Is this a ridiculous payout structure?

ABall

ABall

Right behind you...
Silver Member
Ok, let me first say that I respect the guy in our area who is running a handicapped system for all the local pool halls to use in their weekly tournaments, but this type of payout just seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

Last night, results were posted on Facebook as follows:
5 players @ $11 entry, $55
$35 added by the house, $35
Total: $90

Payout:

1st: $40
2nd: $20
3rd,4th,5th: $10
Format was handicapped, single elimination, race to 5, max spot 3 games.

My response on Facebook to this payout structure was, "this is breaking one of the standard rules for tournament payouts: pay 25% of the field. 25% of 5= 1.25. Round it off and that is 1 player. Give 2nd their entry back or $15 and pay 1st $75. How in my right mind would I want to play a tournament and lose my first match and still get paid? I would never even consider that and neither should lower players get used to it."

I just couldn't believe that someone who lost their first match got paid.

Am I just being negative? Or is this ridiculous?
 
ABall said:
Ok, let me first say that I respect the guy in our area who is running a handicapped system for all the local pool halls to use in their weekly tournaments, but this type of payout just seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

Last night, results were posted on Facebook as follows:
5 players @ $11 entry, $55
$35 added by the house, $35
Total: $90

Payout:

1st: $40
2nd: $20
3rd,4th,5th: $10
Format was handicapped, single elimination, race to 5, max spot 3 games.

My response on Facebook to this payout structure was, "this is breaking one of the standard rules for tournament payouts: pay 25% of the field. 25% of 5= 1.25. Round it off and that is 1 player. Give 2nd their entry back or $15 and pay 1st $75. How in my right mind would I want to play a tournament and lose my first match and still get paid? I would never even consider that and neither should lower players get used to it."

I just couldn't believe that someone who lost their first match got paid.

Am I just being negative? Or is this ridiculous?
Click to expand...

The pay out seems like they want more people to play in the tournament. Remember if someone doesn't like the payouts, they don't have to play in it. It sure seems like there's some unwarranted whining going on over 1st place money.
 
ABall said:
Ok, let me first say that I respect the guy in our area who is running a handicapped system for all the local pool halls to use in their weekly tournaments, but this type of payout just seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

Last night, results were posted on Facebook as follows:
5 players @ $11 entry, $55
$35 added by the house, $35
Total: $90

Payout:

1st: $40
2nd: $20
3rd,4th,5th: $10
Format was handicapped, single elimination, race to 5, max spot 3 games.

My response on Facebook to this payout structure was, "this is breaking one of the standard rules for tournament payouts: pay 25% of the field. 25% of 5= 1.25. Round it off and that is 1 player. Give 2nd their entry back or $15 and pay 1st $75. How in my right mind would I want to play a tournament and lose my first match and still get paid? I would never even consider that and neither should lower players get used to it."

I just couldn't believe that someone who lost their first match got paid.

Am I just being negative? Or is this ridiculous?
Click to expand...

25% payout for a larger tournament is fine.
But it's not a one-size-fits-all.

This is perhaps a fun little weekly tournament that provides some drama and incentive to do well but is not a ATM machine for a good player.

I'd say the hourse is being pretty generous and you should try to convince some friends to play. Let 'em know if they win a match they're probably in the money...
 
mikepage said:
I'd say the hourse is being pretty generous and you should try to convince some friends to play. Let 'em know if they win a match they're probably in the money...
Click to expand...

I agree with this. That is very generous of the house if they are giving $35
and only get 5 players. Is this an average turnout? I wonder if they pay all the way down if they get more players? BTW, I would have done the $75 for first, $15 for second route.
 
ABall said:
Ok, let me first say that I respect the guy in our area who is running a handicapped system for all the local pool halls to use in their weekly tournaments, but this type of payout just seems absolutely ridiculous to me.

Last night, results were posted on Facebook as follows:
5 players @ $11 entry, $55
$35 added by the house, $35
Total: $90

Payout:

1st: $40
2nd: $20
3rd,4th,5th: $10
Format was handicapped, single elimination, race to 5, max spot 3 games.

My response on Facebook to this payout structure was, "this is breaking one of the standard rules for tournament payouts: pay 25% of the field. 25% of 5= 1.25. Round it off and that is 1 player. Give 2nd their entry back or $15 and pay 1st $75. How in my right mind would I want to play a tournament and lose my first match and still get paid? I would never even consider that and neither should lower players get used to it."

I just couldn't believe that someone who lost their first match got paid.

Am I just being negative? Or is this ridiculous?
Click to expand...

How do you pay 5th place in a single elimination tournament without paying 6,7, and 8th place too? How do you determine who is 5th place when 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th would have played and lost the same number of matches?
 
To me, it looks like the TD was trying to build critical mass. The $10 payout, means it cost only a $1 to play in the tournament, which could last 45 minutes a match. Good enticement to players who think they have no chance competing, and think they're wasting their money. Table time is a perishable asset for the poolhall, especially during off-demand hours, so the poolhall is counting on food and drink sales to make their money. To keep people playing longer, TD may want to consider round-robin format until more players start showing up.
 
TX Poolnut said:
How do you pay 5th place in a single elimination tournament without paying 6,7, and 8th place too? How do you determine who is 5th place when 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th would have played and lost the same number of matches?
Click to expand...

There was only 5 players in the tournament.
 
side bet!

I ask every guy I play in every tournament if he wants to bet something on the side..., if I get 4 guys to bet and cash in the tournamet.., not bad no matter what the pay out is!
 
mikepage said:
25% payout for a larger tournament is fine.
But it's not a one-size-fits-all.

This is perhaps a fun little weekly tournament that provides some drama and incentive to do well but is not a ATM machine for a good player.

I'd say the hourse is being pretty generous and you should try to convince some friends to play. Let 'em know if they win a match they're probably in the money...
Click to expand...

Yeah, you're right. I do believe I'm being a little harsh. But what happens when you get more than 5 people? Do you keep paying all the players?

5 people: pay 5 spots
6 people: pay 6 spots
7,8 people: Here, it seems you have to go down to paying 4 spots, but now you're paying less players. That makes no sense. It would have made sense to only pay 2 spots until you get this many players and then now pay the 4 players.

Honestly, I can't really play in this tournament. It's over an hour drive away, and I couldn't justify it with the current payout structure or my schedule. I hope they can get more players, and that usually will build upon itself.
 
Last edited:
Look at it this way......

Everybody that played in that tournament can say they got money back.

If there's only five people playing, at this point he has nothing to lose by paying out that way. Even 3 thru 5 can say it only cost them $1 to play.

When more players start showing up, then the pay structure will more than likely change. But for now, keep the regulars happy.
 
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