League play versus "cheap sets"

depends on the league and/or team

I think the league experience is good or bad depending on the type of league and your team. The league I play in has a $60 flat fee for a 14-week season, and you can play up to four games per week for the league match. This fee sounds like a bargain compared to most experiences I've read on here. The fee includes all playoff matches at the end of the season, too.

Our league also sponsors 8-ball and 9-ball tournaments that alternate every other season. For $20, you get eight chances (eight qualifying tournaments) to play in the final for cash payouts. You can also collect runner-up points for second-place finishes; if a qualifier doesn't show up at the final, the runner-up with the most points gets to play. I think this is pretty encouraging system, and by playing in the qualifier tournaments, I get to play better players than I would during weekly matches.

But the experience is also frustrating based on my team members. When my team started six seasons ago, everyone was excited; it didn't matter that we were all pretty new and got our butts handed to us nearly every week, we had a lot of fun. We still have fun together, but I'm the only one who has any real desire put in the time to get better, and I'm getting tired. I've improved from the bottom 30% (of an average of 200 league members) to the top 15%; my teammates are still in the bottom 20%. Forget about team practice; I can't even get individual members to come out on non-league nights to play a few games, and if they do show, they're more interested in getting trashed. I've turned down offers of joining better teams out of a sense of loyalty to my friends, but I believe I'll be looking for a new team next season, one that is more focused on playing well instead of just getting loaded.

So our league is whatever you make of it - teams that play extremely well, are focused, and have a lot of fun; crappy teams that have a lot of fun but pool is secondary; and us frustrated ones in the middle, torn between having fun with friends vs. wanting to succeed and improve and have fun with like-minded friends.
 
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Maniac

I was playing in 3 and 4 leagues and didn't like the fact I had to show up even when I didn't feel like it. Heads up sets gives you a lot more bang for your buck and does a world of good for your game. Like you this is now my hobby. But I find it hard to find a fair match game any more.
 
League vs Sets

The answer depends on what you're looking for.

I like league for the social aspect - I've enjoyed hanging out with the people I play with. It also keeps me in practice for matching up. Needing 5 against a good player that's ready to go up in rating is some good practice if you ask me. I also keep in it for the bigger league events - my favorite so far are the singles events.

Sets are nice because you have something riding on the game, so it's not just something you're likely to blow off. Some people play better or worse for any money, so it's not always the best way to practice. Others may want to play for more and will play down. Having a free night out is pretty cool, though. It could turn out to be twice as expensive just as easily.

You can switch off and spend your league money on tournaments, too.

I kinda think there are 3 playing styles.. the league playing (serious, but just play-for-play's sake), tournament playing (trying to beat out others for a prize, not much to lose), and money playing (risking your money and fishing for theirs). Just screwing around doesn't really count because you're not pushing yourself.
 
Maniac said:
League is fun for me but sometimes I just get tired of all the BS that is associated with it (I think most of you know what I mean). Although I'm not a highly competitive person, I do like to shoot against people that bring something new to the table as opposed to the family and friends that I regularly shoot against. I was doing some figuring in my head (that's a scary thought :eek:) and I figure out that with APA league membership fees, weekly fees, quarters for the tables, and two or three drinks, I probably spend about $25 or so on any given league night. That is for ONE MATCH that could last anywhere from 2 to 11 games, depending on what skill level I shoot against and how quickly the match is won/lost. And, with 8 people on the team shooting 5 total matches, I may not even play at all on any given night. I was thinking that it might be a better idea to just go to the poolhall where I can play for free (since I shoot BCA league out of there), and just find someone to match-up with in a race to 11 set for 20 or $25. I'd be spending the same amount as I would on league night, plus I'd be guaranteed at least 11 games (probably more), and still get the thrill of competition. Then, there would be the chance (however slim) that I could be victorious and come out 20 or $25 ahead. I realize that I haven't figured my "drinking" money into this equation, but that's because if I were to play for money, however small the stakes, I more than likely wouldn't drink.

Does this idea make sense to you???

Maniac
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This is the main reason I won't play APA. I cannot abide going there and hanging around all night to MAYBE play one set and possibly have to play that set against a 3 where I need 1000 points to win and they need 5. And of course they really should be ranked a 5 and need to get at least 10 points.

