Congradulations, keep having fun! (its so much more fun when you win isnt it?)
Finally I'm a SL6 in APA
- Thread starter KoolKiller
- Start date
Don't you love it when you play a good safe on someone that has never even seen a safe played in a game, they look at you like a lobster just crawled out of your ear. So, just curious, how is it that you played twice in an APA match, and how is it that you got to sudden death?
The APA has a tiered ranking system, in 8 ball- S/L 2 is the lowest or the most elementary player and S/L 7 is the highest or most skilled player. 9 ball is a similar system with S/L 1 being the lowest and S/L 9 being the highest. As you meet certain criteria you advance in skill level but without (normally) a medical reason you can only ever drop one skill level, however if you play in a national APA event the skill you participated at will be your new "low" mark - you should never drop below that (but it happens). The criteria is a convoluted system of wins and losses innings played, "implied" innings in a win all from the best ten of your last twenty matches. This is all designed to prevent sand-bagging, but if you know the system..... well, you get it.
Celophanewrap...The APA handicap formula is neither convoluted or poorly designed. Sandbagging almost always only occurs when both teams allow it, either by choice, or by poor scorekeeping. Defensive shots should be marked, whether the opposing player/team thinks so or not. Done correctly, and playing your best, the handicap system works well, for what it is.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Congrats, KoolKiller!
I've been a SL5 for just shy of 2 years now, and I'm looking forward to moving up to SL6 as well. (Sadly, I'm not improving much lately, and it doesn't appear that I will make it by the goal I set for myself....though I shall not give up!
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I've been a SL5 for just shy of 2 years now, and I'm looking forward to moving up to SL6 as well. (Sadly, I'm not improving much lately, and it doesn't appear that I will make it by the goal I set for myself....though I shall not give up!
)Congrats. I am going back to APA this Monday. Only played about a year and a half before. Made a 5 in two sessions. Only been playing the last 3 months after not playing for 4 years. Probably shooting more like a 6 but will be ranked as a 5 to start since that's what I was 4 years ago when I stopped playing. I refuse to sandbag, whether others do it or not.
Yes you are correct, in a perfect world. The rules are written as though everyone will play fair and I'm sure we both know that's rarely the case. It's not poorly designed and it is well intentioned but whether or not it works well is debatable. There always those that try to manipulate it and some are successful, and some just whine about it. I suppose it's reasonably as fair as it can be. I do believe it to be convoluted but I suppose it has to be that way to be kept top-secret.
Congrats sir! Putting in the work and learning strategy will skyrocket you in the APA... I started to play some excellent players gambling towards the end of my APA run and I moved to a 7 in 9 and 8 ball pretty quickly after being stagnant as a 6 for a while. My 9 ball ranking move came after I beat a SL7 player 20-0 in a match... if you haven't done it, I'll tell you it was the 2nd most gratifying thing that happened to me in the league. The first, of course, was the free trip to Vegas and all the extra money it generated 
Considering that in the 8 ball nationals they get 500+ teams competing and only one or two get disqualified for sandbagging, I'd say it works as it is intended.
IMO most complaints of sandbagging are nothing more than sour grapes because someone loses a match to a lower handicapped player.
The night I played twice was in a local money league for point based 9ball. It was the final match and we had a 50/50 in regular session. So a sudden death match was needed and both team can put up any player in their team for the sudden death match.
I have a few nights that I got so frustrated and thought about quitting the league, I didn't and I'm having more fun these days. So keep practicing and having fun. :thumbup:
Congrats, KoolKiller!
I've been a SL5 for just shy of 2 years now, and I'm looking forward to moving up to SL6 as well. (Sadly, I'm not improving much lately, and it doesn't appear that I will make it by the goal I set for myself....though I shall not give up!
Do you have many 7's in your division?
It's actually tough to move to a 7 unless you're beating some. I've been a 6 forever and while people complain that I should be a 7, for some reason I haven't gone up. I figure just play and the handicap will sort itself out eventually.
We only have one 7 in out division and we play primarily on 9 footers. Going to 7 footers feels like shooters marbles into the ocean.
It's actually tough to move to a 7 unless you're beating some. I've been a 6 forever and while people complain that I should be a 7, for some reason I haven't gone up. I figure just play and the handicap will sort itself out eventually.
We only have one 7 in out division and we play primarily on 9 footers. Going to 7 footers feels like shooters marbles into the ocean.
Thanks. In my area I do see some players sandbagging in order to get a trip to Vegas. I myself was beaten by a "3" in city wide who ran two straight racks on me in 8ball. In one night I watched a true 6 level player who is rated at 4 that night, trying to lose to go down to 3. The problem was the other player, an honest average 4, but rated at 5 that night, was having an awful shooting night. It was so funny when I saw the sandbagger intentionally missed an easy shot, and then put a "pissed off" impression on this face, and tried shaking his head to pretend he was trying so "hard". I lost all my respect to that player...
wow, 20-0 on a SL7, that's a hell of achievement.
The best i've done so far is 18-2 and that was against a SL3. I think he basically gave up the match when I was close to win
The best i've done so far is 18-2 and that was against a SL3. I think he basically gave up the match when I was close to win
Congrats sir! Putting in the work and learning strategy will skyrocket you in the APA... I started to play some excellent players gambling towards the end of my APA run and I moved to a 7 in 9 and 8 ball pretty quickly after being stagnant as a 6 for a while. My 9 ball ranking move came after I beat a SL7 player 20-0 in a match... if you haven't done it, I'll tell you it was the 2nd most gratifying thing that happened to me in the league. The first, of course, was the free trip to Vegas and all the extra money it generated
The basic idea, unfortunately, is to keep your SL as low as possible without getting caught. That way, you get a healthy spot from honest players who aren't as good as you. The sweet spot is to be ranked an SL3 when you're really an SL5. That way, you can win the really important matches and your team can go to Vegas. Sometimes, if you play your cards right, you can get a little help from the LO.
Just checked my division roster, 10 teams total with 7 SL7 players. I do know some strong 6s are better shooters than some of the weak 7s but it seems the 6s are never moved up. not sure why.
Well, if you start beating them regularly, that's your best chance of going up.
Good luck!
APA ranks players from 1 (weakest) to 9 (strongest). For some reason, men can never be an SL 1. It's all relative to the people you play against, but an SL 9 is expected to break-and-run with some (great?) regularity. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe SL 5's should be able to run-out in 8-ball with an open table.
The formula for determining the APA handicap is a trade secret but combines your win/loss results, total innings, number of safeties ("defenses" in APA-speak) and other stuff, less-objective stuff like the LO just thinks you should be a specific level.
During a league night, each team can only put up a total SL of 23 points over five matches and only two players on a team ranked 6 and above can play on any given night.
The goal, I assume, is to make things fair and encourage lesser skilled players to actually come out and play. However, because of the skill level caps and the fact that winning teams get free rides to Vegas, people game the system to keep their SL's low (sandbagging). I think sandbagging is a waste of time, personally (play to win or go home), but I don't like Las Vegas very much and only play APA because it's about all we have in my area.