APA rating system

Surly

Surly

This is it.
Silver Member
Does anyone know exactly what the criteria are to qualify for each rating level? I'm completely in the dark about this.

The last thing I want is to enter the APA at the lowest rating - is there anyway I can rate my own performance to see how I'm progressing and when I'm good enough to enter at least one level above the bottom. Would that be SL2? I'm female, btw.
 
you play your first match as a SL3, and depending on the results of that it goes from there. If you lose your first match for the most part you go down one handicap. But if you win you would probably stay a 3 unless you had a couple break and runs or something...
 
Surly said:
Does anyone know exactly what the criteria are to qualify for each rating level? I'm completely in the dark about this.

The last thing I want is to enter the APA at the lowest rating - is there anyway I can rate my own performance to see how I'm progressing and when I'm good enough to enter at least one level above the bottom. Would that be SL2? I'm female, btw.
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The APA's handicap system is a trade secret. Only the APA knows exactly how SL's are assigned.

Now to the second part of your post..APA skill levels go from 2 to 7 in eight ball and from 1 to 9 in nine ball.

Here's the eight ball levels and handicap:

Skill Levels:
2 3 4 5 6 7
2 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6 2/7
3 3/2 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6
4 4/2 3/2 3/3 3/4 3/5 2/5
5 5/2 4/2 4/3 4/4 4/5 3/5
6 6/2 5/2 5/3 5/4 5/5 4/5
7 7/2 6/2 5/2 5/3 5/4 5/5

Here's the nine ball SL's and handicap:

Skill Level Points needed to win match
1 14
2 19
3 25
4 31
5 38
6 46
7 55
8 65
9 75

Fats
 
Thanks you guys. I went to the National APA site (as opposed to the local one) and found out what I needed to know.

I simply have to win. :)
 
Surly said:
Does anyone know exactly what the criteria are to qualify for each rating level? I'm completely in the dark about this.

The last thing I want is to enter the APA at the lowest rating - is there anyway I can rate my own performance to see how I'm progressing and when I'm good enough to enter at least one level above the bottom. Would that be SL2? I'm female, btw.
Click to expand...

The formula is a proprietary secret belonging to the APA. The best way to find out what you "might" be is to play a few people who are in the league already at the level you want to be at and see how you match up.

There are some general indicators like if you can usually only run three open balls, you're about a three, if you can usually only run four open balls, you're about a four, etc, but this is very general and the pressure and environment can change things quite a bit.

When I was a team captain, I would always tell new players that it takes 4-5 matches to get comfortable enough to play your normal speed, and it'll take about ten matches to get a somewhat accurate handicap, so be a little ready for a rough start, but otherwise, find a team with people that you know you're going to like hanging out with and jump in.

Even if you are an SL2, there are thousands of teams that would still love to have you on the roster!:D

Good Luck! :D
 
Thank you, T. But I don't want to be the player who steps up and half the team goes to the bar because I'm so boring.

I went to league night a few weeks ago, and it seemed that 2 SL2 women were playing each other and it was agony to watch. There was a guy on the team who was an 'instructor' of some local note, and he was showing them how to make certain shots... agony, I tell ya. I guess I have tooooo much pride...
 
Surly...Swallow your pride, and take a private lesson from a qualified PROFESSIONAL instructor...not some local guy who fancies himself a teacher. This will jumpstart your game, and put you on the right path, to reaching the skill level you say you want to achieve.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Surly said:
Thank you, T. But I don't want to be the player who steps up and half the team goes to the bar because I'm so boring.

I went to league night a few weeks ago, and it seemed that 2 SL2 women were playing each other and it was agony to watch. There was a guy on the team who was an 'instructor' of some local note, and he was showing them how to make certain shots... agony, I tell ya. I guess I have tooooo much pride...
Click to expand...
 
Surly said:
Thank you, T. But I don't want to be the player who steps up and half the team goes to the bar because I'm so boring.

I went to league night a few weeks ago, and it seemed that 2 SL2 women were playing each other and it was agony to watch. There was a guy on the team who was an 'instructor' of some local note, and he was showing them how to make certain shots... agony, I tell ya. I guess I have tooooo much pride...
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I actually find league matches far more interesting to watch than most pro matches. You never know what is going to happen! lol

If you're comfortable posting over a hundred times here on AZ, you shouldn't have any hangups about what four or five people might think.

Seriously though, the coolest thing in the world is to see someone start something and get better at it as time goes on. It doesn't matter where they started. We all had to start somewhere. There's no such thing as being born with ability. It's only practice and time.

If you're not on a team now, you probably only have a week or two to decide.

How can someone be shy AND surly?
 
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Surly said:
Does anyone know exactly what the criteria are to qualify for each rating level? I'm completely in the dark about this.

The last thing I want is to enter the APA at the lowest rating - is there anyway I can rate my own performance to see how I'm progressing and when I'm good enough to enter at least one level above the bottom. Would that be SL2? I'm female, btw.
Click to expand...

Forget about the rating IMO. I think most teams would love to have a low rated player that is embarassed upon bad play and wants to improve. That is a great asset to any team. Jump in!! Have fun, and make sure the team members are enjoyable to be around....you're going to be around them for a while!! Good luck

td
 
Surly said:
Thank you, T. But I don't want to be the player who steps up and half the team goes to the bar because I'm so boring.