I much prefer VNEA and BCA. I only get to play five games but I am up every ten minutes or so and the match has a finite end to it. For VNEA it's when the team reaches a certain number of points and for BCA it's when one team wins 13 games.

As for the which is better - league or gambling cheap? Two different animals. Playing cheap sets is more fun to allow you to settle down and play your game and really test yourself by stretching out. League is pressure for a short duration and it's over.

I prefer the cheap sets or ring games if I had to choose one or the other. For myself I prefer both and that's why I play BCA and VNEA and look for cheap action on league nights.
 
Banks said:
The answer depends on what you're looking for.

I like league for the social aspect - I've enjoyed hanging out with the people I play with. It also keeps me in practice for matching up. Needing 5 against a good player that's ready to go up in rating is some good practice if you ask me. I also keep in it for the bigger league events - my favorite so far are the singles events.

Sets are nice because you have something riding on the game, so it's not just something you're likely to blow off. Some people play better or worse for any money, so it's not always the best way to practice. Others may want to play for more and will play down. Having a free night out is pretty cool, though. It could turn out to be twice as expensive just as easily.

You can switch off and spend your league money on tournaments, too.

I kinda think there are 3 playing styles.. the league playing (serious, but just play-for-play's sake), tournament playing (trying to beat out others for a prize, not much to lose), and money playing (risking your money and fishing for theirs). Just screwing around doesn't really count because you're not pushing yourself.
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Banks

I feel I get the same level of social interaction at my local tournaments or matching up. The same group of people are still there. Some I like and some I don't like. But the key is to Separate the competitive play from friendship. When we are not playing you are my good buddy, when we finish playing your are still my good buddy win or lose. But when we are playing you are my opponent. No one likes a sore loser and those are the people I love to beat and don't necessarily like. Win, lose or draw; like or dislike my opponent. I am still going to be a gentleman.
 
I play in the APA for one reason - to have fun playing with my wife and friends. I also practice once a week with a friend who plays my speed for about 4 or 5 hours. I also try to practice at home for about a hour a day (although it gets boring real quick). There isn't much gambling where I live. The people I have to gamble with are full time pool players and most of them don't have any money anyway. I play in tournaments when I can.

Playing cheap sets (race to 5 for 5) isn't good for your game since its another form of "friendly pool". Your better off in playing tournaments where the entry fee is no more than your 25.00. You can win quite a bit and the competition is great for your game.
 
8-Ball Round Robin at Joe's Place

Leagues are no longer much “fun” for me. The price is too high for the little amount of time I play. There is simply too much sandbagging and we (Kay my wife and I) do not drink all that much. One or two beers are sufficient for the evening. But we both enjoy competitive play. She can’t see well enough to play but she is a railbird with her binoculars. And she loves to play cards.

We started a pool night at our home for invited participants.

We host an 8-Ball Handicapped Round Robin on a 9’ Gold Crown III with 4.5” pockets and Simonis cloth. Handicaps are based on APA or TAP. If you win you go up one. If you do not come in the money three times you drop one.

$10.00 “get in” with 57% paid to first place, etc. All money paid out. You play every other player twice (once with seven or more players). In general you play a game about every 30 minutes.

We use a seven minute chess clock. It very seldom comes into play but keeps people on task especially for the end game. If the clock runs out you lose. Each player is responsible for hitting the clock button to turn on the other person’s timer.

Loser of the last game racks for the next game. Winner is the referee for the next game. At times, when agreed, the loser may be the time keeper as people often forget to hit the chess clock when they miss. There is no tournament director and I get to play as a player. Each winner records the win and loss on the score sheet. There are lots of laughs and woofing here, especially if you forget to hit the clock. No coaching while the player is at the table. When they are not at the table there is lots of advice and comments from the railbirds. If you are a high handicap the world teams up against you to help the lower handicap win.

Tournaments have been won by APA 3, TAP 7, etc. Anyone can win but you have to be on your game. We have male and female players.

We subtract the lower handicap (3) from the higher handicap (7) = 4. The lower handicap can remove 7 (balls on the table) – 4 (handicap difference) = 3 balls from the table before their turn at the table. This feature gives a real advantage to the lower handicap players as blocking balls are left in place until they choose to remove. The player can remove one or more balls before their turn but not during their turn. This teaches the lower handicap to use strategy and the higher handicap to play good position.

