APA Strategy

jeffj2h

jeffj2h

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm new to the APA this year. My entire team is new to APA as well. We do have two backup players on our team, but a core of 5 players have played each week. Our skill levels are 2,3,6,6,6.

From searching the AZB archives I see experienced APA players advising that during the playoffs if you win the toss, put up the first player. I've also seen experienced APA members in the non-playoffs make the loser of the coin toss put up first. Can anyone elaborate on why a difference in strategy?

Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.

Finally, should we build our team up to 8 players and have everyone show up each week? That seems to be more of the standard (instead of playing the same 5 each week), but it's not obvious to me why 2,3,6,6,6 is not a good combination.
 
If you're playing 9 ball, you can only play 2 high skill (6+) players. That and handicap room would make me want another medium player available, otherwise I see no problem with the lineup. Our team of 5 total players went to Vegas, so having more doesn't have to be better.
 
jeffj2h said:
I'm new to the APA this year. My entire team is new to APA as well. We do have two backup players on our team, but a core of 5 players have played each week. Our skill levels are 2,3,6,6,6.

From searching the AZB archives I see experienced APA players advising that during the playoffs if you win the toss, put up the first player. I've also seen experienced APA members in the non-playoffs make the loser of the coin toss put up first. Can anyone elaborate on why a difference in strategy?

Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.

Finally, should we build our team up to 8 players and have everyone show up each week? That seems to be more of the standard (instead of playing the same 5 each week), but it's not obvious to me why 2,3,6,6,6 is not a good combination.
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in playoffs i always put up first. for reasons you just stated. if you only put up the same five people every week then I control the last two matches. you put up the fourth player = me getting to choose who plays that person and then me putting up the last player and knowing you only have 1 person to play (since i put up the 4th player second, i get to decide the better match ups for both).

you dont need to build up your 8 players if you dont want to. all depends on how well your people will show up. just remember that each player needs to play at least 4 times to play in playoffs.
 
rrich1 said:
in playoffs i always put up first. for reasons you just stated. if you only put up the same five people every week then I control the last two matches. you put up the fourth player = me getting to choose who plays that person and then me putting up the last player and knowing you only have 1 person to play (since i put up the 4th player second, i get to decide the better match ups for both).

you dont need to build up your 8 players if you dont want to. all depends on how well your people will show up. just remember that each player needs to play at least 4 times to play in playoffs.
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I agree and in tournaments i want to win the first match or force them to burn a big player by starting with a player at a mid level 3,4, or 5sl with a very high winning percentage.
 
APA Playoff Matches

In the playoffs in APA, it's a race to 3 matches, right? Meaning as soon as one team wins 3 matches, it's over.

So, in a race to 3, here is my advice:
1) If you're down 2 matches, play your best player, regardless of who puts up.
2) Most other strategy only applies if you know your opponents and your team. Meaning, for example, if you have a really strong player that can't usually be beat, save him until you're up 2 or down 2 matches. Or, if you know the opponent's captain usually plays low rated players against high rated players, match up accordingly.
3) If you don't know your opponents, then it's just a matter of statistics and common sense.
4) If your opponent puts up first, then you can control who you play against whom during the 1st match.

I've seen all kinds of strategy used, but the bottom line is whoever is playing best usually wins.
 
I would add a couple more players just in case someone gets moved up. I also think there might be different matchups that you can use in your favor. I think having a good 4 and/or a good 5 is very valuable. It seems best to me to use all the roster spots available to you. There may also be a case where one of your players has something come up and can't make it one week.

Andy
 
Thanks for the comments. I forgot to mention, this is an 8ball league.

Regarding what to do if you win the coin toss, if you know the other team has only 5 players, it would make sense to put up first regardless of it's the playoffs or a regular game. Right?
 
Throw first, control the last 2 matches.

When down 2, do not throw your best player. Your 6 will end up playing their 2 so its a wasted match anyhow. Play whichever player you think matches up best with what your opponent will throw.

When up 2 do not play your best player. CONTROL the last 2.

When i played a roster like that 6 years ago i threw my 2 first every time. Yes you almost always go down 1, but when you and your team are use to the strategy it works nice. Reason being, teams almost always match up on the first throw. So she will be playing 2/3 most of the time. She has a chance to win those games. If she don't, no worries. you have three 6's left.

Good luck with it. The strategy about APA is my favorite thing.
 
hon400ex said:
I would add a couple more players just in case someone gets moved up. I also think there might be different matchups that you can use in your favor. I think having a good 4 and/or a good 5 is very valuable. It seems best to me to use all the roster spots available to you. There may also be a case where one of your players has something come up and can't make it one week.

Andy
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100% spot on.

You have to have some flexibility.
 
The 3rd post in this thread hit the nail on the head. Throwing first allows you to control the last two matches. IMO that is a legit strategy.

