APA Masters League ? WTF???

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
I was always under the impression that the APA Masters Leagues were intended for the higher skill-leveled players that needed a more competitive league for their skills, and so the "23" rule couldn't affect their play. I had once thought that it took a skill level of 7 to be able to play in this league. Two of the bars that I shoot eight and nine-ball leagues out of have formed a Masters League. They both have fielded six teams each, which affords them both to qualify for an "in-house" league. The problem is that while browsing the local APA website, I find that teams from both of these bars have players on their rosters that have a smattering of SL2's, SL3's, up to SL6's, with a FEW SL7's on them. What is so "MASTER" about this league :confused: ??? It just looks like any normal 'ol league night rosters with the exception of a different playing format. I was asked if I wanted to play in this league and me being a SL5, I didn't feel good enough to play in a league that has the word MASTERS affixed to it. What gives here? I'll tell you what I think. I think that the two respective bar owners have figured out a way to sell more alcohol on a usual "off night" on top of the fact that four more teams have yet another opportunity to go to Vegas. What do y'all think? And, what constitutes a "Masters" league in your area of the country?

Maniac
 
There's no handicaps in APA Masters. It's just straight races.

And yes, I imagine it's geared toward the stronger players, but there's no minimum skill/ability level required to participate.

If there are SL3s who want to play in a Masters league, let'em. Likely they'll get chewed up, but it's their nickel. If they're having fun (which is the primary reason most folks play APA), who cares?
 
We have just started the Master's league here. There are 6 teams, and the lowest player is a 5. Most of the players are regular Valley AA or A1 league players, that would not give APA the time of day due to the skill level limits. There are no "minimum" skill level limits, as there are no skill level limits at all in the APA Masters league. However, if you expect to win the league, you better have a strong lineup.
 
The bar owners have nothing to do with it

The masters division in APA has been going on for some time now across the country I believe.
I played in ours a couple years ago. There were all different skill levels in the division. I believe its the players decision and right to chose what night and what division they want to play in. For whatever their reason, they chose to play against the heavy hitters.
Yeah, its nice to not give the weight, but its not right(imo) to exclude them just because they are not as good as you.
 
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Maniac said:
[...] And, what constitutes a "Masters" league in your area of the country?

Maniac
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Well we don't do APA. But Tuesday night is the "masters" league here, and that seems to mean a couple things:

1. you can't complain about players or teams being "too good."
2. you don't care for trophys or banquets or other frills

Anyone may play, but it tends --in APA lingo--to be made up of 7's and 6's and maybe a few 5's.

....Oh, and at least half the players will match up for cheap if you show up a little early or stick around.
 
I think the Masters part refers to both

1- something nonhandicapped for the better players and
2- Their Masters tourney each year in Vegas.

The Masters event in Vegas has always been VERY popular. Its never been handicapped but did recently change its format to that like the
US Amateur.
 
The Masters League here in N.C. everyone of all skill levels are welcome..The rules are different...They lag for the break and the winner can choose between 8-ball or 9-ball as thier choice of game. Then the winner thereafter gets choice of the game of either 8 or 9-ball and they race to 7...Of course many places in the country don't have enough good players to accomidate this league...I think it definitely gets the right competitive juices flowing for getting better...
 
tigerseye said:
The Masters League here in N.C. everyone of all skill levels are welcome..The rules are different...They lag for the break and the winner can choose between 8-ball or 9-ball as thier choice of game. Then the winner thereafter gets choice of the game of either 8 or 9-ball and they race to 7...Of course many places in the country don't have enough good players to accomidate this league...I think it definitely gets the right competitive juices flowing for getting better...
Click to expand...

Ours, winner of the lag chooses to break or pick game type. The format is 5 games of 8 ball, 8 games of 9 ball. Once a game type is determined, it is played out....ie if you pick 9 ball we play until one of us wins 7 games, or until we reach 8 games, then we switch to 8 ball and play that til someone has 7 wins.
 
Here in the nor cal (south bay league) there was a weak attempt to run a masters league. Unfortunately due to lack of interest (I guess) it was disbanded in mid-season. No refunds also...:D
 
A good friend of mine asked me to play on his league team on thursday nights. I said yes with out asking about the league other than if it was a money league.

I show up two weeks ago and find out it's APA. I thought "UH, OH!" as I don't like handicapped play due to sandbagging, low level of play, etc. I have never played in an APA league before.

