Conquer The Cross – Ball Rack – Clear

Conquer the Cross Pool Rack and Challenge Game, Clear

The clear Conquer the Cross rack lets you see exactly where every ball sits as you set up the cross. It’s the translucent version of the patented rack and challenge game created by a Michigan State engineering student in the early 1990s, and it’s made in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Price: $34.99.

Setting it up

Place one ball in front of each of the six pockets, then use the rack to form nine balls into a tight cross at the center of the table. The see-through rack makes it easier to check that the cross is tight before you lift the rack away.

Rules in short

First, pocket the six pocket balls without the cue ball touching the cross. Second, break into the cross and pocket at least one ball from it. Third, run everything that’s left without a miss. A scratch or a miss ends the attempt, you must pocket a ball every shot, and slop is allowed. It’s played one person at a time, with challengers rotating in.

A practice drill in disguise

The first stage is really a position drill: six balls spread to the pockets, with an obstacle in the middle you’re not allowed to touch. Run it a few times and you’ll be thinking a shot or two ahead without trying.

Prefer an opaque rack? The white Conquer the Cross is the same game.

Conquer the Cross Pool Rack & Challenge Game Specifications

Conquer the Cross Pool Rack & Challenge Game FAQ

How do you set up Conquer the Cross?

One ball at each pocket and nine balls in a cross at the table’s center.

What ends your turn?

A miss, a scratch, or touching the cross in stage one.

Is slop allowed?

Yes.

Is the clear rack different from the white one?

Only in color.