Another thing to consider is throwing off if the situation is right. Here are the situations I consider a good time to throw your lowest player at the other teams best player-

1. Opposing team throws a 6 or 7 for the first match
2. You are up 2-0 and they throw a 6 or 7

In both cases you they will use the best player and 6-7 points of the 23 and you are only using 2-3 of the 23 points.
 
jeffj2h said:
Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.
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By the time Match #4 comes around, whoever is defending already knows what the other team has left for handicaps to come under the cap. In essence, by defending on Match #4, you are also defending in Match #5.

Control Match #4; choose to pick first.

Freddie <~~~ IMO
 
Everyone in our 16 team APA divisions usually make the opposing team select first if we win the toss. Only 3 weeks into my second session as a SL3.

The biggest issue I see with your line up is that your 5 are at SL23. In our league 23 is the maximum number. You seem top heavy and would seem could use another 2/3. If any one of your members move up your over 23.

Should also mention that everybody pretty much knows everyone. 4 teams out of our tiny 2 table bar.
Home at 1:30 last night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
Around here, most teams that win the toss choose to put up second. The theory being that you can dictate the way things go easier early, and you still have relative control over the last 2 matches, since by the time the 5th match is played the player options are pretty limited, either by ability or handicap limits.
 
I like matching them 3 times and they only get to match up against us twice. But you still have to play well to win.
 
I would have 8 players on the roster. If you win the regional tournament to go to Vegas, someone is going to get raised. If you win 2 matches in Vegas someone is also going to get raised. This has been my experiece every time.
 
jeffj2h said:
I'm new to the APA this year. My entire team is new to APA as well. We do have two backup players on our team, but a core of 5 players have played each week. Our skill levels are 2,3,6,6,6.

From searching the AZB archives I see experienced APA players advising that during the playoffs if you win the toss, put up the first player. I've also seen experienced APA members in the non-playoffs make the loser of the coin toss put up first. Can anyone elaborate on why a difference in strategy?

Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.

Finally, should we build our team up to 8 players and have everyone show up each week? That seems to be more of the standard (instead of playing the same 5 each week), but it's not obvious to me why 2,3,6,6,6 is not a good combination.
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First of all, you need to add more players to have more flexibility! Someone will get sick during the season and you will need the backup.

Second, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, is that you must have a very strong, straight shooting, and smart safety player SL 4 on your team. A player like this is the SL 7's worst nightmare - they only need to win 2 games to the SL 7's five games. Need I say more?

Hopefully, your SL2 is a female, because in the nationals male SL2s become SL3s by APA law. a good female SL2 is worth her weight in gold, and she is good looking she could probably get a signing bonus :thumbup: I have seen a lot of begging going on here.

In the playoffs, always have the other team put up first!! That way you have the advantage in strategy as you can counter any way you want. Remember, the races are always to 3 in the playoffs - most people forget this.

Since the playoff races are to 3, you want to avoid as much as possible having a slow player on your team so you don't run up against the time limit wall. Else you might be playing your best player in a race to 1, and as we all know anything can happen then.

BTW, I always knew a whole lot of players due to playing in APA tournaments. Get to know them so you can ask them how good your competition is. Or, in the playoffs, find out who you may be playing next, go sit in the bleachers, and start talking to someone about that team. You will find out everything you need to know, believe me.

Good luck.
 
jeffj2h said:
I'm new to the APA this year. My entire team is new to APA as well. We do have two backup players on our team, but a core of 5 players have played each week. Our skill levels are 2,3,6,6,6.

From searching the AZB archives I see experienced APA players advising that during the playoffs if you win the toss, put up the first player. I've also seen experienced APA members in the non-playoffs make the loser of the coin toss put up first. Can anyone elaborate on why a difference in strategy?

Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.

Finally, should we build our team up to 8 players and have everyone show up each week? That seems to be more of the standard (instead of playing the same 5 each week), but it's not obvious to me why 2,3,6,6,6 is not a good combination.
Click to expand...

Here's how we divided up our APA team.....

Two went to BCA
One went to Metro
And the rest joined VNEA

It seemed to really work to make each of us play better and the best part is, we had more money left over for drinking!

Jeff Livingston
 
Also keep in mind that 9 ball playoffs aren't a race to 3...you need 51 points to win there. You could win the 3 games but still lose the match...
 
jeffj2h said:
I'm new to the APA this year. My entire team is new to APA as well. We do have two backup players on our team, but a core of 5 players have played each week. Our skill levels are 2,3,6,6,6.

From searching the AZB archives I see experienced APA players advising that during the playoffs if you win the toss, put up the first player. I've also seen experienced APA members in the non-playoffs make the loser of the coin toss put up first. Can anyone elaborate on why a difference in strategy?

Also, I'd like to hear any thoughts on strategy for picking who to match up.

Finally, should we build our team up to 8 players and have everyone show up each week? That seems to be more of the standard (instead of playing the same 5 each week), but it's not obvious to me why 2,3,6,6,6 is not a good combination.
Click to expand...
You better pick up another 3,4,&5 & hope one of your 6's goes to a 5!!! OR FORGET ABOUT IT!!!
 
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