Low-ranked Female Pros

Andrew Manning

Andrew Manning

Aspiring know-it-all
Silver Member
Having watched on TV, it's pretty apparent what the level of play is among the small crowd of Allison Fisher, Ga Young Kim, Karen Corr, Monica Webb, and whoever else rounds out the top 7 or 8 female pros. My question is, what's the level of play among the lowest ranked players on the WPBA tour?

I have a female team-mate (APA 8-ball), who dreams of one day playing on the WPBA tour. She's currently an SL6. She thinks that once she has improved enough to be a solid 7 in the APA, she has a chance against the lesser players in the WPBA. My gut instinct is that can't be the case; that those women would be much much better than your average APA 7. But I don't really know, because I've never really seen them play. Perhaps some of you have, and can weigh in?

-Andrew
 
Some are definately better than others......
I'd tell her to go for it, what's the worst that can happen?
Who knows, she might find a new gear when she gets there-:thumbup:
 
Andrew Manning said:
Having watched on TV, it's pretty apparent what the level of play is among the small crowd of Allison Fisher, Ga Young Kim, Karen Corr, Monica Webb, and whoever else rounds out the top 7 or 8 female pros. My question is, what's the level of play among the lowest ranked players on the WPBA tour?

I have a female team-mate (APA 8-ball), who dreams of one day playing on the WPBA tour. She's currently an SL6. She thinks that once she has improved enough to be a solid 7 in the APA, she has a chance against the lesser players in the WPBA. My gut instinct is that can't be the case; that those women would be much much better than your average APA 7. But I don't really know, because I've never really seen them play. Perhaps some of you have, and can weigh in?

-Andrew
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I don t know what an APA 7 is but the lower level WPBA Pros are low 'B' Players -some perhaps high 'C' Players using NY standards but the ones playing regularly are 'B' s.
 
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This is pretty easy.

Have her go play some players on tour or former players. When I was in Terre Haute, one of our AZers here was on the tour. She is great person and would play cheap sets with anyone.

The advantage to pool, is the accessablity to the players. Another one Sarah Rousey is about the nicest person you would ever meet. Trust me, they are approachable and usually pretty nice folks.

Have her play some cheap $50 sets with a few and get a feeling.

JMO,

Ken
 
Hmmmm...

When she starts smokin' the upper echelon male 7s in your APA league for about $500 and up per set then she will be ready both mentally, physically and have the required skills to compete with the lower ranked female pros on the women's tour.

This isn't said out of dissrespect for your teammate, yet out of a true respect for the level of skill shown by the ladies of professional pool. I mention the gambling due to one aspect of professional play, supreme pressure! When you can shoot "your" game under the extreme conditions provided in most hardcore gambling sessions then you have developed your mental game and focus to a high enough level to play through the pressure and expectations that will be required on the tour.

I wish her the best of luck and hope she achieves her dream as well! If she's got the hunger and desire deep within her soul then maybe...just maybe she's got a shot! :thumbup:
 
The bottom of the fields in the WPBA is a mixed bag of players. A few veterans hanging on, several girls that got in via Qualifiers and a handful who are basically "fillers". That said, some of those older "vets" can still play and wil win matches. The young qualifiers are usually good regional players. They lack seasoning and experience but also have game.

This is one reason you see so many upsets in the early rounds, the feilds are deeper. Eleanor Collado beat Kelly Fisher in the first round in San Diego. Never heard of her, you're not alone. Can she play - DEFINITELY!
 
a lower level WPBA player is, as Jay said, going to be a top 5 or 10 regional player that competes in tours like the OB-Cues tour and consistently places well.

I am a 6 in APA, but probably should be a 7 as I haven't played any matches lately, and I can tell you that the top women on the OB Cues tour are a notch above me.

