which are fairly plain, sport one color, and have no markings of any kind.

To our surprise, the OUTLAW rack also comes with 11 years of warranty. This is much more than we would have expected, so if you’re in the market for only an 8-ball pool diamond, we think it’s the perfect pool rack to get.

4. Felson Billiard Supplies Pool Racks

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool
  • Material: Wood
  • Color: Mahogany
  • Weight: 0.4 lb

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • 8-ball pool and 9-ball pool options
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • No color options
  • The finish can peel off

Rating: 8.9

The Felson Billiard Supplies pool racks are strong racks that are made from wood. With this bundle, you don’t have the option of buying each rack separately. However, this is not much of an issue as both racks together work out cheaper than most individual racks.

They only come in mahogany, which, once again, we can’t complain about, given how pleasing it is to the eye. Yet an issue you must be aware of is that the finish isn’t very durable. The finish is not sealed particularly well, so the stain can peel off, revealing the light wood underneath, thus ruining its visual appeal.

All in all, this set represents good value for money and is great for use in virtually any setting. Just don’t expect a superb finish that will last.

5. ISZY Pool Racks — Best Felt Protection

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool
  • Material: Maple wood and metal
  • Color: Black, dark oak
  • Weight: 0.88 lb (package weight)

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • 8-ball pool and 9-ball pool options
  • Two colors to choose from
  • Felt protectors

Cons

  • Expensive

Rating: 8.5

The ISZY pool racks are some of the best pool triangle racks if felt protection is your primary focus. Over time, or perhaps even from delivery, bits of wood can chip off, leaving rough corners which can scratch the felt of your pool table. Yet this isn’t an issue with the ISZY pool racks. They feature small metal felt protectors, ensuring that the wood from the rack never makes contact with the table.

These racks are also relatively strong, featuring additional materials in the corner for added support. All of the racks are made from maple wood, and you get to choose from either black or dark oak.

As best we can tell, there is only one issue with these pool racks: the cost. They cost between three and four times as much as most other wooden racks. Personally, we feel this is a little expensive. However, to some, the felt protection may make them worth picking up.

Read More: The 4 Best Pool Table Ping Pong Combos

 

Bonus: Best Metal Pool Rack in 2024

Delta-13 Select Metal Pool Rack — Most Robust

best pool rack

 

 

Specifications

  • Type of Pool: 8-ball pool
  • Material: 6061 aluminum
  • Color: Silver
  • Weight: Not listed

Pros

  • Very strong
  • Centering markers
  • Ergonomic grip
  • Used for ESPN billiard tournaments
  • Custom engraving available upon further request
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Rounded corners

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • No 9-ball ball version available

Rating: 9.4

We searched far and wide for a high-quality metal pool rack, and we were only comfortable recommending one, and that’s the Delta-13 Select. It’s constructed from long-lasting 6061 aluminum, and as such, it is far stronger than wood. It is also not susceptible to bowing and humidity changes like wood.

This has caused the Delta-13 Select to become very popular at the sport’s top level. The rack is used for numerous ESPN billiard tournaments, and it’s even endorsed by pro players such as 4x World Champion Allison Fisher.

Unlike the other pool racks covered thus far, this one features an alluring ergonomic grip and centering markers for the balls. We’d be lying if we said that we thought these centering markers were useful, but they add some visual appeal. This rack is also the only product to offer custom engraving — you’ll have to reach out before purchasing to iron out the details though.

If all of this was insufficient to convince you of this rack’s quality, then perhaps the warranty will. It comes with a lifetime warranty against bending, warping, and splintering, which is pretty incredible. The only issue with this triangle is the astronomically high cost. Reaching three figures, it is over 6 times more expensive than most wooden pool racks. However, if quality and longevity are all you care about, it’s the best pool ball rack that you can get.

Why You Should Trust Ping Pong Ruler

As sporting experts, we’ve made it our mission to provide the best buying guides on the web. One of our team diligently selected the best pool racks on the market while considering the needs of all buyers. An editor then followed up to verify the authenticity of all of the information provided.

Please note we are not paid for any of our reviews. All reviews are genuine and our own unbiased opinion.

Pool Rack Buying Guide

Best pool racks

Material

Racks are primarily made from one of two materials, plastic or wood. That being said, there are other materials available such as metal.

