I'm About to Join the APA......
- Thread starter Allen Brown
- Start date
Get used to the sandbaggers because there are plenty of them, also I don't know what skill you are but once you get to a 6 or 7 enjoy playing the 2s and 3s because thats what you'll play most.
In the tournament this week I'll be a S/L 6. The LO said that's what everyone starts out at and she told me as long as I paid my yearly dues to the National office I would be elgible.
If I join a regular team I would want to be on a Double Jep team. I already have four new guys lined up for a Masters team though and neither of us would sandbag and we have fun when we play together. We all played on the same BCA 10-ball team.
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Thank You Finally someone speaking with some sense.
Greenies on the Way
Black Cat :thumbup:
Pool
Pool leagues are made up of some people who cant handle there alcohol and or drugs, program drinkers and personally I will pass on having to be around the ones that just have to be noticed .
Its not fun for me to be around people like that .
Pool leagues are made up of some people who cant handle there alcohol and or drugs, program drinkers and personally I will pass on having to be around the ones that just have to be noticed .
Its not fun for me to be around people like that .
I guess I would be in good shape. The team I would have in the Masters division wouldn't have any drinkers on it. The double jeopardy team doesn't have any drinkers on it either. I think I'll go play with the double jeopardy team one night and see.
The worst that could happen would be me losing a $25 year membership fee and I might enjoy myself. Heck, I might could help a few people too.
I have played APA 8 and 9 ball for 6 years now. I have 2 purposes in doing this- 1. have FUN with weekly team matches and learn a little along the way. 2. this makes me eligible for singles tournaments, this is my focus. to go to Vegas again in singles and win it at some point.
have made some really good friends along the way also.
Mike
have made some really good friends along the way also.
Mike
I play APA & BCA. I enjoy both leagues, but in different ways. My BCA league is played with what I consider acquaintances, we take it much more serious, we discuss shots/outs/safeties after each game and our only goal there is to win. I enjoy this for the pool, not necessarily the social aspect.
The APA is played with my friends, people I'd spend my time with if it were pool, darts, or just hanging out. I drink more during this league. I don't take it as serious when I'm not playing but when it comes time to play I try to bear down and stomp my opponent. You're going to often play people at a much lower skill level than yourself and so finding ways to stay motivated to play well can be tough for many of us.
For as long as I've played APA (off/on 10 years) I've seen what I consider to be a sandbagger one time, ONE time. She was watched by the LO and she went from 3 to 4 in the LTC's and wen't up again to a 5 I believe in Vegas as she was watched for one match by the APA nationally. I assume you'll be a highly ranked player and consider the window of your worst to best. Now think back to when you were just starting and when you were in the improvement stage of your game. The window of your best to worst will be rather drastic at the lower levels and sometimes you (or your teammate) will get a player on their best day and the easy thing to do when we lose is say "that person isn't a ____ Skill Level, they're a sandbagger!" The sandbagger talk in the APA is one of the most overblown ASSumptions in the pool community. Again, it does happen but on a much smaller scale than most think/claim and it's an easy way to hide the embarrassment of losing to a skill level lower than us. I'm a 7 in 8ball and got skunked by a 5 a few weeks ago, he played great, got every roll, and I played average and got my butt whipped. I'm not (and didn't) scream that the guy was a sandbagger because he isn't.
The APA is played with my friends, people I'd spend my time with if it were pool, darts, or just hanging out. I drink more during this league. I don't take it as serious when I'm not playing but when it comes time to play I try to bear down and stomp my opponent. You're going to often play people at a much lower skill level than yourself and so finding ways to stay motivated to play well can be tough for many of us.
For as long as I've played APA (off/on 10 years) I've seen what I consider to be a sandbagger one time, ONE time. She was watched by the LO and she went from 3 to 4 in the LTC's and wen't up again to a 5 I believe in Vegas as she was watched for one match by the APA nationally. I assume you'll be a highly ranked player and consider the window of your worst to best. Now think back to when you were just starting and when you were in the improvement stage of your game. The window of your best to worst will be rather drastic at the lower levels and sometimes you (or your teammate) will get a player on their best day and the easy thing to do when we lose is say "that person isn't a ____ Skill Level, they're a sandbagger!" The sandbagger talk in the APA is one of the most overblown ASSumptions in the pool community. Again, it does happen but on a much smaller scale than most think/claim and it's an easy way to hide the embarrassment of losing to a skill level lower than us. I'm a 7 in 8ball and got skunked by a 5 a few weeks ago, he played great, got every roll, and I played average and got my butt whipped. I'm not (and didn't) scream that the guy was a sandbagger because he isn't.
You are a moron and if there is sandbagging going on then their opponents are letting them do it as they should be the ones marking innings and defensive shots for the "sandbagging" efforts.
Very common problem all throughout the country in APA leagues. Really, That is your APA advice?
As it should have been.
The best explanation of the elusive APA sandbagger. Are they out there? Sure, but they can only get away with it if everyone lets them by not keeping score properly.
Low level players that can't analyze the table and the player's play should not be score keeping, PERIOD. They will not see a setup miss or an intentional miss by a player when they have balls locked up, no next shot, etc. They will just assume they missed and the player may even try to sell it with their "I can't believe I missed that!" reaction. I know even some players that should not better that won't mark a defensive shot unless the shooter announces it. What kind of silliness is that?
I just found out my local room is offering $8/day shooting every day of the week for APA members (regular rate is $5.75/hr). Just gotta show your card at the desk to get the discount. That to me is worth joining, plus it would get me out of the basement.
ElCorazonFrio
Banned
When I played APA I was just getting back into pool after a long hiatus. I didn't know a thing about APA, but I was at a bar with six teams playing one night. I had offers from four of the teams by the end of the night.
I saw a lot of people enjoying pool and a lot of need for education, so I joined the team with the people I thought I liked best. I coached my team, I sometimes coached my team's opponents, my team never minded.
APA is fine if you go in and act like a leader to people who really don't know better. Have fun with it and don't take it too seriously. Congratulate the threes and fours who beat you--if they are sandbagging, well, they got what they needed. If they aren't sandbagging they'll be excited for the rest of the season and it takes nothing away from your abilities.
Is there anything I should look out for while playing Scotch Doubles in the APA? Are there any loopholes that people will try to use?
I'm not sure how it is over there, but here you can't talk to your partner when it's your turn at the table, unless you use your coaching time out (1 per rack). That doesn't stop some people from trying though. Also I try to keep an eye on the opponents and who took the last shot, as people sometimes get mixed up and play out of turn (whether by accident or on purpose).
This is correct AFIK, and good advice on watching the shooting order.