Doubles Tournaments

336Robin

Multiverse Operative
Silver Member
This has been a question of mine for awhile because I like the idea of Doubles Tournaments but when you consider you have to handicap them that makes for some problems.

How would you handle a Doubles Event?
 
Why do you have to handicap them? Just play them - double elimination is always best but go with whatever format you use for singles.
 
To Handicap or Not

Well you have money involved in entries and payouts so money is an issue so handicapping becomes one.

I would guess you could charge a dollar and then let people play for spots on a skill ladder or give the a prize but not sure how many would play.


Why do you have to handicap them? Just play them - double elimination is always best but go with whatever format you use for singles.
 
Ever think of letting pairs of players enter as partners and doing a blind draw. Players become invested in the tournament - if you have a small number this time you might have more next time.
 
doubles

Why do you have to handicap them? Just play them - double elimination is always best but go with whatever format you use for singles.

An obvious problem arises if two players in any given locale are considerably better than the rest of the field. Without some sort of handicap, you might not get many entries.

Some possible ways to handicap:

A game on the wire.

Use equitable league averages (such as BCAPL or ACS) and have 9s pair up with only players of say 7 or less.

Play trailer breaks.

Have separate events for A players, B players, etc.

Don't allow the same team to win two events in a row (winners sit out the next event).

I've always loved team competition. I've played in 5, 4, 3 and 2-player events. Why do I love team play? I've always been a fan of cooperation rather than simply individual domination. For me there's little more satisfying in pool than working together and sharing success with teammates!
 
I played in a scotch doubles tournament a few weeks ago at chandley's and it was handicapped. No team could have more than 10 apa points.I'm not apa but I have a handicap from house tournament's. Then in a race to two format you are allowed a set number of losses per your team handicap. It seemed fair and was plenty of fun. Hope this helps.
 
We do it locally by assigning people to A or B class (in reality, it's just the top half and bottom half of players, subjectively decided) and then blind drawing pairs, one from A and one from B. That's for a "for fun" tournament. For more serious doubles, people can choose partners and there's no handicap.
 
Exactly

We do it locally by assigning people to A or B class (in reality, it's just the top half and bottom half of players, subjectively decided) and then blind drawing pairs, one from A and one from B. That's for a "for fun" tournament. For more serious doubles, people can choose partners and there's no handicap.

I think you are right, probably for fun and participation. If people are having fun that should count for something.

I played in a scotch doubles tournament a few weeks ago at chandley's and it was handicapped. No team could have more than 10 apa points.I'm not apa but I have a handicap from house tournament's. Then in a race to two format you are allowed a set number of losses per your team handicap. It seemed fair and was plenty of fun. Hope this helps.

This is what I was talking about. I think that tournament was great. I guess the reason I was fishing for ideas was in hopes to find a way to be able to open a similar event up to anyone regardless of skill level. That might not be possible but Id like to try.

An obvious problem arises if two players in any given locale are considerably better than the rest of the field. Without some sort of handicap, you might not get many entries.

Some possible ways to handicap:

A game on the wire.

Use equitable league averages (such as BCAPL or ACS) and have 9s pair up with only players of say 7 or less.

Play trailer breaks.

Have separate events for A players, B players, etc.

Don't allow the same team to win two events in a row (winners sit out the next event).

I've always loved team competition. I've played in 5, 4, 3 and 2-player events. Why do I love team play? I've always been a fan of cooperation rather than simply individual domination. For me there's little more satisfying in pool than working together and sharing success with teammates!

Exactly team play is a lot of fun and maybe that's the way to deal with it if you are going to create an event that everyone will be able to get in regardless of handicap. By putting luck of the draw into it that helps. Thanks
 
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