New Info Regarding APA Rankings

NewStroke

NewStroke

Screamin Monkey
Silver Member
I asked my league operator what it was going to take to break into the 7 skill level (it's a personal goal since I have to be in this league). Here was his official email response

"Each week the formula changes depending upon many factors. It is hard to predict your skill level. "

Isn't that a kick in the pants?
 
You're really going to open up this can of worms? This thread is going to devolve into the typical APA bashing that always happens. Or is that what you are hoping for?
 
They want you to know as little as possible about the formula. But usually if you can finish games in around 1.5 innings or less, they dub you a 7.
 
JCurry said:
You're really going to open up this can of worms? This thread is going to devolve into the typical APA bashing that always happens. Or is that what you are hoping for?
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with a can of worms. How in the hell can a league operator actually tell me the formula changes daily. This is a legitimate complaint and I hope may be another APA person can clear this up.
 
He's just pulling stuff out of his butt. I really doubt the league operator has any clue about the formula, or how often it changes. He is only telling you this to avoid any further questions.

The quickest way to make 7 is to improve.

Try making more shots, and missing less.

Try playing better position, this will help you with making more balls.

Try watching better players who run out a lot. Figure out why they play the patterns they do. Then, apply these concepts to your own game.

Buy The Eight Ball Bible: A Guide to Bar Table Play by R. Givens...

http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Ball-Bi...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265819058&sr=1-1

Forget about asking the league operator what you need to do. This would lead you to make artificial changes to your game which will be largely ineffective. You need to concentrate on improving your overall level of play, and level 7 will come.

Russ
 
NewStroke said:
This has nothing to do with a can of worms. How in the hell can a league operator actually tell me the formula changes daily. This is a legitimate complaint and I hope may be another APA person can clear this up.
Click to expand...

You and I both know which league operator you are talking about and you know that guy doesn't have half a clue about anything. I'm surprised that you would actually believe him.
 
NewStroke said:
This has nothing to do with a can of worms. How in the hell can a league operator actually tell me the formula changes daily. .
Click to expand...

I want some worms, the gummi kind :D

Yum

Dan, just request to be moved to a 7, problem solved :thumbup:

I quit the APA in Dallas years upon years ago as a 7. While I was in Florida, I started APA again to meet some people - the records were too old, they couldn't find me and wanted me to start as a 4. Called the LO, told him I didn't want to be labeled as a sandbagger, we negotiated and agreed on a 6 and so it was....

If you want to get bumped, just call him. If you are winning 75% of your matches against similar opponents, you should get bumped anyway.
 
NewStroke said:
I asked my league operator what it was going to take to break into the 7 skill level (it's a personal goal since I have to be in this league). Here was his official email response

"Each week the formula changes depending upon many factors. It is hard to predict your skill level. "

Isn't that a kick in the pants?
Click to expand...

Here's the deal. The formula itself doesn't change, the #'s that get plugged in do. The handicap is based on the best 10 scores out of your last 20 matches (in 8-ball, 12 of last 20 in 9-ball).
 
I'm not going to bash the APA, but...

I accepted an offer from a guy in a bar to join his team (a cellar dweller). I start out as an unranked 4 and am put up against another 4 on the opposing team. I win the match 3-0 in a grand total of 2 innings (break and run, 2 innings, break and run). I am immediately made a 7 the following week, and they go from cellar dweller to winning the session. So I have no idea how the rankings work. But I will say I was ultimately tossed from the league after we came in second in a "money shoot" tournament. When the captain broke the news to me, he told me that the LO told him to either toss me or the LO was tossing the whole team.

I'm by no means a pro, but this tells me the APA penalizes good play.
 
Big Perm said:
I want some worms, the gummi kind :D

Yum

Dan, just request to be moved to a 7, problem solved :thumbup:

I quit the APA in Dallas years upon years ago as a 7. While I was in Florida, I started APA again to meet some people - the records were too old, they couldn't find me and wanted me to start as a 4. Called the LO, told him I didn't want to be labeled as a sandbagger, we negotiated and agreed on a 6 and so it was....

If you want to get bumped, just call him. If you are winning 75% of your matches against similar opponents, you should get bumped anyway.
Click to expand...

I'll probably end up talking to him, I really need to up the challenge. I figure a higher handicap will give me a little motivation.
 
So, NewStroke, I guess after telling my little story the best advice I could give you is start logging break and runs and you'll see how fast your ranking goes up.
 
NewStroke said:
I'll probably end up talking to him, I really need to up the challenge. I figure a higher handicap will give me a little motivation.
Click to expand...

