My first APA game tonight.

APA Operator said:
Maybe I can help. A safety is a legal shot attempted for defensive purposes. Intentional fouls (picking up the cue ball and handing it to your opponent, directly pocketing an opponent's ball in 8-Ball, directly pocketing the cheese in 9-Ball when it's hanging in the pocket and you can't see your object ball, etc.) are not considered safeties, but are defensive plays.
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But people say "defense" out loud when playing a legal shot for defensive purposes, that's my peeve (admittedly slight). They usually do not say anything when they pick up the cue ball (a much larger peeve, suitable for its own thread) or intentionally hit the wrong ball; people just mark the defense because it's quite obvious.

APA players also say "defense" instead of "safe" in non-APA leagues and tournaments. (Still a very small pet-peeve.)

As I said, it's a small pet-peeve of mine and in no way detracts from my enjoyment of pool. Since the scorekeepers know what to do when I say "safe" it has yet to be an issue.
 
krupa said:
But people say "defense" out loud when playing a legal shot for defensive purposes, that's my peeve (admittedly slight). They usually do not say anything when they pick up the cue ball (a much larger peeve, suitable for its own thread) or intentionally hit the wrong ball; people just mark the defense because it's quite obvious.

APA players also say "defense" instead of "safe" in non-APA leagues and tournaments. (Still a very small pet-peeve.)

As I said, it's a small pet-peeve of mine and in no way detracts from my enjoyment of pool. Since the scorekeepers know what to do when I say "safe" it has yet to be an issue.
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For all intents or purposes, the terms are interchangeable, at least in APA.... Just say "safe".... I do, usually. And we don't even need to say it anyway, by the rules.... I usually do, but don't get cranked when folks don't.

Defensive shots don't get marked properly most of the time, regardless, sadly.
 
BrokeStroke said:
Keep an eye out for that guy that can barely hold the cue and claims to have played a pro for money and won. He is usually the first one to thump a rule book in your face when he doesn't understand why he has to get the cue ball to another rail when the object ball is frozen. :p
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This pretty much sums up the APA.

Great post.
 
whammo57 said:
You'll meet a lot of very nice people and a few asssss holes, about the same percentage as anywhere else.

Play every game to win ........ no exceptions... always. If your SL goes up you'll just have to play better.

Defensive wins as many games as offense.

Learn the rules. There are some funny ones.

Learn how to keep score and take your turn at keeping it.

Teams need 2's and 3's. Don't get discouraged. It took me 30 years and a million shots before I could play well.

Remember.... someone loses every match.

Don't have sex with anyone on your team. Don't have sex with anyone's wife on your team. If you're gay, then twist it around to fit the situation. Other teams are fair game.

Beer makes you shoot pool better. I drink before every match. I leave the table to get another beer during the match. It drives your opponent crazy, especially if they are losing. I am a SL6 and I win 67% of my matches.

Kim
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More good safety tips, especially the sex thing but sometimes it can't be helped. Oh, and make sure to take several pee breaks during your match, they love that!
 
Right before the match starts . . .

Just look your opponent square in the eye . . . and act just the slightest bit drunk . . . and say, "I ain't played this game much . . . BUT I am armed, and I REALLY don't like to lose. So let's lag it and see what happens."
 
plainbutt said:
Any tricks on how to remember to do this? I get so focused on making the shot I forget to mark it.
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I don't know if i have any foolproof hints, other than perhaps to put your marker on the table (not the pool table, the place where you put your drinks, keep score, etc) so that its in plain sight.

If its really that difficult to remember, ask one of your teammates to say it every time it comes up, until it becomes a habit.

I don't understand all the angst over this issue. Pretty much everyone has to call the pocket the 8 is going into, in most any version of the rules I've ever heard of. This is just a small extension of that rule, no doubt designed to eliminate any questions.

(Given the scope that APA manages, and the level of sophistication, or lack thereof sometimes, this seems an easy fix for potential issues. Remember gang, probably half or more of these players aren't "regular" pool players...and won't necessarily know the customs, culture and etiquette of the game.)

It shouldn't be as big a deal as many here try to make it.
 
whammo57 said:
You'll meet a lot of very nice people and a few asssss holes, about the same percentage as anywhere else.

Play every game to win ........ no exceptions... always. If your SL goes up you'll just have to play better.

Defensive wins as many games as offense.

Learn the rules. There are some funny ones.

