Unfortunate
I am fairly new to the APA, I have 12 total matches. I am also an engineer so the mathematical aspect of the formula used was intriguing, until I made some of the following conclusions:
A player will never move up, as long as they always win their matches with the same or more innings than their "applied score". The applied score will move you close to the next level (within .1, assuming the provided link is accurate), but never into the next level.
Loosing a match in fewer innings than your applied score (you played against a higher ranked opponent or they had a good match) can adversely affect your handicap badly.
As soon as you move into a new skill level, you will quickly become stabilized at that level even by winning just one match (even if your opponent was to hand you the match by E-8s). You could go into a 5-8 week loosing stretch and not move down, while the loosing streak would statisically indicate you are not the next level. I know this is because of the combination that they use the top 50% of your scores and applied scoring to combat sandbagging, but I have already witnessed legitimate cases where this can destroy a team.
Anyhow I know its a league you choose to embrace or choose to leave - unfortunately in Evansville, there is no other option without a long drive.
-For the record, I am an APA 7 (in 8-ball) and not complaining about the format, just acknowledging from a mathematical standpoint the system can be very badly manipulated.
Cheers!
I am fairly new to the APA, I have 12 total matches. I am also an engineer so the mathematical aspect of the formula used was intriguing, until I made some of the following conclusions:
A player will never move up, as long as they always win their matches with the same or more innings than their "applied score". The applied score will move you close to the next level (within .1, assuming the provided link is accurate), but never into the next level.
Loosing a match in fewer innings than your applied score (you played against a higher ranked opponent or they had a good match) can adversely affect your handicap badly.
As soon as you move into a new skill level, you will quickly become stabilized at that level even by winning just one match (even if your opponent was to hand you the match by E-8s). You could go into a 5-8 week loosing stretch and not move down, while the loosing streak would statisically indicate you are not the next level. I know this is because of the combination that they use the top 50% of your scores and applied scoring to combat sandbagging, but I have already witnessed legitimate cases where this can destroy a team.
Anyhow I know its a league you choose to embrace or choose to leave - unfortunately in Evansville, there is no other option without a long drive.
-For the record, I am an APA 7 (in 8-ball) and not complaining about the format, just acknowledging from a mathematical standpoint the system can be very badly manipulated.
Cheers!