It was then explained that this is a master's league with no handicaps.

My first two weeks I won my matches 7-1 and 7-0. Come to find out, my opponents were SL6-7's in regular handicapped APA league and had moved up to the master's due to the 23 rule. My entire team has lost a total of 7 games in the 6 matches we have played in two weeks.

Looking around the room, it appears that there are about 20 teams in the league. I am really surprised at the low level of play for a "master's league".

I will say this, the people who play in the league are very avid players as I see most of them playing every night I'm at the pool room.

Stones
 
Stones said:
A good friend of mine asked me to play on his league team on thursday nights. I said yes with out asking about the league other than if it was a money league.

I show up two weeks ago and find out it's APA. I thought "UH, OH!" as I don't like handicapped play due to sandbagging, low level of play, etc. I have never played in an APA league before.

It was then explained that this is a master's league with no handicaps.

My first two weeks I won my matches 7-1 and 7-0. Come to find out, my opponents were SL6-7's in regular handicapped APA league and had moved up to the master's due to the 23 rule. My entire team has lost a total of 7 games in the 6 matches we have played in two weeks.

Looking around the room, it appears that there are about 20 teams in the league. I am really surprised at the low level of play for a "master's league".

I will say this, the people who play in the league are very avid players as I see most of them playing every night I'm at the pool room.

Stones
Click to expand...

It's not that they are so bad, it's just that you are so good!
 
Developing Skills!

Stones said:
A good friend of mine asked me to play on his league team on thursday nights. I said yes with out asking about the league other than if it was a money league.

I show up two weeks ago and find out it's APA. I thought "UH, OH!" as I don't like handicapped play due to sandbagging, low level of play, etc. I have never played in an APA league before.

It was then explained that this is a master's league with no handicaps.

My first two weeks I won my matches 7-1 and 7-0. Come to find out, my opponents were SL6-7's in regular handicapped APA league and had moved up to the master's due to the 23 rule. My entire team has lost a total of 7 games in the 6 matches we have played in two weeks.

Looking around the room, it appears that there are about 20 teams in the league. I am really surprised at the low level of play for a "master's league".

I will say this, the people who play in the league are very avid players as I see most of them playing every night I'm at the pool room.

Stones
Click to expand...

They got to learn how to rack before thay learn how to play!!! I know I did!!!
You get sick of losing and learn how to win!!!
Dan
 
Masters League is Great!

Here in Raleigh NC we play the format described above and in the eight ball portion, it's call pockets. All on 9' tables. We have the most of the best local players playing in this format, and it really does help you improve your game by playing better players. One of the Raleigh teams won the Vegas Masters format last year. Another one came in third, I think.

Anyway, its a great format and we have a lot of fun with very good competition around here.

Vee
 
I played in Masters

B4IFURU18 said:
Here in the nor cal (south bay league) there was a weak attempt to run a masters league. Unfortunately due to lack of interest (I guess) it was disbanded in mid-season. No refunds also...:D
Click to expand...

I played in that Masters league.
It was open to any skill level, but the main reason it was formed...is because many of the high skill level players faced skill cap problems on their former/other teams. Another nice thing about the Masters, was being able to play both 8 and 9 ball in one night.

The main reason the Masters league fell apart was people's schedules.

It's good preparation for APA's U.S. Amateur Championships.
 
Gregg said:
It's not that they are so bad, it's just that you are so good!
Click to expand...

For a blind ol' fart, I can still hold my own! We can match up if we ever run into each other. LOL

My intention was not to pound my chest but concern on the level of play in a "Master's division". This is, of course, on a local level. I'm sure there is a huge difference at the national level just like the BCA.

Most of the players on the teams I've played are excellent shot makers as far as putting the ball in the pocket but very poor in thinking ahead and safety play is nonexistent.

These players are hungry to learn as after my two matches, members of the other teams asked me to show them why I played a few shots the way I did.

One shot I was asked about was where the object ball was on the rail but to get position on the next ball was tough if I cut the ball straight down the rail. I decided to play what I call a two dimensional shot by cross railing the ball to get easier shape and if I missed the bank, I get safe but if I make it, I'm out. They said they had never seen this or even thought about it before.

The two guys I showed this to, lit out to an open table, started practicing the shot and yapping away. A few minutes later, the waitress brought me a drink on them. Nice bunch of guys!

Stones
 
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