I went to league night a few weeks ago, and it seemed that 2 SL2 women were playing each other and it was agony to watch. There was a guy on the team who was an 'instructor' of some local note, and he was showing them how to make certain shots... agony, I tell ya. I guess I have tooooo much pride...
Click to expand...

surly,
move to the atlanta area - please! i have two 8 and two 9 ball teams that'll take ya in heart beat. low sl players that actually want to kick a*s!! that's what i dream of at night.
 
Thanks T, grindz, and jrt30004... I won't let you down!

I do have the obsess... I mean ambition to be a very good player. Unfortunately, I don't have the means to play 6 hours a day like I'd like. I don't think I've ever walked away from a pool table willingly... life and people get in the way...

Thanks again for the big boost.
 
Surly, I spent a good year playing 8-ball in the APA as a SL 2...and yes there were some painful matches that just didn't seem to end....where I felt guilty subjecting my teammates to such horrible pool. But I was lucky to have a couple experienced players on my team who took an interest in my matches, and I improved quickly.

Now when I kick butt, people come up to me and say, "wow, I remember when you could barely make a ball. You just kicked my a$$." Its very satisfying.

There are some teams that will put you on their roster so they can have a SL2 to stay under the handicap limit. They will tell you its your turn to play, and help you if you call a time out, but the rest of the time they're at the bar, checking their watches, waiting for the "real" pool to start. ...some of them will not want you to improve because they may not be sandbaggers, but they don't want you to go up either, because then they will have too many points. I've been fortunate not to be on those teams, but I've seen it.

So, if you're clear about your goals and the kind of support you're looking for from your teammates, I think that actually getting in and competing is probably one of the best ways to get better if your obses...I mean ambitious to be a very good player. :-)

I hope you go for it...
 
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Troublemaker said:
There are some teams that will put you on their roster so they can have a SL2 to stay under the handicap limit. They will tell you its your turn to play, and help you if you call a time out, but the rest of the time they're at the bar, checking their watches, waiting for the "real" pool to start. ...some of them will not want you to improve because they may not be sandbaggers, but they don't want you to go up either, because then they will have too many points. I've been fortunate not to be on those teams, but I've seen it.



surly,
troublemaker is dead on. don't let the above story happen to you. my girlfriend spent a year on a team that taught her nothing. she was the sacrificial lamb. we met when i joined her team and have been dating for eight months and i got her on a few other teams. now she can whip just about anybody (minus the 7) on our old team that we just quit. she's even won two handicapped tournaments (knocking me out of one of them - damn 5 to 2 race) and it's all beacuse i've gotten her with people who teach and show how things should be done. when you pick a team make sure they are teaching you. if they won't, start talking to other teams until you find a team that wants you to get better as much as you want to get better.
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Surly,
Make sure you talk to your potential team captain about his attitude towards winning matches BEFORE you join up. Troublemaker mentioned sandbaggers, and many team captains promote that philosophy. They will want you to keep your rank low. Instead of becoming a very good pool player, you will become a very good cheater. Which do you prefer?
I joined APA over 4 yrs ago as a SL4. I stopped playing as a SL6 after the Spring session this year. My team captain never asked me to sandbag because I told him from the first day that I wanted to be a SL7. I tried to win every match I ever played. Eventually, I got cut from the team after 4 years because we were too top-heavy with SL's. Haven't played APA since, but I don't regret becoming a SL6, that's for sure! I joined to get better, and that's what happened.
Good luck, and stick to your guns!
F4P
 
Scott Lee said:
Surly...Swallow your pride, and take a private lesson from a qualified PROFESSIONAL instructor...not some local guy who fancies himself a teacher. This will jumpstart your game, and put you on the right path, to reaching the skill level you say you want to achieve.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...


Scott is right on the money.

Your better off learning it right in the beginning then spending years fixing your stroke.

Pete
 
lol

Surly said:
Thanks you guys. I went to the National APA site (as opposed to the local one) and found out what I needed to know.

I simply have to win. :)
Click to expand...


NO YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LOSE.....

IF YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY APA, AND BE SUCCESSFUL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO LOSE EFFECTIVELY.

IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND HAVE FUN THATS OKAY TOO, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO WIN, YOU MUST, AND I SAY AGAIN, YOU MUST LEARN AND MANIULATE THE SKILL LEVELS EFFECTIVELY.

FOR ANYONE TO SAY OTHERWISE, IS VERY NAIVE.

I AM SL3 IN 8 BALL.....WANNA PLAY SOME?

KEN
 
Ken_4fun said:
NO YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LOSE.....

IF YOU ARE GOING TO PLAY APA, AND BE SUCCESSFUL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO LOSE EFFECTIVELY.

IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND HAVE FUN THATS OKAY TOO, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO WIN, YOU MUST, AND I SAY AGAIN, YOU MUST LEARN AND MANIULATE THE SKILL LEVELS EFFECTIVELY.

FOR ANYONE TO SAY OTHERWISE, IS VERY NAIVE.

I AM SL3 IN 8 BALL.....WANNA PLAY SOME?

KEN
Click to expand...

Thanks for being part of the solution.
 
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