how are ya'll doing in league ?

[Mkindsv]

Monday Night, TAP league, I saddle up next to the 5 that beat me at titleholders, we are playing 9 ball. He wins the lag and breaks dry. I Play the 1, and go 2 table lengths to get on a shot for a 2/9 wired into the side and the game is over, I break, nine ball, corner pocket, 2-0 after three shots, break and run, 3-0. I dry break, he misses I run down to the 7 and miss on the "pro side"...he leaves me a hanger and I get out. 4-0. Last game I dry break, he gets to the 6 and flubs it...I am out...5-0.

Eight ball up next, somehow I draw the same player. I win the lag and open with a break and run. For some reason it gets in my head how well I am doing and I all of a sudden get just stupid nervous for the rest of the match. I lose 4-2. Funny how quick a night can change like that...it was just a whole bag of silly on my part, but you live you learn.

 

[Lonestar_jim]

answer

How do they cheat?

I'm in a bca league, anyone can call foul. Poor sportsmanship can be called as a foul. Clearly in the rules. I'll warn ppl first and make sure everyone knows the perp has been warned. Happens again I'm calling foul and taking bih.

We've got a pretty solid league. Same ppl in it year after year for the most part. No sandbaggers.

Sure there are a couple aholes and everyone knows who they are. I troll em now if they act up.



As for my first league night this week...alcohol is bad mmmkay.

I'll be the first to admit that most of the cheating happens when a quirky shot comes up and there are 2 opinions on the result. Likewise it can happen when somebody hits it so bad that nobody would have thought to call for a person to watch the hit.
One example was when 2 balls were tied up close near the rail and the guy hits it bad and immediately tells my player, "That was a good hit, right" of course my player was not in a position to see things closely and play continued. I saw it was bad but it is just between the two players. Shooter wins that debate unless someone from his own team outs him.
Many times the fouls happen when multiple balls are moving and ultimately no ball gets a rail after contact. These fouls often go uncalled in my mid level league.
I was ranting I know, but how refreshing to see people call their own fouls when it isn't obvious.

Well I won my Wednesday night match 7-4. Strung 7 straight to win it. I couldn't believe I was down 0-4, but a Railbird was annoying the piss out of me. Team won also.

Thursday we lost 28-22. I could only win 50% of my games.

 

[Mkindsv]

Last night went pretty well, won my eight ball match 4-1, won my 9 ball match 5-0 (rackless). Played the same person in both, they were seriously outmatched, honestly kind of surprised their captain put the player up against me again after I destroyed them at 8 ball...team won 8 ball 4 matches to 1 and lost 9 ball 3 matches to 2, but this should put us in 1st place in 8 ball. Hopefully we can continue our streak of 3 consecutive sessions of being 3rd or better in both 8 and 9

 

[Cornerman]

My APA 9-ball team picked up an SL-1, so I get to play! I played an SL-7, and I won 72-40 or whatever I had to get to (I think it's 72 or so).

I'm undefeated since returning to APA. Course, I've only played theee times in 6 months (against a 9, 7, &7).

Ready to quit again.

Freddie <~~~ on to the next

 

[Mkindsv]

Won my 8 ball match rackless 4-0 against a 3. Played the best 9 ball match I ever have, though I still lost. Was bittersweet, the first ball I missed was on Rack #5 and it was on the 9 ball...left two more hanging both 9's...lost to a 3. But I know I can run 4 in a row, so that's awesome...just a matter of staying disciplined when I get a big lead. Will do better next week.

 

[BC21]

Playing BCA 8ball league for the first time in a few years. So far so good, 20 games into the season....16-4 record. Ranked 8th out of 100 players and have the highest point count so far at 183 out of a possible 200. :grin-square:

 

[strmanglr scott]

I'll be the first to admit that most of the cheating happens when a quirky shot comes up and there are 2 opinions on the result. Likewise it can happen when somebody hits it so bad that nobody would have thought to call for a person to watch the hit.
One example was when 2 balls were tied up close near the rail and the guy hits it bad and immediately tells my player, "That was a good hit, right" of course my player was not in a position to see things closely and play continued. I saw it was bad but it is just between the two players. Shooter wins that debate unless someone from his own team outs him.
Many times the fouls happen when multiple balls are moving and ultimately no ball gets a rail after contact. These fouls often go uncalled in my mid level league.
I was ranting I know, but how refreshing to see people call their own fouls when it isn't obvious.

