Can someone tell me about the TAP league

[Celtic]

National Handicap system that eliminates most of the sandbagging. (Over 1.7 million matches and over 70% are hill-hill).

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(I really believe this is the future of pool - you owe it to yourself to check it out and see for yourself - it will cost you nothing.)

Honestly I hope youare wrong on that Mark because I personally love the divisionalized way that the BCAPL is set up with open, masters, and grand masters.

I would much rather see pool progress towards multiple divisions and scaled levels of advancement for the players such as the BCAPL provides rather then going the opposite direction of having all of the players of various skill levels play in the same events and handicapping closing the gap. The better players don't want to try to outrun handicaps for the most part and winning a match in which your opponent is handicapped holds little in the way of accomplishment for the weaker player either. That weaker player would rather win a tournament against his peers of his level and the top players would rather play against their own peers on an even footing as well.

 

[philb86]

In all honestly, it doesnt matter what league it is, I've played BCA, APA and TAP, BCA is the only one where I saw a minimal amount of sand bagging going on. APA and TAP, it happens all the time. Some people rather be able to bag and be a killer handicapp rather than try to improve and step up to the next level. This is where most people complain as some of the players are at their true skill level, they are getting run over by people who are undercapped. I would agree TAP is a much more competive league, at least in my area it is. The 25 cap makes a huge difference over the APA even though its only 2 more, it opens up a lot more options for a line up of players. I can't speak mcuh on Valley Forge as this year will be my first time competing there, but from what my good friends have told me who won the Dream Team event last year its a hell of a time. All I can say is give it a try, it should be a pleasurable experience.

 

[ronhudson]

Manipulation or at least an attempt at it happens in all handicapped leagues. I think the problem with APA and TAP league handicapping is that you are trying to handicap team play at the indivual level. Players, especially those who play these leagues, vary too much from week to week and there will always be those weeks where they play above average (sandbagger) or below average (dumping).