Upping the challenge is always good -- kudos to you for wanting to climb the skill-level ladder!

However, this question does beg to be asked -- how come the APA computer isn't automatically upping you based on your [presumably superior] performance week after week? (It sounds like you're a "6" that your weekly opponents don't look forward to being selected to match up with, for fear of becoming that week's "sacrificial lamb.")

The APA computer is very quick to make adjustments in handicaps/skill-levels based on great performance -- e.g. sweeping your opponent, playing defensive shots, breaking-and-running, etc.

Hand out a couple goose eggs, and I'm sure you'll get your wish -- and it will be earned, not asked for.

Penny for your thoughts on this idea?
-Sean
 
Winston846 said:
So, NewStroke, I guess after telling my little story the best advice I could give you is start logging break and runs and you'll see how fast your ranking goes up.
Click to expand...

Actually I started, I'll document it like I have been documenting my practice.
 
sfleinen said:
Upping the challenge is always good -- kudos to you for wanting to climb the skill-level ladder!

However, this question does beg to be asked -- how come the APA computer isn't automatically upping you based on your [presumably superior] performance week after week? (It sounds like you're a "6" that your weekly opponents don't look forward to being selected to match up with, for fear of becoming that week's "sacrificial lamb.")

The APA computer is very quick to make adjustments in handicaps/skill-levels based on great performance -- e.g. sweeping your opponent, playing defensive shots, breaking-and-running, etc.

Hand out a couple goose eggs, and I'm sure you'll get your wish -- and it will be earned, not asked for.

Penny for your thoughts on this idea?
-Sean
Click to expand...

Those are great questions. I think it's because I don't have enough low inning games. I am winning about 7 out 8 matches and play a boatload of safeties from time to time (even though I call them out, they may not be getting marked). I'll figure it out and go from there.
 
NewStroke said:
I asked my league operator what it was going to take to break into the 7 skill level (it's a personal goal since I have to be in this league). Here was his official email response

"Each week the formula changes depending upon many factors. It is hard to predict your skill level. "

Isn't that a kick in the pants?
Click to expand...

Well, I guess he could have said, "Just don't worry about it, go play your best, make sure that you mark all your defensive shots and you will be a skl 7 when you earn it."
 
To become a 7 you must destroy your opponent. Have a few break and runs in every match and call all of your safeties (this helps keep your innings down) so you get credit for them. Keep your innings per game below 2. Also make sure that your last turn during a match is not counted as a inning, many captains count it because they don't want the skill levels to increase.

Nothing complicated about it.
 
TheBook said:
To become a 7 you must destroy your opponent. Have a few break and runs in every match and call all of your safeties (this helps keep your innings down) so you get credit for them. Keep your innings per game below 2. Also make sure that your last turn during a match is not counted as a inning, many captains count it because they don't want the skill levels to increase.

Nothing complicated about it.
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me.
 
Marking innings "post miss" in APA?

TheBook said:
To become a 7 you must destroy your opponent. Have a few break and runs in every match and call all of your safeties (this helps keep your innings down) so you get credit for them. Keep your innings per game below 2. Also make sure that your last turn during a match is not counted as a inning, many captains count it because they don't want the skill levels to increase.

Nothing complicated about it.
Click to expand...

TheBook:

I'm coaching (instructing) a fellow teammate, who plays in both our local travelling league that I play in, as well as the APA. (I don't play in the APA myself, because I don't like the format, but that's just me, and not to detract from the players that do enjoy playing in the APA such as my teammate. Occasionally, my girlfriend and I even go up to the Eastern Regionals singles boards to watch him play, and I'll offer guidance from the sidelines between matches, etc. Anyway, I digress...)

While helping to keep score for some of his matches, etc., the format for marking innings is as soon as the player steps up to the table, the inning is marked. This prevents the situation where, if the methodology were to mark innings when the player "missed," the inning count for a break-n-run would erroneously be marked as "0" for both the BnR executee, as well as the victim.

My question is ethically and technically, how does one "not mark" the last inning, unless in some parts of the country, innings are not marked as soon as the player steps up to the table, but are rather marked "post missed shot"?

Appreciate any insight here,
-Sean
 
I'd love to trade handicaps with you. Being a 7 sucks! You can't play any of the doubles tournaments with anyone good. Most teams assume you are going to win so they throw an SL2 or SL3 on you, meanwhile the rest of your team gets beat 4-1. Let me tell you there are no bonuses in being rated a 7. Now if you are a 5 or 6 and play like a 7, then the league is yours!!!!

*Hoping one day they will miraculously drop my handicap so I can have fun in the APA again*
 
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