Well I won my Wednesday night match 7-4. Strung 7 straight to win it. I couldn't believe I was down 0-4, but a Railbird was annoying the piss out of me. Team won also.

Thursday we lost 28-22. I could only win 50% of my games.

Calling fouls lies w the player and opponent, captains should watch the games. Guy clearly fouled last week, I seemed to be the only one on our team paying attention. Our captain spoke out, good shot to my team member's opponent. I just shook my head, DA pay attention that was a foul.

I finally found my game this last week and won my firrst two, broke dry on the third and he ran out.

 

[pogmothoin]

My APA 9-ball team picked up an SL-1, so I get to play! I played an SL-7, and I won 72-40 or whatever I had to get to (I think it's 72 or so).

I'm undefeated since returning to APA. Course, I've only played theee times in 6 months (against a 9, 7, &7).

Ready to quit again.

Freddie <~~~ on to the next

I've come to the conclusion that the APA doesn't value higher skill level players. Has nothing to do with the handicap, just the points cap that makes it really tough to squeeze in a 9. That 1 or 2 that you need to play never stays there unless they are just incredibly horrendous, and if that's the case your team suffers. Better to play 55553,or 55544 for a competitive team. And they wonder why the have a problem with cheating.

 

[lorider]

I have said before that being the captain and dealing with issues sometimes throws my game off. It sure did for a while last night. Issues last night are too many to list lol.


First match was 8 ball against a 6. I lost 5-0 in a 5-4 race..i can't remember ever being shutout before in 7 years with over 700 8 ball matches. I have only faced this guy once before and I was 8 ball tri cups and I won.

In 9 ball I faced a 4. I lost and don't even know the score. Dont wanna know lol.

Our teams played twice cause we had a make up to play.

I faced the same 6 I played earlier but was 9 ball this time where he is a 7. I was still shooting bad and during the match I asked what the score was. I was down 9-24. I had I lil talk with myself while he was breaking and basically thought I was getting embarrassed tonight and for me to get my head outa my rear end and shoot like I am capable of. Well that lil talk worked . I went on a 32-20 run again him winning the match 38-44.

In 8 ball I faced the same 4 I lost 9 ball to. I won 4-1.

Kinda redeemed myself after forcing myself to ignore the pain in my bad hand and the team issues and focus solely on each shot.

The weather around here currently has my old injury acting up a little but over the years i have learned to vein and bear it. I avoid all.medications if possible. Too many side effects on dang near any type of medicine.

 

[lorider]

I had usapl league last night..o came close to not going but I did not go last week and we have a bye next wed so I would have went 3 weeks without playing it.

The reason I came close to not going was because I pulled my groin yesterday morning at work. After a couple of hour still working I decided to go home and get off my feet. I guess my body is trying to tell me I can't keep trying to do the stuff I did when I was 30 lol.

So after laying on the couch for half a day I felt a lil better and decided to go. Man I must really love pool to play in pain.

8 ball I faced a 500 and I am a 463. Race was me 46 and him 54. I won 47-51. Pretty close match..i did basically hand him one rack rattling the pocket on my last ball .

Faced the same guy in 9 ball. Race was me 62 and him 72. He won the first rack 14-0..i thought ...dang this aint starting out good. Well I guess I really caught a gear or 2 after that first rack cause I won 72-37.

Now I really dont like to post what I am about to say because that subject has pretty much stayed out of this thread . However it did have some bearing on the out come of my match.

During the next to last 9 ball rack I suspected my opponent was slacking up. Last rack I was pretty darn sure he slacked up. My suspicions were confirmed when after the match was over my captain told me he heard the other captain tell my opponent during the next to last rack he nigh as well.let me have the match cause there was no way he could catch me and I will go up and he would go down.

And people on this forum claim that crap only happens in apa.