Plastic

Plastic racks are the cheapest to manufacture, and as such, represent the lowest price point on the pool rack market. Plastic pool racks get a bad rap because many models are poorly made and feel cheap.

Yet the highest quality plastic pool racks are among the best that you can get. Given their lightness, they are far easier to carry around.

Wood

Wood is a top material for pool racks, bridging the gap between plastic and metal. Wooden pool racks are heavier than plastic yet lighter than metal. Similarly, they are more durable than plastic but not quite as durable as metal.

Wooden pool racks also have the added advantage of being the most attractive. Plastic and metal usually look quite plain whereas wooden pool racks often feature pleasant joins and appealing finishes such as mahogany.

Metal

Metal pool racks are the rarest of the three and the most expensive by far. They have the advantage of being ultra-durable, potentially lasting a lifetime. However, they are much heavier so you wouldn’t want to carry one around. They are also more likely to cause wear on your table’s felt, which is certainly something to consider.

Size and Shape

As you may know, pool racks do not come in one standard size. Instead, a few sizes are on offer, and which you should choose depends on the pool you are playing.

For 8-ball pool, you’ll need a triangular rack that houses 15 balls. Instead of playing 9-ball pool, you’ll need a diamond rack that houses 9 balls.

Beyond this, you should look out for racks that feature rounded corners. These allow the balls to glide smoothly over the felt without snagging. Flat corners catch much easier on felt, so avoid them if you can.

We should also note that it’s common practice for triangles to be a little larger than the balls they are racking. This is because you use the ball’s momentum from moving the triangle to cluster them together. The gap then allows you to push on the balls with your fingers for a tight rack. You can learn more about how to rack pool balls here.

How to Set Up Pool Balls for American Eight-Ball Pool

how to rack pool balls for eight-ball pool

Kafziel – Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0

For American eight-ball pool, the racking procedure is very simple. Begin racking the pool balls by placing a spot and a stripe at the bottom of each corner of the triangle. It doesn’t matter which way around they are. Then, fill in the balls randomly except for the middle slot of the third row. This is where the black eight ball goes. Finally, position the triangle so the top ball is over the marker on the table, and then remove it.

There are many more types of pool games you can play as well, so let’s cover each now.

How to Rack for English Eight-Ball Pool — Spots and Stripes

Eight-ball English pool is similar to the American version as it, too, uses eight balls with a spot and stripe pattern. However, each ball has a specific location.

Begin as you would for an American eight-ball pool by placing differing balls at the bottom of each corner (stripe and spot). After which, place two balls beside each original ball of an opposing type. Next, create another line of opposing types only on the right side. These should be the same type as the second line on the left and meet to form a J-shape.

Back to the left side, place another two balls of a different type from the J-shape to go on the inside. The black ball goes in the same position as American eight-ball pool in the middle of 3rd row. Above the black, again, place opposing types of ball to those on the left and right of the black, and finally, place the last ball at the top.

Unlike American eight-ball pool, the black sits over the marker spot on the table. Either remove the black ball or place it last. This way, you can see the marker throughout to ensure the rack is positioned correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Big Is a Pool Triangle?

A pool triangle comes in two main sizes, one for 8-ball pool and the other for 9-ball pool. For 8-ball pool, the rack forms a triangle that measures 11.25” (28.58 cm) wide by 10” (25.51 cm) tall. On the other hand, a 9-ball pool rack is the shape of a diamond. It measures 6.75” (17.15 cm) by 10” (25.51 cm).

Where Does the Rack Go on a Pool Table?

For American pool, you position the apex ball over the foot marker on the table. This is irrespective of whether you’re playing 8-ball pool or 9-ball pool. However, if you are playing English 8-ball pool, the placement changes slightly. Rather than the apex ball, the black sits over the foot marker.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this pool rack guide helped you out. We did our best to include a variety of racks to meet the needs of every player. To recap, we feel that the best pool rack is the CueSports Magic ball rack. You’re simply going to get the most consistent rack with it, and all without any risk of damaging the felt on your table.

As a close second, we absolutely love the GSE solid wood rack. It’s the most appealing in our eyes, and there are plenty of color options on offer from pine to mahogany.

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Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When I’m not working on my loop game I’m probably binge-watching some fantasy show.