Handicapped 14.1 League

Sloppy Pockets

Sloppy Pockets

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just found out there's an opening in a handicapped straight pool league within driving distance from me. I'm toying with the idea of joining it, but I don't know if I'm good enough. I'm no runout player in either 8-ball or 9-ball, just a low C player by my best guess. I've been dabbling at the game a little over the last year, but so far, I haven't run beyond a single rack. Humbling, but that's the way it is.

I know they'll access my skill level, but I'd feel kinda silly having to run 16 balls to another guy's 100 or something crazy like that. Doesn't seem like big handicaps like that would be much fun for either party. Of course, if they don't mind, I'll surely learn a lot faster than I can by myself, so it would be worth the frustration if it led to better play down the road.

Anyway, not looking for anybody to make my decision for me, just trying to get an idea of how these things work since I've never been interested in league play until this opportunity came along. With all the buzz recently about 14.1, I really have the bug to be part of it.
 
Have you tried asking the league director?

I play in an in-house 14.1 league. My LD tries to group similar skilled players together in the same division. So there will be an advance division, intermediate, and beginner. The players in each division play round robin. After the regular season is over, then the LD will handicap the playoff races to reflect games won/loss and cumulative balls won/loss.

The first time I played in the 14.1 league, it helped with my decision making. I didn't play safeties before I joined the league. Afterward my first season, shot/safety was part of my table analysis.
 
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Sloppy Pockets said:
I just found out there's an opening in a handicapped straight pool league within driving distance from me. I'm toying with the idea of joining it, but I don't know if I'm good enough. I'm no runout player in either 8-ball or 9-ball, just a low C player by my best guess. I've been dabbling at the game a little over the last year, but so far, I haven't run beyond a single rack. Humbling, but that's the way it is.

I know they'll access my skill level, but I'd feel kinda silly having to run 16 balls to another guy's 100 or something crazy like that. Doesn't seem like big handicaps like that would be much fun for either party. Of course, if they don't mind, I'll surely learn a lot faster than I can by myself, so it would be worth the frustration if it led to better play down the road.

Anyway, not looking for anybody to make my decision for me, just trying to get an idea of how these things work since I've never been interested in league play until this opportunity came along. With all the buzz recently about 14.1, I really have the bug to be part of it.
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If they have the league set up for handicaps, then they do not mind you coming there and playing in it. Great way to learn, by watching those that know.

I remember when I first was handicapped. I said something like, I don't know the patterns real well and the guy that was handicapping me said and you don't have much of a stroke, either.

I started out going to 50, while others went to 160 or so. I got to the point where I was going to 140 or so, so improvement does happen.

Give it a shot! :grin-square:
 
We just started a 14.1 league at my home room in Newburgh, NY. We have four players who are either a 3 or a 4 in the APA. Not exactly run out players.

We have divided the group into upper and lower divisions based on their current average. We award money to both groups and a high run prize to both groups.

I would encourage you to play and not worry about what others think. You only can gain from the experience.
 
Go for it, you are bound to learn a lot from playing better players than yourself. I used to play a guy in my local room who started giving me 130 going to 150, eventually got down to 90 before he moved away. I never won but he normally only needed two innings to get out. I learned most of my pattern play watching him and the persistent run out threat really makes you think before wildly giving up control of the table.

My game improved a whole bunch from all the beatings I took. I say you should sign up and have fun learning!
 
we just formed an in house league here in atlanta 3 weeks ago and made a "handicapped" league. the way we came up with what we thought would be fair is if you play in the TAP leaague, take your handicap and multiply by 20....that is the number of balls you have to make..originally it was multiply by 20 and then add 20 balls but that was taking us too long to finish, like 3 1/2 hours or so....played last night to 100 and it took 2 1/2 hours and that is about right.......get into 14.1 (i refer to it as straight pool becuase i am "old school)........and the scores have been tight too....100 to 98, 100 to 94, 100 to 96 and last night 100 to 96.....so th handicapping is proving to be very fair
 
Not trying to be a jerk here, but you do get that you won't have to run
your handicap, right? The way you worded it made it seem you had to run that many. I'd advise you to play, it would probably be a great experience. Some of us, unfortunately, due to location and player preference won't get the opportunity. As you progress, you'll learn a lot and your handicap will probably go up and you'll get better.
 
I went to the hall a few months ago when I first found out about the league and watched for an hour or so. I talked briefly to the LD, who explained things quickly and took down my name. I wasn't expecting to hear back from him until I got an e-mail the other day saying when the new session would begin.

