What is Rax?
The Rax rating system is Rackd's proprietary algorithm designed specifically for pool games. Unlike traditional rating systems, Rax takes a comprehensive approach to player evaluation, considering multiple factors to provide the most accurate representation of your skill level possible.
Rax was developed with one core principle: every player should have access to meaningful skill tracking, regardless of their location, league participation, or tournament access. This philosophy drives every aspect of the system's design and implementation.
How Rax Works
The Rax algorithm processes multiple data points from each match to calculate rating changes that reflect true skill development:
Match Outcomes
Wins and losses form the foundation, but not the entirety, of your rating. The algorithm considers the context of each result.
Opponent Strength
Defeating stronger opponents provides more rating increase, while losses to weaker players result in larger decreases. The system rewards challenging yourself.
Performance Consistency
Regular play and consistent performance patterns are rewarded. The algorithm identifies players who maintain their skill level versus those experiencing volatility.
Game Type Specialization
Different pool variants have different skill requirements. Your Rax rating reflects your performance across game types while recognizing specializations.
Recent Performance Weight
Recent matches have more influence than older ones, ensuring your rating reflects your current skill level rather than past achievements.
Match Context
Tournament pressure, venue conditions, and match format all influence the weight of results. Not all games are created equal.
Understanding Rating Ranges
Rax ratings are designed to be intuitive and meaningful at every level. Each range represents distinct skill characteristics:
Rax vs. Traditional Rating Systems
While we respect existing rating systems in the pool world, Rax was designed to address specific limitations that affect accessibility and accuracy:
Algorithmic Advantages
Multi-Factor Analysis
Rax: Considers opponent strength, consistency, recent performance, game context, and more for holistic evaluation.
Traditional systems: Often rely primarily on win/loss records with limited contextual analysis.
Adaptive Learning
Rax: Algorithm continuously learns from the growing dataset, improving accuracy over time.
Traditional systems: Static formulas that don't evolve with new understanding of skill measurement.
Game-Specific Optimization
Rax: Tailored specifically for pool games with sport-specific factors and considerations.
Traditional systems: Often adapted from other sports without pool-specific optimizations.
Transparency and Education
Rax: Provides clear explanations of rating factors and changes, helping players understand their development.
Traditional systems: Often operate as "black boxes" with little insight into calculation methods.
Accessibility Advantages
The most significant advantage of Rax is its accessibility. While systems like Fargo rating provide valuable insights for competitive players, they have inherent limitations:
Geographic Availability
Available worldwide to any player with the Rackd app. No geographic restrictions or local infrastructure requirements.
Often limited to specific regions, sanctioned events, or established league systems. Rural and international players may have limited access.
Event Requirements
Works with any match - casual games, practice sessions, league play, or tournaments. Every game counts toward your rating.
Typically require participation in sanctioned events or specific tournament formats. Casual play doesn't contribute to rating.
Cost Barriers
Free to use with your Rackd account. No entry fees, membership requirements, or additional costs.
Often require tournament entry fees, league memberships, or sanctioning body fees to participate in rated events.
Player Pool Requirements
Accurate ratings even in small player pools. Algorithm adapts to available data and provides meaningful comparisons.
Require large, established player pools for accuracy. May be less reliable in smaller communities or emerging markets.
The Science Behind Rax
Rax incorporates cutting-edge statistical methods and machine learning principles to provide the most accurate skill assessment possible:
Bayesian Inference
The algorithm uses Bayesian methods to update player ratings based on new evidence while maintaining confidence in established skill levels. This prevents single exceptional or poor performances from drastically skewing long-term ratings.
Temporal Weighting
Recent matches receive higher weight in rating calculations, but the decay function is carefully calibrated to distinguish between genuine skill changes and temporary performance variations.
Confidence Intervals
Every Rax rating comes with an associated confidence level. Players with more match data have narrower confidence intervals, while newcomers have wider ranges that narrow as they play more games.
Cross-Validation
The algorithm is continuously tested against historical data to ensure predictive accuracy. Regular validation ensures the system maintains its effectiveness as the player base grows and evolves.
Rating Reliability and Accuracy
Rax provides different levels of confidence based on the amount and quality of data available:
Provisional Rating (1-10 matches)
Initial rating based on early performance. Wide confidence interval reflects uncertainty. Rapid rating changes are normal and expected.
Developing Rating (11-50 matches)
Rating becomes more stable as pattern emerges. Confidence interval narrows. Rating changes become more predictable.
Established Rating (51+ matches)
High confidence in accuracy. Narrow confidence interval. Rating changes reflect genuine skill development or decline.
Using Your Rax Rating
Your Rax rating is more than just a number - it's a tool for improvement and competition:
For Personal Development
- Track long-term progress over months and years
- Identify peak performance periods and analyze what contributed
- Set realistic goals based on your current rating and trajectory
- Use confidence intervals to understand rating reliability
For Competition
- Find opponents of similar skill level for competitive matches
- Challenge yourself against higher-rated players for accelerated improvement
- Use ratings for fair handicapping in friendly competitions
- Track performance in different competitive environments
For League and Tournament Play
- Supplement official ratings with comprehensive match history
- Monitor form and confidence leading into important events
- Compare performance across different venues and formats
- Validate official ratings with independent assessment