A billiard rack and method using the rack defining V-shaped ball containment area having a pair of arms each having an outer and inner side, where said arms meet at an apex and have extremities away from the apex that create an arc of approximately 60 degrees, the inner side of each arm extending at least as far as a distance equal to five times the diameter of a standard billiard ball and the outer side or each arm extending at least as far as the distance equal to four times the diameter of a standard billiard ball that is accessible from the top. The radius of curvature of the apex preferably is 1⅛ inches and the distance between the ends of each inner side of each arm is 13⅝ inches and the outer side is 14⅛ inches. In a preferred method, the balls are racked by the user with two thumbs pressing against the balls and the rack is removed by forward movement away from the balls without disturbing the balls.