APA 9 Ball Players...What's your handicap

What's your APA 9 ball Handicap

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basketcase

basketcase

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I'm kinda new to the forum here and I just wanted to get a gauge on the level of talent that is here. Also, how do you feel about the 9-ball handicapping system. Basically if you are an SL9 do you feel that more you have a fair chance to beat an established SL1 and vice versa.
 
Sometimes I wonder

Interesting thread

92 Views

8 are 6 handicap or less

9 are 7 handicap or higher 4 of which are 9 handicap

out of 17 votes 4 are 9 handicap

In the APA only about 1.5 to 2% are 9 handicap:slap:
 
I am a five in 9 ball due to the fact that I crossed over to 9 ball from 8 ball and carried my rank with me. I usually let my teammates play so they have a more hands on feel for the game. I captain a DJ team on Mondays and 8 ball on Tuesdays. I play mostly 8ball in league and get my 4 in 9 ball. I like to play non league 9 ball more, so I do play when I can. I am trying some new games to me, as in 1p and banks. 1p pisses me off and I like banks. Just have to learn how, I guess.

Dwight
 
as long as everybody that has voted is telling the truth, I'm impressed with the level of talent in this forum. I play out of Louisville, KY where there are probably less than five SLP handicaps and seeing the amount of SL9's that are in here that is pretty stout! Not bad guys!
 
I haven't played APA since 2004 but am a 6/6 in 9ball and 8ball in socal which is not bad....those guys out there can really play
 
Just finished my first session of 9ball. Was a 7 in 8ball so to be courteous my first match my captain played me as a 7. By the middle of the session I was a 9 and stayed there as I didn't lose a match. Just like playing another 9, you have to play the bottom ratings...and even tougher middle ratings...with the same urgency. Safeties when necessary and get out when you have the chance. If you keep leaving balls in the pocket eventually there will get close to winning.
 
basketcase said:
I'm kinda new to the forum here and I just wanted to get a gauge on the level of talent that is here. Also, how do you feel about the 9-ball handicapping system. Basically if you are an SL9 do you feel that more you have a fair chance to beat an established SL1 and vice versa.
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I have bounced around between a 7 and an 8 for the last few years. I am just now trying to get back into playing seriously and just went back up to an 8.

I really like the APA rating system because it makes it much harder to beat a lower level player; particularly a 1 - 3. It really makes you concentrate and ensure that you play safeties if you don't have a shot. Against higher level players, it is generally whoever runs the table first with that one well timed safety that wins. And, of course, who is breaking better.

As an SL8 I do not want to play a 1, they have a huge advantage because they can luck in a few balls here and there and end up beating me.

Although I would prefer to play SL5's and above, I will play any Skill Level. I just have to play a little smarter against SL3's and below.

In 8 ball it is totally different. The handicap does not mean near as much as it does in 9 ball.

Just my thoughts.
 
Never Played APA..

so I don't know what any of those numbers mean... and from what I gather neither does the APA LOL

I want to be a #1 player so I voted SL1..
 
I am an APA 7 and 9, but if you are looking to see if that is determiner of talent on this forum you are aiming a bit low. I don't think because someone is a 9 in APA 9 ball that they have to play any good comparative to some of the "real" talent this forum has to offer.

I guess in the end "talent" is subjective.

What I am trying to say is that this forum has some players on here with the ability to well surpass your average 9 in the APA.

2 cents!

girlwon1
 
JDB said:
I have bounced around between a 7 and an 8 for the last few years. I am just now trying to get back into playing seriously and just went back up to an 8.

I really like the APA rating system because it makes it much harder to beat a lower level player; particularly a 1 - 3. It really makes you concentrate and ensure that you play safeties if you don't have a shot. Against higher level players, it is generally whoever runs the table first with that one well timed safety that wins. And, of course, who is breaking better.

As an SL8 I do not want to play a 1, they have a huge advantage because they can luck in a few balls here and there and end up beating me.

Although I would prefer to play SL5's and above, I will play any Skill Level. I just have to play a little smarter against SL3's and below.

In 8 ball it is totally different. The handicap does not mean near as much as it does in 9 ball.

Just my thoughts.
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I am a skill level 8 and I find that the opposite is true in my matches. I would rather play an established 1 or 2 over a 4, 5 or 6. Yeah you are giving up a lot more weight and a 1 or 2 can luck in a few balls but as long as you are controlling the table well it's A LOT easier to protect a lead against a lower skill level player. They are easier to play safes against--sometimes just leaving a lot of distance between the balls can be a safety against those players. When you play a decent 4 or 5 they are much more likely to run 3 or 4 balls a rack and that's all they need to beat you.

When i first started playing APA 9-ball I thought I would not like it because the objective seemed to be a little different than traditional 9-ball but it ended up really helping my game. It taught me to really control the table when I didn't have clear run outs.
 
I am a 9 and a 7 in 8-ball. It took me 3 weeks to get to 7 in 8-ball (starting from a 4) and 2 weeks to get to 9 in 9-ball (starting from 7). All I did in the 2 9-ball matches was run a 3 pack in my first match and then beat an 8 55-28 in my second and then to 9 I went. Dosent take much I guess.
 
I am a SL9.

I have played a SL 1 three times that I can remember in the last few years. Its not a great matchup for any team. Anyway I won one match fairly close and then was killed 14-6. The SL1 broke and made 3 then ran 6 more points. Two were hung up and then a splash and another hung up ball. Its happens. Last one I remember playing came out much in my favor with me winning 75-2.

The toughest thing to overcome when comparing to non-APA pool is the break. Its all bar table and with the bigger pockets and closer areas bad things can happen on the break.
I also think smarter SL9s are far more dangerous than ball making SL9s when playing low rated players. You have to play the players SL and the odds in the APA.

There are many very good players here that are far better than the average SL9. However, the bar box is somewhat of an equalizer and some upsets can occur.
 
basketcase said:
I'm kinda new to the forum here and I just wanted to get a gauge on the level of talent that is here. Also, how do you feel about the 9-ball handicapping system. Basically if you are an SL9 do you feel that more you have a fair chance to beat an established SL1 and vice versa.
Click to expand...

I've seen this matchup once, and the SL 9 beat the SL 1 20 to 0. The SL 9 was good enough to either run out either time or play a good safety if the run out wasn't there. He didn't make many mistakes. Put a SL 6 or 7against a SL 1 and the 1 is probablly a favorite because the high skill level player will probablly make some mistakes and the 1 needs so few points to win. 9s don't make many mistakes.
 
When I stopped playing APA 9ball I was a 4 in 9ball and a 4 in 8ball. Then I went up to a 7 in 8ball and I haven't played apa 9ball since. So I don't know what I would be now.
 
I'm a SL5 right now but I'm probably close to moving up to a 6. My match record has been good the last two sessions, and my innings are getting fewer and fewer. I also have fared well against 6's and 7's. I had just as soon stay a 5, but I have NEVER sandbagged, not even a single shot, so I'll take whatever comes to me as far as moving up a level goes.

Maniac
 
I was a SL 9 when i played. I quite because i wasn't getting anything out of it. All the money went to the director. She would never tell us when the tournaments were to try to go to Vegas. I only played 2 sessions and will never play it again. I am sorry but its not a very good league IMO, Doug
 
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