Players usually bring their spouses who may not play so there is usually a card game in the kitchen (next door) or bowling or golf on the 6’ TV with Wi software. It seems like everyone has fun.

It works well in the fall and winter but not too well in the summer. The structure keeps everyone’s interest.

Depending on the number of people and the interest, we may have two round robin tournaments in one night.

Once or twice a year I have a $25.00 non-handicapped round robin but it is not too popular as one of the top shooters usually wins.

Kay usually has finger food and people often bring some beer or a bottle of something or chips etc. If your broke, some one will pay your entry fee just to get you to play. Lots of fun, woofing and sometimes after tournament matches.
 
I think there would be less sandbagging in the leagues if the winning team got to walk away with some of the money each league night. Even if its only a few bucks, bragging rights are on the line.

We often play for $1.00 a match at my house. If you lose you have to sign the dollar and it is taped to the winner's photograph in the players' photo gallery. Only way it comes down is if you beat the player the next time.:eek:

I can imagine a 2' by 3' poster board with photos of all the teams and their dollar and signatures under the picture. What a laugh, there would be lots of woofing.
 
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TWOFORPOOL said:
I play in the APA for one reason - to have fun playing with my wife and friends.
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One of the three leagues I play in is with my wife and friends.


[/QUOTE] Your better off in playing tournaments where the entry fee is no more than your 25.00. You can win quite a bit and the competition is great for your game.[/QUOTE]

Tournaments are usually on weekends (I play all three leagues on weeknights) and they take up a LOT more of your time, especially if you start out on the winners side (a lot of waiting). I play in an occasional tournament, usually on a weekend when my wife has got something going on (baby shower, lunch with a friend, etc.) that gets me out of the house.

Maniac
 
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TWOFORPOOL said:
There isn't much gambling where I live. The people I have to gamble with are full time pool players and most of them don't have any money anyway.
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and they're only interested in robbing, not action. The only real
gambler in this town moved to Seattle.

TWOFORPOOL said:
Playing cheap sets (race to 5 for 5) isn't good for your game since its another form of "friendly pool". Your better off in playing tournaments where the entry fee is no more than your 25.00. You can win quite a bit and the competition is great for your game.
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We finally have a one pocket league starting next month on Sundays
here in Portland, OR. It's races to 3, and pays back 100%. I'm going
to try that as my first league experience.
 
Leagues are the best for me

I enjoy League play 100%. For me it is the best that pool can offer. Most of the players in the League (BCA) here in the Dallas/Ft Worth area are professional working players & are A to A+ players and approach pool as a hobby and also take pride in it. Attitudes are 90% on the good side. One can find high levels of pressure in the Leagues b/c you are no longer playing for your self like in a tournament & you are not hurting anyone but your self. In a League match you are playing for your self & you are playing for your Teammates. League play takes appox 3hrs, which is good enough for me as I am taking on the years in my Life. The money issue is not a #1 issue for me although I do like getting my share of pay back money at the end of the season. What is most important to me is Respect of other players not only as a player but also as a person. I find that tournament play takes 15 or more hours and then come back the next day and do it again. I also find that tournament play is more cut throat, much like gambling.
 
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that post got me excited for the first day of league this tues. Perhaps, enjoying league has a lot do with expectations of what your going to get out of it. having a team always sounded fun to me. though, i have to say that being able to play in the state tournament at the end of the season is a big perk for league membership, at least for me.
 
League play is good and a lot of fun. But I think we all get burned out on league play at some point. I have dropped out of league and gone back several times. At present I play in one league and this might be my last session for a while, or I may just be back. But as much as I love to play pool, the hassle of having to play every Tuesday night is a PITA to me.

In a earlier post to this thread I said something about running the numbers. There is no way you can make money playing League. But playing sessions or tournaments you can come home with more jingle in your pocket than you went with.
 
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Im in an APA leauge probably just out of boredom. Every since i left my team in SF leauge isnt fun anymore. All the players on my last team in SF were TOP notch and a great bunch of guys. That and they always gave it their all and always took us to the leauge championship every season.

I miss them dearly :frown:
 
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