 

[jokrswylde]

So had our first ever APA 8 ball match last night. I had started a thread seeking advice for a first time captain, and boy did some of it come in handy. All five of my team were very first time APA players. I guess to the other team that meant we didn't know which end of the stick to use. Among the things the other captain asked us ** Do you want me to explain the lag to you? ** Here, let me show you what marking the pocket means. ** Do you know what a defensive shot is? I hope they were just trying to be helpful and not trying to shark us

Anyway, on to the match. They only had 4 people from their team there. They were ranked 2, 2, 3, 6, and of course we were all 4's (which really ended up hurting us). And BTW, we were playing on 9 ft. Gold Crowns! So much for all that practice on my valley. Good news is that the venue is our home "court" and the way it works out, all of our matches will be there. It is the only place in the area with 9 footers.

I put up a buddy who plays ok against their 3---we got shut out.

they put up a 2 and I put up another buddy who hasn't played in a few years--we got shut out

I put up a new guy who I have never seen play, they put up their 6-----we won one game, but lost the match

They put up their captain, a 2, and I put up a buddy who plays pretty good ---we won 4-1

I was the last match and since they only had four players, I got to choose who I played from their team.

I chose the SL 6, because to hell with it. We had already lost the match and I wanted to see where I stood against an established 6. (Everyone was expecting me to challenge their 2 who had just gotten beat)

I won the lag and broke dry. Dude runs out and I am down 0-1

He breaks and runs a few, gives up the table and I run out 1-1

I win the next game easily 2-1 and I am on the hill and he is sweating

Next game is back and forth but I have a long cut on the 8, and I catch a hanger in the jaws 2-2

Next game he breaks and runs 2-3

Next game he breaks dry and I run down to the 8 ball, but miss an easy shot 2-4 Hill-Hill

Next game I play a pretty good safety. He does a three rail kick into a cluster and slops one in. I am pissed and rattled. He runs out. 2-5

Couple things I learned after the first match:
1. I hate not having 8 ball be call pocket.
2. I had a hard time "seeing" the patterns on a 9 foot vs. 7 foot, but had way fewer "problems" to solve
3. I much prefer a medium tip to a soft tip on the big table. (not sure why)
4. I seemed to want to play faster than I normally do, I was constantly having to slow myself down.
5. I don't know how my ranking will change after one match, but I definitely did not feel outmatched by the SL 6. In fact I had the game winning 8 ball on my stick in two separate games...just got to learn to finish.
7. I am still stewing this morning after losing...not only my match, but the team match as well...I hate losing.

All in all it was a great night. A lot of laughs were had and it was good to get an evening away from home work and Disney Channel. Can't wait for next week!

Thanks to all who offered much needed advice. I was able to pick out the players who like to indulge as the night progresses. I will try to make sure I put them up early in the match next week.

 

[Coop1701]

You still didn't do bad for your first week at Bat. Keep it up. It'll get easier as your players skill levels get settled. Wins will come too, just slow down. First week jitters will make you play fast.

You're the Captain too..., Not a miracle worker. All I can say is wins will come. Sounds like you made good choices.

 

[lorider]

So had our first ever APA 8 ball match last night. I had started a thread seeking advice for a first time captain, and boy did some of it come in handy. All five of my team were very first time APA players. I guess to the other team that meant we didn't know which end of the stick to use. Among the things the other captain asked us ** Do you want me to explain the lag to you? ** Here, let me show you what marking the pocket means. ** Do you know what a defensive shot is? I hope they were just trying to be helpful and not trying to shark us

Anyway, on to the match. They only had 4 people from their team there. They were ranked 2, 2, 3, 6, and of course we were all 4's (which really ended up hurting us). And BTW, we were playing on 9 ft. Gold Crowns! So much for all that practice on my valley. Good news is that the venue is our home "court" and the way it works out, all of our matches will be there. It is the only place in the area with 9 footers.

I put up a buddy who plays ok against their 3---we got shut out.

they put up a 2 and I put up another buddy who hasn't played in a few years--we got shut out

I put up a new guy who I have never seen play, they put up their 6-----we won one game, but lost the match

They put up their captain, a 2, and I put up a buddy who plays pretty good ---we won 4-1

I was the last match and since they only had four players, I got to choose who I played from their team.