If she wants any chance of being on the WPBA she needs to get away from APA as quickly as possible and start playing real tournaments with the top level of competition. I think the best thing she can do is go out and play with the men and see how she fares.
 
jay helfert said:
The bottom of the fields in the WPBA is a mixed bag of players. A few veterans hanging on, several girls that got in via Qualifiers and a handful who are basically "fillers". That said, some of those older "vets" can still play and wil win matches. The young qualifiers are usually good regional players. They lack seasoning and experience but also have game.

This is one reason you see so many upsets in the early rounds, the feilds are deeper. Eleanor Collado beat Kelly Fisher in the first round in San Diego. Never heard of her, you're not alone. Can she play - DEFINITELY!
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The used to "seed" top players. One of the reasons I lost respect for WPBA is that they seeded top players and IMO one of the reasons you didnt see alot of new players, just the top 8 over and over.

Did they quit this practice?

Ken
 
The men and women need all the new blood they can possibly attract. A funny thing about the game of pool. Only one player gets to play. As long as you keep your opponent seated they can't do anything to hurt you.

A lot of ladies can really play. I had first hand experiences with, Karen Corr, Kelly Fisher and Judy Kelly. I beat Corr and Fisher but lost twice to Julie Kelly. Julie kept me in my seat more than the other two.

You never know how your going to react when you step up and play the elite players. There's only one way to find out. Go do it!

I think the ladies seed the top players, so right away you are going to have your hands full.

I suggest your friend, play in regional 's first to get some seasoning.


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Well, Megan Minerich who used to live out here once ran 98 balls in straight pool.

Melissa Little plays pretty good, she gets in the cash in the strong local tournaments all the time.

Laura Smith can still play pretty well too, she has a lot of experience and can manage the table better than most people, especially young hot shots.

I'd say you'd have to be a decent regional shortstop to beat them consistently. That translates into what they call "super 7s" out here, not sure they do that in APA leagues everywhere as I quit playing that league system a long time ago.
 
She should go for it. The lesser ranked female pros are a mixed bag. You have some aging players who don't play as well as they once did, then there are up and comers, some have potential some don't. There are others who seem to have a lot of talent but they play well under the spped they're capable of, be it nerves or whatever, some of these type of players don't seem to ever break out and shine. I think your friend needs get out and play all the above mentioned players and the top females as well to get seasoning.
 
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Just to be clear, this question is very hypothetical. My team-mate that I mentioned is looking at this as a goal that's at least a few years in the future; she recognizes that she at least has to get to the point where she's a 7 and can hold her own against some stronger 7's before this could be reality. I was just curious about what people here thought of the idea that a medium-strong APA 7 could compete with the lower-eschelon female pros.

-Andrew
 
Just to give you an idea. When Nikki Bennish was in the top 25, she (I'm not positive about this) never broke into the top 15? I was at a tournament with three guys that we'd all consider to be "small tour" guys like myself. She wanted weight from one of us, and I won't say who.

I say that to say this. There's a HUGE difference in the top ladies of today and the lower tier. Huge.
 
Play in a few regionals. If she can win a regional she can compete at the lower WPBA level. Johnnyt
 
crawfish said:
Just to give you an idea. When Nikki Bennish was in the top 25, she (I'm not positive about this) never broke into the top 15? I was at a tournament with three guys that we'd all consider to be "small tour" guys like myself. She wanted weight from one of us, and I won't say who.

I say that to say this. There's a HUGE difference in the top ladies of today and the lower tier. Huge.
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I am quite sure Nikki broke the top 10. In fact i think she was 6th at one time. This is purely from memory though so i could be wrong.
 
Nostroke said:
I am quite sure Nikki broke the top 10. In fact i think she was 6th at one time. This is purely from memory though so i could be wrong.
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Maybe. I don't remember. I am by no means a champion and she asked for the eight. That's my point. I should've played that. Bartable and a wild ball though. I had easier action somewhere else if I remember correctly.
 
Just invest $45 buckaroos and jump in a small tour women's event. Get used to the pressure and tourney format. Although I believe tourneys aren't for me, you have to be in the mindset of them. Keep playing these until she feels like she's not dead money, and then get your feet wet.
 
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