I got talked into joining an old friend's APA team. I have heard mainly negative things about the APA. What should I watch out for?
Just joined the APA...
- Thread starter California Fats
- Start date
I played my first match with them last night. I won my match, but I had to duck out early. I didn't get much of a feel for how everything worked
gotya.
every league is going to be different. my league is very competitive and everybody wants to win with lots of strong players. Everybody knows each others speeds on how they do/should play. A good team is a must. My team is awesome and has tons of fun but like I said earlier, everybody wants to win and it is very competitive.
every league is going to be different. my league is very competitive and everybody wants to win with lots of strong players. Everybody knows each others speeds on how they do/should play. A good team is a must. My team is awesome and has tons of fun but like I said earlier, everybody wants to win and it is very competitive.
A good time. If you're not careful you might find the APA to be a lot of fun.
If you go into it looking for stacks of cash and fabulous prizes, you're most likely in for disappointment.
You should watch out for people here telling you what is going to happen, cuz they don't know.
It's your league, your experience.
It's supposed to be fun. It may be fun for you, and it might not be. I hope you enjoy yourself.
ive played in several apa leagues in the past few years. the experience is strictly based on each person respectively. Its there to play pool with different people and have fun. ]
My own personal experiences were almost all fun and pleasant. With an occasional drunkard causing a ruckus. Met plenty of fun happy people with different backgrounds and stories. Which was my fn part of it
My own personal experiences were almost all fun and pleasant. With an occasional drunkard causing a ruckus. Met plenty of fun happy people with different backgrounds and stories. Which was my fn part of it
You posted at the wrong place. So many APA haters here you will not get an honest answer. Go play. You will only have as much fun as YOU want to have. Don't let other players (or posters) destroy your night out!!!
Incidentally, I play APA twice a week. Also play BCAPL / ACS / VNEA twice a week. Not sure which is more fun to play in.
Lyn
Incidentally, I play APA twice a week. Also play BCAPL / ACS / VNEA twice a week. Not sure which is more fun to play in.
Lyn
Why
(I have heard mainly negative things about the APA) Well then why did you join ? I personaly don't believe in the APA and never have, Been asked many times over the years to play but would rather break my cue in half then play in the APA. It's nothing but a bunch of sand baggers trying to win a free trip to Vegas. I hang out at a small private club where I play. There are a few APA teams that play there a few nights a week. I don't agree with the rules the APA has, You can play a shot like 5 ball streight on the corner and that 5 ball can go around the table touch every other ball hit all 6 rails and go in and it's a good shot. Thats not pool thats playing marbles ....
(I have heard mainly negative things about the APA) Well then why did you join ? I personaly don't believe in the APA and never have, Been asked many times over the years to play but would rather break my cue in half then play in the APA. It's nothing but a bunch of sand baggers trying to win a free trip to Vegas. I hang out at a small private club where I play. There are a few APA teams that play there a few nights a week. I don't agree with the rules the APA has, You can play a shot like 5 ball streight on the corner and that 5 ball can go around the table touch every other ball hit all 6 rails and go in and it's a good shot. Thats not pool thats playing marbles ....
My opinions about APA League-------
APA is the largest pool league in the United States. I don't think all these players are wrong for playing. It's like picking a religion and believing.
Proper sandbagging is an art form when done right. Not everyone can do it and get away with it. Teams need at least two people under-handicapped to win the big money.
If you think slop pool is like playing marbles...well, the professional players have been playing marbles forever then.:smile:
I play TAP League and I think it is a good league but special players do have their handicaps adjusted to have a better chance to win. It's just the way it is and you need to accept it or get out.
APA is the largest pool league in the United States. I don't think all these players are wrong for playing. It's like picking a religion and believing.
Proper sandbagging is an art form when done right. Not everyone can do it and get away with it. Teams need at least two people under-handicapped to win the big money.
If you think slop pool is like playing marbles...well, the professional players have been playing marbles forever then.:smile:
I play TAP League and I think it is a good league but special players do have their handicaps adjusted to have a better chance to win. It's just the way it is and you need to accept it or get out.
And 9-ball is different how? If the 5-ball goes in the original pocket, this is different from 14.1, 8-ball, and 10-ball how? The "APA sucks because of the slop rule" argument is pretty weak.
To the OP, I had a good time playing APA but don't forget that everyone has different motivations; some people just want to drink and have fun, some people are very serious. Most people are someplace in between. Also remember that you're going to be playing in a bar... with alcohol :yikes:. All of the problems and conflicts I personally witnessed were the result of too much drinking by one or both parties.
I only quit APA because the late hours mess me up for the rest of the week.
JT,
Going to repeat this. I've played APA for seven cycles now. In all those matches (108), the object ball "slopped" in about once in one hundred shots. Figures to be about 1%. Bet I can make the nine ball on the break a lot more times than that. Or the eight ball for that matter. Pretty sure i've received more than ten "Eight on the Break" patches from the APA. Pretty lame excuse in my mind.
