I don't think there is really a minimum (from the mental side, not the embarrassment side...), as long as the wallet and the wife allows. When the US Open was under Barry, a few 400 level players would play every year. Put up your money and go experience it. Might as well start with a professionally run MR event, if he aspires to be on the "tour".
Well.... another approach would be to attend first and see how it goes. The problem is that if you have no experience with what goes on at a pro event -- the scheduling, the rules, the refs, the way the players behave or don't behave, all the other little details of what goes on -- trying to play can be somewhere between frightening and paralyzing for a player.
Realistically, a serious player would have been playing everything local since they got the pool "bug". From weekly handicapped events, to regional open events. Then they would be better prepared for an actual pro event (that let in amateurs). And they'd probably be around a 500-600 fargorate range.
Pay the coins
Indeed, most leagues are team-oriented. For example, your APA team has to win a regular session/season, then play "Tri-cup" events against teams from other areas. I always think there's another round, but can't recall--"Cities" maybe? Anyway, after those events a winning team goes to Vegas.
The way I read his posts, he has never played in any local room tournament. He has also never played in a league, such as APA or BCAPL. And he might be within a short drive of this, tonight:
Yes, I play there on both 8/9 balls with 7 footers. The reasons I dont play much in open tournaments there is because each match up takes about 30-40 minutes, just sitting and watching other players
Well, nearly every pool tournament involves a lot of waiting. Some tournaments are better than others. In the case of the Florida Open, if you win two matches on the first day, you will not play at all on the second day. At least that gives you a chance to see Orlando.Yes, I play there on both 8/9 balls with 7 footers. The reasons I dont play much in open tournaments there is because each match up takes about 30-40 minutes, just sitting and watching other players
It doesnt take me anywhere. I see no forward directions going on from just playing these events. I spend more $$ on waiting and ordering drinks
I dont have any fargo rate yet
Gamble instead. All you, all the time. Start and stop whenever the hell you want. Gives leagues the 5 out and the break. Gives tournaments the 6 ball.Yes, I play there on both 8/9 balls with 7 footers. The reasons I dont play much in open tournaments there is because each match up takes about 30-40 minutes, just sitting and watching other players
It doesnt take me anywhere. I see no forward directions going on from just playing these events. I spend more $$ on waiting and ordering drinks
Any ideas how to start gamble at the bar on 9 footers ? I meant how to let ranfom players know that you are willing to gamble on the table you are practicing individually on ?
Go into the pool room, approach the first person you see playing pool and ask "want to play some?". It's that easy.
Then they'll say. "Wow, you've never seen me play - you must be really good. I need a big spot." (21st century pool)
Then you reply, "You've got the 7. Bet it!"
Then they still won't play. Welcome to pool.
I would get a plain white T-shirt and write "Who wants to gamble?" on both sides in big black letters. Wrap my cue up in a rubber band and head to the pool hall on tournament night. Start hitting balls almost as hard as I can to show my prowess.
Yes, but if you include all the people that want to be part of a professional golf field, you need to finish 25th out of tens of thousands trying to go pro to earn that paycheck. The odds against one who is trying to become one of the 120 are astronomical. By comparison, in my opinion, becoming a Fargo 820+ is a piece of cake.