Learn how to keep score and take your turn at keeping it.

Teams need 2's and 3's. Don't get discouraged. It took me 30 years and a million shots before I could play well.

Remember.... someone loses every match.

Don't have sex with anyone on your team. Don't have sex with anyone's wife on your team. If you're gay, then twist it around to fit the situation. Other teams are fair game.

Beer makes you shoot pool better. I drink before every match. I leave the table to get another beer during the match. It drives your opponent crazy, especially if they are losing. I am a SL6 and I win 67% of my matches.

Kim
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great advice green for this and cause it was funny but true
 
plainbutt said:
Any tricks on how to remember to do this? I get so focused on making the shot I forget to mark it.
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The opposing team will always remind you. After you've shot. Then they get ball in hand, amazingly with no apparent guilt. :cool:
 
thanks for all the info. Unfortionaltly my nerves he firing and I wasn't use to the fast tables. I lost the mach 2-2 because i scratched both times when I had the match won and gave a run to the opponent. Frustrating.:mad: Now the butterflies are gone and I assure you it won't happen again.

However I looked at the competition I was facing I think I will do quite well in the league. should end up with a 5 handicap in 8-ball by the end of the season.
 
americanfighter said:
thanks for all the info. Unfortionaltly my nerves he firing and I wasn't use to the fast tables. I lost the mach 2-2 because i scratched both times when I had the match won and gave a run to the opponent. Frustrating.:mad: Now the butterflies are gone and I assure you it won't happen again.

However I looked at the competition I was facing I think I will do quite well in the league. should end up with a 5 handicap in 8-ball by the end of the season.
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Something to keep in mind, in pool as well as most things in life, it is never over until it's over. I hate to tell you, but you will lose again, perhaps not the same way but we all loose from time to time for various reasons.

Have fun in league and good luck in your future matches.
 
lost

I also played last night and lost. A 5 -5 race and I lost 2 to 5.

I shoot better than my opponent but he safed me to death. He is very good at it.

Defensive shots are key to success in the APA.

Kim
 
I had forgotten about those first session nerves, and you will too. Best of luck next match.
 
AlinEdm said:
I had forgotten about those first session nerves, and you will too. Best of luck next match.
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This ^^^. :thumbup:

I still get nerves up some, more in anticipation now though. We have our 9-ball match tonight, really looking forward to it.

Good luck! (to all of us)
 
APA Operator said:
Maybe I can help. A safety is a legal shot attempted for defensive purposes. Intentional fouls (picking up the cue ball and handing it to your opponent, directly pocketing an opponent's ball in 8-Ball, directly pocketing the cheese in 9-Ball when it's hanging in the pocket and you can't see your object ball, etc.) are not considered safeties, but are defensive plays.
Click to expand...


Actually they are one and the same. It seems that people from the North East and deep south refer to safeties as defensive shots/plays more frequently.
 
Yeah, I took my first loss for Summer session this week. Lost 4-3 and had to really grind it out to win 3. Absolutely nothing was going my way. It's my first session back in over 4 years, but glad i am back playing pool. League is fun, just ignore the a-holes, some of witch may be on your team....
 
Not a league player, but this thread prompts a question...

With all the sex & drinking happening...

Does anyone play pool???

Kind of wonder the same after watching those
"sharks" episodes on youtube...
 
krupa said:
But people say "defense" out loud when playing a legal shot for defensive purposes, that's my peeve (admittedly slight). They usually do not say anything when they pick up the cue ball (a much larger peeve, suitable for its own thread) or intentionally hit the wrong ball; people just mark the defense because it's quite obvious.

APA players also say "defense" instead of "safe" in non-APA leagues and tournaments. (Still a very small pet-peeve.)

As I said, it's a small pet-peeve of mine and in no way detracts from my enjoyment of pool. Since the scorekeepers know what to do when I say "safe" it has yet to be an issue.
Click to expand...

They say "defense" because on the score sheet you're supposed to mark all defensive shots. It's just a reminder to put a mark in the "defense" column.
 
pwd72s said:
Not a league player, but this thread prompts a question...

With all the sex & drinking happening...

Does anyone play pool???

Kind of wonder the same after watching those
"sharks" episodes on youtube...
Click to expand...

I really enjoy my league, and the people that play in it, but there aren't many participants that I want to imagine in that mode.....:thumbup:

Tho there are a couple....:p
 
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