What ever happened to a night out with your friends playing pool?
Lyn
Listen to the folks here that emphasize just going out and having fun.
Don't fall into the traps I fell into: Trying to make sense of a SL3 shooting like a SL6..........or wondering why you're spotting someone two games that shoots better pool than you..........or why your teammate had to lose her first five matches in 9-ball before she was moved down to a SL1 when the LO's team had a woman that WON her very first match and was a SL1 the very next week..........or why half the people on you team's skill levels keep going up when your team is floundering near the bottom of the standings and the FIRST PLACE team's skill levels haven't changed a bit..........or.....well, you get the picture. I let this stuff bother me and have just recently taught myself how to fade the BS. It took a lot of the joy of playing out of my past league experiences. I'm okay with it all now. Just go and play the very best pool that you can and don't let the other stuff get under your skin.
I've been doing it for seven years now, up to four times a week, and I still like it.
I will say this though: If you are a good player, you may want to inquire to your Captain or League Operator about the availibility of the Masters League. It is a non-handicapped league and is a really good format.
Have fun, and shoot 'em straight my friend!!!
Maniac (over 250 league matches played)
Don't fall into the traps I fell into: Trying to make sense of a SL3 shooting like a SL6..........or wondering why you're spotting someone two games that shoots better pool than you..........or why your teammate had to lose her first five matches in 9-ball before she was moved down to a SL1 when the LO's team had a woman that WON her very first match and was a SL1 the very next week..........or why half the people on you team's skill levels keep going up when your team is floundering near the bottom of the standings and the FIRST PLACE team's skill levels haven't changed a bit..........or.....well, you get the picture. I let this stuff bother me and have just recently taught myself how to fade the BS. It took a lot of the joy of playing out of my past league experiences. I'm okay with it all now. Just go and play the very best pool that you can and don't let the other stuff get under your skin.
I've been doing it for seven years now, up to four times a week, and I still like it.
I will say this though: If you are a good player, you may want to inquire to your Captain or League Operator about the availibility of the Masters League. It is a non-handicapped league and is a really good format.
Have fun, and shoot 'em straight my friend!!!
Maniac (over 250 league matches played)
This^is where you get your value out of being on an APA team. Make new friends. Bring your old ones. Take the wife along (hell, sign her up!).
It gets to be habit forming.
Maniac (just do not let the prize at the end of the rainbow blind you)
her is my viewpoint on slop in the apa based on 387 matches in 2 1/2 so far.
i expect to see slop occasionaly from s/l 2's and 3's simply based on their playing ability.
i dont see much slop from 4's and 5's but i occasionaly match up with one of these level players who resort to slop when nothing else is available. it is discouraging to lose to one of these level of players who resorted to a slop shot or 2 during your match, but just like life is not perfect i do not expect perfection from my opponents.
i think i can count on 1 hand the number of slop shots i have seen in 2 1/2 years when i have faced 6's or 7's.
i have been to singles regionals twice and dont recall a single slop shot in any of my matches. once as a 4 and then as a 5.
it seems like every time some one plays a lil lousy and their opponent plays good the sandbagging crap starts.
i myself have been called a sandbagger in apa and just last week i heard someone said i was under handicaped in my napa league.
people always want to blame the other guy when they lose.
The APA is a great league for people who want to get out and meet other pool players. It great for less experienced players who want to play a little pool.
The one big problem I have found is the sandbagging. People who miss on purpose to keep their rating down. Then when a big match comes up they play at their best. If you can get past this major problem you will have a lot of fun. Play the best you can. Learn from the more experienced players, and have fun.
Good luck.
The one big problem I have found is the sandbagging. People who miss on purpose to keep their rating down. Then when a big match comes up they play at their best. If you can get past this major problem you will have a lot of fun. Play the best you can. Learn from the more experienced players, and have fun.
Good luck.
This is true. I have seen this happen with my very own eyes. But.....let's not deny the fact that sandbagging exists, because it is as real as the nose in front of your face. Heck, I hear people openly admit to it, both here on AZB and at the poolhalls.
Maniac (still wants to know how you've played so many matches in such a short time)
Maniac,
Never even made it to the City championship tournament with any team I've played on. Lose money every cycle. Pay the most to play of any one I play with. Still play as I enjoy the company. Or as the sign read in the front window of a store in Times Square, "we lose money on every sale but make it up on volume" :shocked: :thud: :help:!
Lyn
replied to you in my apa thread. :smile:
i play 2 double jeapordy and 1 8 ball travel division in apa every week. plus i play napa and an in house once a week. looks like as much as i play i would be more consistent night to night. sometimes i play like a 7 and other times like a 3. :frown:
sometimes i wonder if it aint too much. mostly i chalk up to how i play as to what kind of day i had at work.