I chose the SL 6, because to hell with it. We had already lost the match and I wanted to see where I stood against an established 6. (Everyone was expecting me to challenge their 2 who had just gotten beat)

I won the lag and broke dry. Dude runs out and I am down 0-1

He breaks and runs a few, gives up the table and I run out 1-1

I win the next game easily 2-1 and I am on the hill and he is sweating

Next game is back and forth but I have a long cut on the 8, and I catch a hanger in the jaws 2-2

Next game he breaks and runs 2-3

Next game he breaks dry and I run down to the 8 ball, but miss an easy shot 2-4 Hill-Hill

Next game I play a pretty good safety. He does a three rail kick into a cluster and slops one in. I am pissed and rattled. He runs out. 2-5

Couple things I learned after the first match:
1. I hate not having 8 ball be call pocket.
2. I had a hard time "seeing" the patterns on a 9 foot vs. 7 foot, but had way fewer "problems" to solve
3. I much prefer a medium tip to a soft tip on the big table. (not sure why)
4. I seemed to want to play faster than I normally do, I was constantly having to slow myself down.
5. I don't know how my ranking will change after one match, but I definitely did not feel outmatched by the SL 6. In fact I had the game winning 8 ball on my stick in two separate games...just got to learn to finish.
7. I am still stewing this morning after losing...not only my match, but the team match as well...I hate losing.

All in all it was a great night. A lot of laughs were had and it was good to get an evening away from home work and Disney Channel. Can't wait for next week!

Thanks to all who offered much needed advice. I was able to pick out the players who like to indulge as the night progresses. I will try to make sure I put them up early in the match next week.

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed the read. Maybe the opposing captain meant well...or not. I have found that some new players really did not know anything and thus gave them the advice he was giving you.

Dont take this the wrong way....undoubtedly you know how to shoot since you have your own table but I am impressed you got to the hill vs what I assume is am established 6. I am impressed simply because you were playing on 9 footers which you are not familiar with and obviously your opponent is.

Yea I hate shooting good and then wind up dogging the money ball or last ball and then watching my opponent run out. No one likes to lose...especially that way.

Playing on the 9's will be a learning curve for sure. Good luck to you and your team and look forward to read more about your experience in league.

 

[jokrswylde]

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed the read. Maybe the opposing captain meant well...or not. I have found that some new players really did not know anything and thus gave them the advice he was giving you.

Dont take this the wrong way....undoubtedly you know how to shoot since you have your own table but I am impressed you got to the hill vs what I assume is am established 6. I am impressed simply because you were playing on 9 footers which you are not familiar with and obviously your opponent is.

Yea I hate shooting good and then wind up dogging the money ball or last ball and then watching my opponent run out. No one likes to lose...especially that way.

Playing on the 9's will be a learning curve for sure. Good luck to you and your team and look forward to read more about your experience in league.

The big tables were an unexpected wrinkle. The next closest place around here you find big tables is almost an hour away in Nashville. I practiced on them for an hour beforehand which helped, but the patterns are certainly different.

And a cool sidenote. Already this morning I have had three of my team members email me cues asking for my opinions. one of them just bought a players hxt. From an amateur standpoint, it seems leagues are a Godsend. 3 guys who were just casual players are spending money on pool cues this morning! Pretty awesome in my book.

 

[lorider]

So had our first ever APA 8 ball match last night. I had started a thread seeking advice for a first time captain, and boy did some of it come in handy. All five of my team were very first time APA players. I guess to the other team that meant we didn't know which end of the stick to use. Among the things the other captain asked us ** Do you want me to explain the lag to you? ** Here, let me show you what marking the pocket means. ** Do you know what a defensive shot is? I hope they were just trying to be helpful and not trying to shark us

Anyway, on to the match. They only had 4 people from their team there. They were ranked 2, 2, 3, 6, and of course we were all 4's (which really ended up hurting us). And BTW, we were playing on 9 ft. Gold Crowns! So much for all that practice on my valley. Good news is that the venue is our home "court" and the way it works out, all of our matches will be there. It is the only place in the area with 9 footers.

I put up a buddy who plays ok against their 3---we got shut out.

they put up a 2 and I put up another buddy who hasn't played in a few years--we got shut out

I put up a new guy who I have never seen play, they put up their 6-----we won one game, but lost the match

They put up their captain, a 2, and I put up a buddy who plays pretty good ---we won 4-1

I was the last match and since they only had four players, I got to choose who I played from their team.

