Well I thought I would chime in on Handicapping Systems, be it the Old Arizona Rating System, Fargo, or Local System they are all designed to do one thing, try and handicap Pool Players fairly. Maybe we could design the Santa Claus Rating system, but someone would find fault with that. Truth is Pool is like life, little is fair in life to the point of making everyone happy.
First fault with both Fargo & Old Arizona Rating Systems is how can you give a proper Handicap to a Pool Player? If the local Pool Player is given Handicapped, say playing in 8 Ball tournaments only, on a Bar Box.? How is that Handicap number a true measure of the Players ability or skill if they are playing on a 4.5’ x 9.0’, playing 14/1, One Pocket, 8, 9, 10 Ball? Or 9, or 10 Ball on a Bar Box? They have never competed in?
Players receiving a new Handicap Rating are only being judged at one game 8 Ball on Bar Box. If they don’t play the other games, or on different size tables. They are stuck with being Handicapped at 8 Ball Bar Box . The Handicap number follows them what ever game they are playing, be it on a Bar Box, or Full Size Table.
Back when the Arizona Rating System was used in most of Arizona Tournaments. Most of the Tournaments were mostly 7’s, and Under, a few 8 ’s and Under. Working hard, raising your Pool rating to a “9“, was end of Tournament opportunities.
Meaning the Better Players, or Short Stop Speed Players, who had Rating of 9, 10, 10-1, or 10-2 had FEW Tournament they were allowed to play in, except mostly OPEN Tournaments.
Think this was because most on the Arizona Rating Committee moving people up or down in Arizona Rating system were Room, or Bar Owners, with few Player Members as part of rating committee. The more you won, better you got at Pool, or placed, the high in Tournaments your Rating Number rose. Closing more Tournament opportunities to you.
Then you had cases in Arizona were some stranger with good story, was good at hiding Pool speed went and got an Arizona Rating Card with a 5- 6 rating, from some person “qualified” to issue a card. Next move was to hit 3 or 4 Tournaments locally, clean house, win everything, pack up leave town before word got out, normally a road player laughing at system that failed, they beat by hiding true speed.
What Room & Bar Owner knew as rule of thumb was most of the 8’s and under were recreation players. This group of recreational players spent more money on Bar Food, and Alcohol. Those recreational players were the ones payed the Bars & Rooms bills. Table Time by the Hour, or money into the Bar Box per game was not big revenue stream. Many of the Bar Table were 25-50 Cent a Game back then. So directly or indirectly the Bar & Room owner were protecting their revenue stream, that came most from the recreational player spending money.
Today in Arizona everything is mostly Fargo Rated Tournaments, and the same as in the day of old system. The stronger, short stop speed players have few tournament to play in.
Long ago way back in time before Handicapped Tournament were all OPEN, think most of the recreational player did not do tournament because they got tire of contributing to a price fund, doing more racking then playing. Plus they had zero chance of winning or placing to get some money they paid in back.
Thus people at some point came up with Rating, or Handicap System to attract the Pool players of lessor Pool ability, looking for a opportunity to play in a tournament they had a chance of winning or placing in, made up of people with similar skill levels. All this was done just for fun, maybe have a few adult beverage drinks, or some bar food. Idea apparently worked, is still working.
Good News is for all you Pool Player who believes your great, the Derby City Classic in a few month is the opportunity to show how good or great you really are is at Derby. Competition should be great as some of the Best Pool Players on the plant will be there for you to beat. I am sure the winners of the Derby City Event will be from the same group of Pro players that seem to dominate the tournament even year. But for those “better” player complaining about no tournament to play in, the DDC is a unique opportunity.
I always enjoy watch some unknown player from middle of no where getting beat by someone like Varner, Magician, T-Rax, Dango, Alex, or one of the top pros. Always say self did that Player actually think they had a chance of winning anything? Maybe they enjoy bragging right to say they played, and got run over by some top Pro. Not my personal cup of tea, will be home in warm Arizona, on my patio every morning, enjoying my Black Coffee, and a good hand rolled Cigar.
JMHO
