I just read this post on facebook by a well known top player from the late
80's and early 90's. To be honest I agree 100% with him. Here is what he wrote. What do you guys think?
"I think the handy cap system has destroyed pool. When I started playing pool there were no such systems in place and if you wanted to get better you did that by playing better players than yourself. Its kinda like welfare, if you give free money and food away it doesn't give people incentive to find a good job to improve there life. Same with pool if you keep giving them monster spots they will take it not realizing its hurting pool and their own game in general. Its like a free shot to win without much effort. If you only have to run out to the 6or7 or have to go to half the game your opponent does its not really winning to me. I think it close to impossible to reproduce the kinda players we have seen in the past if this continues and I'm sure it will.
There is so much to say on this topic that a book can be written about it.
2. If you really analyze the situation the only players who complain are the people who are just under the pros or better players. These are the guys who play good or very good but cant beat the the 2 or 3 guys who play better, but do beat them on occasion. They are also the guys who play everyday and some for a living. They complain and get lower players to complain who really dont care because they know they cant win it anyway. But the lower players forget that even if they ban the top 3 players that there are still 20 players they cant beat either.
So now that I cant play for example you still have the same problem. There are now still many players that play way better than most of the field lol. If the lower players complained about them would they be banned too? Then when they are banned what about the top players in that group who play better than the others? At this rate there would be no tourney at all because someone always plays better than someone else. But worry not B players you will be ok because like I said The lower players wont complain because they like to play and some do want to get better and watch and play better players.
3. Im not saying give pros or good players free money or anything like that. Most tourneys nowadays are short races and that is not an advantage to a good player especially if it alternate breaks race to 5 and bar table to boot which is very popular nowadays. Also remember that anybody that is a really good player or a pro have paid their dues and have lost a lot of money playing better players and lost many tourneys to get where they are now. There is no easy road to the top and that goes for any sport or business. You must lose to to win in almost anything especially pool. But its not that players fault. Its usually the people running the tourney who don't really care one way or the other but because they get paid per head (green fee) they listen to them.
4. Realize people that most tourneys I have attended pay more than one place lol. You don't have to win to make money. Some tourneys pay half the field which should be enough incentive for all to play no matter who is in because only a handful of players will place in the top five anyway but you can still place and make money or get your entry fee back if you play well and you might even improve your game in the process
Is it really a challenge without everyone in you state or city playing? If you have a job then why does it matter. If you are in it for the money only then you should play better competition and earn it the right way
5. If you took the people who complain and the people they don't let in it would probably be a wash and you would end up with the same amount of players or more. Why should the people who haven't even been in the game long be able to dictate who can play and who cant? Do you guys want to see pool grow? Isn't that why most of you who complain started to play the game. Wasn't it to get better and one day be on television? Now you complain and good players are not allowed who have put countless hours in the game and you forfeit the possibility to watch and learn for a small entry fee. Now what happens is the pro or good player doesn't come around no more for obvious reasons and you get to learn how to play incorrectly from the B and C players and probably give them your money for lessons or play them cheap sets to get better. Doesn't seem wise to me"
80's and early 90's. To be honest I agree 100% with him. Here is what he wrote. What do you guys think?
"I think the handy cap system has destroyed pool. When I started playing pool there were no such systems in place and if you wanted to get better you did that by playing better players than yourself. Its kinda like welfare, if you give free money and food away it doesn't give people incentive to find a good job to improve there life. Same with pool if you keep giving them monster spots they will take it not realizing its hurting pool and their own game in general. Its like a free shot to win without much effort. If you only have to run out to the 6or7 or have to go to half the game your opponent does its not really winning to me. I think it close to impossible to reproduce the kinda players we have seen in the past if this continues and I'm sure it will.
There is so much to say on this topic that a book can be written about it.
2. If you really analyze the situation the only players who complain are the people who are just under the pros or better players. These are the guys who play good or very good but cant beat the the 2 or 3 guys who play better, but do beat them on occasion. They are also the guys who play everyday and some for a living. They complain and get lower players to complain who really dont care because they know they cant win it anyway. But the lower players forget that even if they ban the top 3 players that there are still 20 players they cant beat either.
So now that I cant play for example you still have the same problem. There are now still many players that play way better than most of the field lol. If the lower players complained about them would they be banned too? Then when they are banned what about the top players in that group who play better than the others? At this rate there would be no tourney at all because someone always plays better than someone else. But worry not B players you will be ok because like I said The lower players wont complain because they like to play and some do want to get better and watch and play better players.
3. Im not saying give pros or good players free money or anything like that. Most tourneys nowadays are short races and that is not an advantage to a good player especially if it alternate breaks race to 5 and bar table to boot which is very popular nowadays. Also remember that anybody that is a really good player or a pro have paid their dues and have lost a lot of money playing better players and lost many tourneys to get where they are now. There is no easy road to the top and that goes for any sport or business. You must lose to to win in almost anything especially pool. But its not that players fault. Its usually the people running the tourney who don't really care one way or the other but because they get paid per head (green fee) they listen to them.
4. Realize people that most tourneys I have attended pay more than one place lol. You don't have to win to make money. Some tourneys pay half the field which should be enough incentive for all to play no matter who is in because only a handful of players will place in the top five anyway but you can still place and make money or get your entry fee back if you play well and you might even improve your game in the process
Is it really a challenge without everyone in you state or city playing? If you have a job then why does it matter. If you are in it for the money only then you should play better competition and earn it the right way 5. If you took the people who complain and the people they don't let in it would probably be a wash and you would end up with the same amount of players or more. Why should the people who haven't even been in the game long be able to dictate who can play and who cant? Do you guys want to see pool grow? Isn't that why most of you who complain started to play the game. Wasn't it to get better and one day be on television? Now you complain and good players are not allowed who have put countless hours in the game and you forfeit the possibility to watch and learn for a small entry fee. Now what happens is the pro or good player doesn't come around no more for obvious reasons and you get to learn how to play incorrectly from the B and C players and probably give them your money for lessons or play them cheap sets to get better. Doesn't seem wise to me"
, thanks to the handicapped league. 
