I can't stand the APA.. So I joined.

[sfleinen]

Right, it evens the playing field more. I do think the push out should be added. No pro skills involved with it.

I think the problem with the APA isn't the org itself or its rules, although some of them should be clarified a little more.

The problem is with the individual league operators. I have played under three of them.

The first one, Bruce Barthlette, was awesome. Singles tourneys all over the place, fair rules and great division reps that he regulated.

The second one McAleer up in Hudson Valley was good too.

I don't play anymore because of the third, in North East PA. He is an idiot. Doesn't know how to run a business, has helpers who no one talks to each other, and his bylaws are confusing and contradictory. I might play again if I ever move out of the area.

I'm thinking that's the difference between a pool player with a business sense that knows what pool players want (Bruce B. and McAleer); vs. a business-sensed person who happens to play pool casually that tries to run a league (Northeast PA, and all too common all over, I'm hearing).

-Sean

 

[Celophanewrap]

after reading the first post, I gather that you are mostly just trolling for APA chicks to take under your wing, and "tutor" them

all the other reasons given are a cover

This is not a bad idea, has promise.
As for all your questions, no jump cues, no push out, and that stuff, I believe those rules are all made with the idea of making it a more equal ground. Be able to push out for you or to use a jump cue gives you an even more distinct advantage. Don't forget that it is within the rules to jump with a full cue (but let's not start that debate again...).
But if you're looking for a co-captain for your "APA Chicks-to-take-under-your-wing" team, please keep me in mind

 

[rexus31]

Try APA masters division! I guarantee you will get the competition you are looking for! lol.
I do like it better then the money leagues in my area. A few bad apples but apa here is pretty good.

I play in the same league as Chris but I play 8B instead of 9B. Unfortunately, we do not have enough interest from the higher level players to field a Master's Division. If we did, that's what I would play. The SL6's (8B) and SL8's (9B) feel they can't compete with the 7's and 9's without the handicap. So much for them wanting to improve their games.

 

[nobcitypool]

The Masters league is great. Unfortunately, the local league doesn't run one in the summer session. I did join a valley league this summer session and intend to continue that into the next session.

In regular pool rules such as no jump cues, no push outs are intended to level the playing field. I'm pretty sure I don't want to be sitting in a crowded bar where s/l 3 's are trying to jump balls. Good way to get a cue ball up to the side of the head.

My biggest complaint about regular apa is getting home after midnight. Your time at the bar versus time playing pool doesn't make sense if your primary objective is to just play pool. I think our league operator in Indy does a good job. Other problems often complained about are more related to the players, the Captains and poor score keeping.

 

[trob]

Try APA masters division! I guarantee you will get the competition you are looking for! lol.
I do like it better then the money leagues in my area. A few bad apples but apa here is pretty good.

We've tried here in York but our apa players are to afraid to play with out a handy cap I guess lol either way they couldn't get enough players

 

[ideologist]

***** UPDATE *****

So I was gonna update this every week or so and I fogot. Here are my thoughts now:

Overall, I'm having fun. I'm captaining a 9 ball team (no 8 ball for me). I'm not learning anything new, not really being challenged for the most part, but it's fun.

I'll start with the negative so I can finish with positive.

First off, what's up with no push outs? I nearly pushed on about 6 different occasions only to quickly remember it isn't allowed.. Why? That rule heavily favors the non-breaker in my opinion, unless the breaker is an 8 or 9 that gets B&Rs at least once every 6 racks. I don't see what the rule tries to accomplish.

Second, why no jump cues? Without going into the age-old argument of kicking v jumping, isn't the APA's main goal to recruit new, MOSTLY younger players? Do they not realize that these guys are coming into the sport TODAY, not pre-1990 where jumping was incredibly scarce? It would seem to me that it should be in the APA's best interest to employ rules that ENCOURAGE players to join, and those new players are coming into a sport that has exciting things like jump cues and low deflection shafts. Billiard organizations need to stop IMPEDING progress and start EMBRACING change. Also, let's not forget that there are cue manufacturers who rely on jump cue sales. Helping manufacturers helps the sport. Believe it.

Third, why the hell is there no scoring app? Chances are that today, there will be at LEAST one, if not more than HALF of the players on any given team that have smartphones. Why is the APA wasting valuable money on printing and time-consuming scribbling, submitting, and data-entering all scores and stats? This is 2014, APA! You call yourself the "Governing Body of Amateur Pool," but you won't invest the time and money into developing an app that would not only save printing and data entry costs, but make the game more EXCITING? It seems to me that it would be the most effective way to score and keep stats - in REAL TIME! Is there an app being developed currently? If so I'm eager to see it. If not, get on it! And furthermore, can you PLEASE make a score sheet that is easier to understand? If you've been playing for years you probably don't mind - but those things are impossible to learn! APA - if you need a well-designed score sheet (assuming the app isn't coming any time soon) talk to me, I'm a designer

Fourth - and this is more of a question than a complaint - why are there so few Skill Levels, and why are they based on a curve? It would seem logical that the more Skill Levels there are, the more accurate one's handicap can be. And the steps in between each level are not even consistent! Moving from a level 1 to a 2 increases ball count by 5; increase from a level 8 to a level 9 is 10?! That's double! It seems logical to create steps on a straight line - not a curve. This means that you can have a VERY strong 8 who won't be a 9 until he really brings his game strong. So he plays EVEN with a WEAK 8, even though there should be some weight there. Is there a reason for this limited number of levels, and the fact that they're on a curve? In my opinion, the curve should go the OTHER way, making it hard to move from a level 1 to a 2 and easier to move from a level 8 to a 9, because the higher levels have something the lowers don't (other than skill) - CONSISTENCY.

But like I said - overall I'm having fun. The guys on my team are cool, they're friendly, and almost ALL of them are in this to learn how to play, not to learn just how to win and flaunt themselves at the bar on a Saturday night. I think, for the most part, that is what is making it fun for me. That, and the fact that I know some of the players on different teams in my division. It's good to see old friends and make some new ones.

Also, I think it's cool that the bars in which we play, the owners and employees treat us with a lot of respect. They understand that we're helping their business, and go out of their way to make sure that the APA players get what they need. On a few occasions I've been given a discount after our matches on table time and on snacks.

I'll see how this season pans out and if I want to play again next season. So far so good - the ball bangers haven't annoyed me too much yet.

Um... The APA favors amateurs/weaker players.

-Push outs only help someone of a higher skill level.
-Jump cues aren't a high powered tool for amateurs


Scoring app is in the works