I chose the SL 6, because to hell with it. We had already lost the match and I wanted to see where I stood against an established 6. (Everyone was expecting me to challenge their 2 who had just gotten beat)

I won the lag and broke dry. Dude runs out and I am down 0-1

He breaks and runs a few, gives up the table and I run out 1-1

I win the next game easily 2-1 and I am on the hill and he is sweating

Next game is back and forth but I have a long cut on the 8, and I catch a hanger in the jaws 2-2

Next game he breaks and runs 2-3

Next game he breaks dry and I run down to the 8 ball, but miss an easy shot 2-4 Hill-Hill

Next game I play a pretty good safety. He does a three rail kick into a cluster and slops one in. I am pissed and rattled. He runs out. 2-5

Couple things I learned after the first match:
1. I hate not having 8 ball be call pocket.
2. I had a hard time "seeing" the patterns on a 9 foot vs. 7 foot, but had way fewer "problems" to solve
3. I much prefer a medium tip to a soft tip on the big table. (not sure why)
4. I seemed to want to play faster than I normally do, I was constantly having to slow myself down.
5. I don't know how my ranking will change after one match, but I definitely did not feel outmatched by the SL 6. In fact I had the game winning 8 ball on my stick in two separate games...just got to learn to finish.
7. I am still stewing this morning after losing...not only my match, but the team match as well...I hate losing.

All in all it was a great night. A lot of laughs were had and it was good to get an evening away from home work and Disney Channel. Can't wait for next week!

Thanks to all who offered much needed advice. I was able to pick out the players who like to indulge as the night progresses. I will try to make sure I put them up early in the match next week.

I forgot to comment on the slop factor you mentioned. Being a former bar rule player most of my life I really hated slop when I joined apa. Over the years I gradually formed the opinion that I am spotting my opponents " especially lower level players" their slop shots much like a better player spots a lower player a few balls in a money match or whatnot.

If you wind up playing apa 9 ball in the future you will encounter more slop in it than you do 8 ball. The reason being is in 8 ball mow people are more cautious about attempting wild shots in fear of making an early 8. In 9 ball a lot of players from average 5's on down will take flyers at warp speed at the object ball when left with a hard shot in hopes of something falling anywhere.

I used to get realm frustrated with the above scenario to the point where it affected my game. Again over the years I have managed to keep my emotions in control when my opponents het luckier than any one should during a match. Easier said than done but when I do keep focused I usually am able to offset their slop .

Again...good luck to you and your team and glad to hear you enjoyed your first night.

 

[strmanglr scott]

I finally found my game this last week and won my firrst two, broke dry on the third and he ran out.

My game is really getting tuned in. .

Last week played a guy w a higher handicap, this week played a guy who is one of the top players in the league. I shoot last in my bca league so I'm always up against their best player. Beat him twice. He broke dry on the third, I missed my first shot leaving it hang in the pocket and he ran out.

Second game I had a nice 7 ball run to get out, got all my leaves and ran it in the order I wanted.

I realized last night how much I'm lacking practicing against stronger players. I was dialed in and concentrating really well and playing my best game. I haven't seen myself play like that in awhile.

Sucks w no pool halls around here, I just can't find the players and games I used to.

 

[strmanglr scott]

Playing BCA 8ball league for the first time in a few years. So far so good, 20 games into the season....16-4 record. Ranked 8th out of 98 players and have the highest point count so far at 183 out of a possible 200. :grin-square:

That's awesome!

For all you guys in apa, sorry I can't really comment, I have no idea how that works.

 

[justadub]

So had our first ever APA 8 ball match last night. I had started a thread seeking advice for a first time captain, and boy did some of it come in handy. All five of my team were very first time APA players. I guess to the other team that meant we didn't know which end of the stick to use. Among the things the other captain asked us ** Do you want me to explain the lag to you? ** Here, let me show you what marking the pocket means. ** Do you know what a defensive shot is? I hope they were just trying to be helpful and not trying to shark us

Anyway, on to the match. They only had 4 people from their team there. They were ranked 2, 2, 3, 6, and of course we were all 4's (which really ended up hurting us). And BTW, we were playing on 9 ft. Gold Crowns! So much for all that practice on my valley. Good news is that the venue is our home "court" and the way it works out, all of our matches will be there. It is the only place in the area with 9 footers.