While I watched the guys practicing, I only saw a few guys who looked like they might be able to run a few racks, but all of them except for maybe one or two seemed to shoot above my speed. If the LD matches players up according to ability (it seemed like maybe that's what he did the night I watched), then I'd probably start against these lower players, so it wouldn't be too bad.

There is a meeting on the 23th, and I'm definitely going to it to see if it will be a good fit for me. Another concern I have is the level of commitment that is expected. I wouldn't start if I didn't have the intention of making every meet, but it is an hour away and life can throw curves that might make it hard or impossible to attend every one for sure. There is a provision to reschedule matches, so I'm sure this comes up often enough.

FWIW here's a copy of the flyer he e-mailed me:
 

Attachments

Ask the league director what options you have for make-up matches. In my local league, all missed matches must be made up before the playoffs.
 
Pushout said:
Not trying to be a jerk here, but you do get that you won't have to run
your handicap, right? The way you worded it made it seem you had to run that many. I'd advise you to play, it would probably be a great experience. Some of us, unfortunately, due to location and player preference won't get the opportunity. As you progress, you'll learn a lot and your handicap will probably go up and you'll get better.
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No, you're not a jerk for asking, but I do understand how the handicapping works. However, there was a thread started by Measureman a while back where he talked about having to play guys like 80-16 or something wild like that. Seems like not much fun for either guy, but I'm willing to put up with that kind of embarrassment if it gets me where I want to go. Still, it seems like a long way to drive (two hour round trip) just to make 16 balls. Hopefully, the tips I pick up will be worth it.
 
I say go for it and don't worry about your runout ability. I played in a handicapped 14.1 league just outside Baltimore (I live in the Washington, DC area) last session (have to take this session off, but plan to return). This was the first time I played 14.1 in something like 35 years. I was placed in the lowest bracket in the in-house league where you only play against others in your bracket. My handicap was 75--I had to get to 75 points to win the match and played against opponents who usually had to score less than me or equal.

It was a lot of fun even though really high runs were rare (mine was all of nine), and safeties dominated play--a skill that will help in other games as well, i.e. 8 and 9 ball. If you're really interested in rounding out your overall skills, this is the game that will help you do it.
 
ctyhntr said:
Ask the league director what options you have for make-up matches. In my local league, all missed matches must be made up before the playoffs.
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I'll do that. A big problem I may face is that my wife is on vacation during this time. She works for the school system, so she can't schedule her vacay time. We usually just hang around and do outside stuff on the property, but she was making noise about going down to NC to visit my son, so I probably should ask about those two weeks and see if he is willing to arrange things ahead of time.
 
Sloppy Pockets said:
I just found out there's an opening in a handicapped straight pool league within driving distance from me. I'm toying with the idea of joining it, but I don't know if I'm good enough. I'm no runout player in either 8-ball or 9-ball, just a low C player by my best guess. I've been dabbling at the game a little over the last year, but so far, I haven't run beyond a single rack. Humbling, but that's the way it is.

I know they'll access my skill level, but I'd feel kinda silly having to run 16 balls to another guy's 100 or something crazy like that. Doesn't seem like big handicaps like that would be much fun for either party. Of course, if they don't mind, I'll surely learn a lot faster than I can by myself, so it would be worth the frustration if it led to better play down the road.

Anyway, not looking for anybody to make my decision for me, just trying to get an idea of how these things work since I've never been interested in league play until this opportunity came along. With all the buzz recently about 14.1, I really have the bug to be part of it.
Click to expand...

sloppy , i run a 14.1 league with all skill levels competeing together, the lowest s.l . goes to 25points/balls. the highest atm goes 115. average is about 45 to 60 points.

first of all , i cannot put anymore "bang for your buck"learning value to a players game then the combination of 14.1 and competition . if you want to be a better player, do whatever you can to accommodate this opportunity .
dont let the skill level differentials deter you from competeing. if its run and handicapped right it shouldnt favor 1 player over another in any match.
i play as a 100 points (B player) and do spot 90% of our field between 20 and 75 points . i love the challenge , if i botch a break shot or miss down table im in trouble .
in my 2 and 3 record ive won 2 matches by 6 balls total (4 and 2)spoting 70 and 40 balls and lost 3 games , spoting 50,40 and 35, lost 1 by a rack and 2 by a total of 9 points (6and 3)
almost all of our matchs go down to a single rack , even with a large skill difference .
we have set match times and are flexable when it comes to a players schedule,
we all have fun , it has helped every player improve regardless of skill. myself included.
my recommendation is go , play, watch , learn , improve . enjoy.:thumbup:
 
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