I put up a buddy who plays ok against their 3---we got shut out.

they put up a 2 and I put up another buddy who hasn't played in a few years--we got shut out

I put up a new guy who I have never seen play, they put up their 6-----we won one game, but lost the match

They put up their captain, a 2, and I put up a buddy who plays pretty good ---we won 4-1

I was the last match and since they only had four players, I got to choose who I played from their team.

I chose the SL 6, because to hell with it. We had already lost the match and I wanted to see where I stood against an established 6. (Everyone was expecting me to challenge their 2 who had just gotten beat)

I won the lag and broke dry. Dude runs out and I am down 0-1

He breaks and runs a few, gives up the table and I run out 1-1

I win the next game easily 2-1 and I am on the hill and he is sweating

Next game is back and forth but I have a long cut on the 8, and I catch a hanger in the jaws 2-2

Next game he breaks and runs 2-3

Next game he breaks dry and I run down to the 8 ball, but miss an easy shot 2-4 Hill-Hill

Next game I play a pretty good safety. He does a three rail kick into a cluster and slops one in. I am pissed and rattled. He runs out. 2-5

Couple things I learned after the first match:
1. I hate not having 8 ball be call pocket.
2. I had a hard time "seeing" the patterns on a 9 foot vs. 7 foot, but had way fewer "problems" to solve
3. I much prefer a medium tip to a soft tip on the big table. (not sure why)
4. I seemed to want to play faster than I normally do, I was constantly having to slow myself down.
5. I don't know how my ranking will change after one match, but I definitely did not feel outmatched by the SL 6. In fact I had the game winning 8 ball on my stick in two separate games...just got to learn to finish.
7. I am still stewing this morning after losing...not only my match, but the team match as well...I hate losing.

All in all it was a great night. A lot of laughs were had and it was good to get an evening away from home work and Disney Channel. Can't wait for next week!

Thanks to all who offered much needed advice. I was able to pick out the players who like to indulge as the night progresses. I will try to make sure I put them up early in the match next week.

Despite the results, it seems like you had a good first week, especially for an entire team that hasn't played APA before. Like lorider says, I'd like to think that they weren't trying to shark you, but to let you in on the "league-stuff" being as they knew it was your first time. I would be doing that, as well. You'll learn whether they were trying something the more you get to know the folks you are playing against...

Good on you for choosing the 6 to play against. I bet they appreciated it, too. That you were looking for a game, not just trying to win the night. And you recognized that you had your opportunities to win. I played one of the best shooters in our league last week, and I'm only a medicore SL5, same thing....I had my chances. Not many, but all I had to do was make the damned ball. Miss against the better shooters and you lose.

As for the 9-footers, I'm not much of a help. It's all we play on here...so on the few occasions we ever travel to a place that has 7-footers, we're in a bit of a fix, too.

As for Skill Levels fluctuating, don't sweat it. They can bounce around until your players get approximately 20 matches, as I understand it. That gives the formula a chance to stabilize, I guess. It's not likely that anyone will move more than one level either way, in most cases. (As always, there are exceptions....don't take that as gospel.)

Glad you had fun, and are looking forward to next week.

 

[Mkindsv]

Didn't do too well in 8 ball last night, made every one of my balls and made/scratched on the 8...3 times in a row...losing the match to a 4. Did better in 9 ball, beat a 6 5-3...

Honestly I wish I could stop being so Invested in the matches...the way I lost my 8 ball match I was so pissed off that I was unable to enjoy the 9 ball match at all, even
Though I closed it out with a break and run. Really need to work on being able to accept a flukey loss.

 

[RFranklin]

Didn't do too well in 8 ball last night, made every one of my balls and made/scratched on the 8...3 times in a row...losing the match to a 4. Did better in 9 ball, beat a 6 5-3...

Honestly I wish I could stop being so Invested in the matches...the way I lost my 8 ball match I was so pissed off that I was unable to enjoy the 9 ball match at all, even
Though I closed it out with a break and run. Really need to work on being able to accept a flukey loss.

Scratching one time on the eight is a fluke. Two times is suspect but three times just makes me question your leaves vs. shot making ability. You said you broke and ran a 9 ball rack. Maybe the "clutter" is what you need to practice with.