I personally prefer to play someone straight up, as in no handicap. That even goes for action matches. Of course, that's probably why I don't gamble much. It's just my nature. I don't want to feel like someone is doing me a favor, just so that it comes down to hill-hill every match. I mean, that's what's supposed to happen, right? If the handicap is spot on, every match would go to the wire with someone winning that final game to put them over the top. We all know that's a fantasy. I suppose it's a necessary evil in today's pool world.
With that said, the only league we have in my area is the APPA (Arkansas Pool Player's Association). We're handicapped and we go by BCA rules almost to the letter.
As for the handicap format, players are rated from 3-10. We have very few 3's, as those people should be just complete beginners, who probably don't know some of the rules by heart, zero strategy employed, except putting the ball in the pocket.....well, you get the idea. In fact, here is what our manual says:
Rank: Expected Ability of Player
10: Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 25% of the time.
9: Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 20% of the time.
8: Plays all phases of the game well with better than average ability. Run-out threat at all times. Breaks and runs-out 15% of the time.
7: Above average player consistently runs 5 to 7 balls. Breaks and runs-out 10% of the time.
6: Above average knowledge and ability consistently runs 4 to 6 balls. Ability to break and run-out occasionally (less than 10% of the time) plays 2 of 3 phases of the game well.
5: Average knowledge of the game consistent 2 to 5 ball run. Seldom breaks and runs-out.
4: Basic knowledge of the game. Consistent 1 to 3 ball run with occasional 4 ball run. Never breaks and runs-out. Knowledge of the game, but lacks necessary skills to execute proficiently.
3: Beginner player with little or no knowledge of the game. 1 to 2 ball run with occasional 3. Never breaks and runs-out.
* Knowledge of the game consists of ability to play position, safeties, and pocket balls.
** Three phases consist of position play, safety, and pocketing balls.
NOW, those are the BASELINES that we use to rate someone. If you walked in and no one knew you at all, you're supposed to start as a 7. If you're a very strong player, sure you could steal that first tourney, but the pay-outs are generally low, so that's never an issue. You'd be a known quantity at that point, so good luck at that second tourney.
Immediately upon joining, if a board member/tourney director/experienced player has an opportunity to hit balls with you before a tourney starts, they'll assign you a rating. Now, if you're a known player with a known skill level from the area, then a board member/established player/tournament director assigns a rating and that's that.
From then on, you're monitored by everyone around you. If you start cashing or beating better players, people are going to start saying that it's time to move up. In this area, yea, I see the occasional, "hey, that guy is underrated!" whining thing, but for the most part it's really not that bad, and it's easy to fend off when you tell them that the player has never cashed in an event or maybe only once all year, etc. Sometimes a player shoots out of his head. And sometimes you're the bug to his windshield.
I'm on the APPA board and I regularly take a look at who's cashing and who's not. Cause if they ain't cashin', why the heck would they be sandbaggin', right? The main intent on sandbagging is to lay low and steal something later. If you're not taking any money, then you're only hurting yourself by taking lumps when you shouldn't. Our biggest pay-off at the end of the year isn't much more than $500, so to get your brains beat in and lose your entry in a bunch of tournaments throughout the year, waste fuel, food, etc......you'd be a fool to lay low for that one score. You'd never come out ahead.
Anyway, it's just something that the more experienced players and board members take care of. If your level of play increases and you're benefitting from it, as in cashing in events, you're gonna go up.
And for what it's worth, I've only been in the league for 2 years and I've never seen anyone go down a skill level. It's not very "fluid". You're going to have to show a body of work that proves you're a better player than your rating. Just about the only time where you might move up all at once is if you win the state tournament or a kick-off tourney. Those generally get you a "automatic" level raise, and even then, it's not set in stone. Just more of a tradition.
We do have a rule that if a level 3 player EVER cashes, they're automatically moved up immediately after the tourney. No ifs, ands or but.
I guess my point is.......with all the fancy, electronic, proprietary formulas used by these nation-wide leagues......our leagues uses our eyes. We watch you play. We watch you cash. We move you up. 'Nuff said.
With that said, the only league we have in my area is the APPA (Arkansas Pool Player's Association). We're handicapped and we go by BCA rules almost to the letter.
As for the handicap format, players are rated from 3-10. We have very few 3's, as those people should be just complete beginners, who probably don't know some of the rules by heart, zero strategy employed, except putting the ball in the pocket.....well, you get the idea. In fact, here is what our manual says:
Rank: Expected Ability of Player
10: Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 25% of the time.
9: Plays all phases of the game well. Run-out threat at all times, breaks and runs-out 20% of the time.
8: Plays all phases of the game well with better than average ability. Run-out threat at all times. Breaks and runs-out 15% of the time.
7: Above average player consistently runs 5 to 7 balls. Breaks and runs-out 10% of the time.
6: Above average knowledge and ability consistently runs 4 to 6 balls. Ability to break and run-out occasionally (less than 10% of the time) plays 2 of 3 phases of the game well.
5: Average knowledge of the game consistent 2 to 5 ball run. Seldom breaks and runs-out.
4: Basic knowledge of the game. Consistent 1 to 3 ball run with occasional 4 ball run. Never breaks and runs-out. Knowledge of the game, but lacks necessary skills to execute proficiently.
3: Beginner player with little or no knowledge of the game. 1 to 2 ball run with occasional 3. Never breaks and runs-out.
* Knowledge of the game consists of ability to play position, safeties, and pocket balls.
** Three phases consist of position play, safety, and pocketing balls.
NOW, those are the BASELINES that we use to rate someone. If you walked in and no one knew you at all, you're supposed to start as a 7. If you're a very strong player, sure you could steal that first tourney, but the pay-outs are generally low, so that's never an issue. You'd be a known quantity at that point, so good luck at that second tourney.
Immediately upon joining, if a board member/tourney director/experienced player has an opportunity to hit balls with you before a tourney starts, they'll assign you a rating. Now, if you're a known player with a known skill level from the area, then a board member/established player/tournament director assigns a rating and that's that.
From then on, you're monitored by everyone around you. If you start cashing or beating better players, people are going to start saying that it's time to move up. In this area, yea, I see the occasional, "hey, that guy is underrated!" whining thing, but for the most part it's really not that bad, and it's easy to fend off when you tell them that the player has never cashed in an event or maybe only once all year, etc. Sometimes a player shoots out of his head. And sometimes you're the bug to his windshield.
I'm on the APPA board and I regularly take a look at who's cashing and who's not. Cause if they ain't cashin', why the heck would they be sandbaggin', right? The main intent on sandbagging is to lay low and steal something later. If you're not taking any money, then you're only hurting yourself by taking lumps when you shouldn't. Our biggest pay-off at the end of the year isn't much more than $500, so to get your brains beat in and lose your entry in a bunch of tournaments throughout the year, waste fuel, food, etc......you'd be a fool to lay low for that one score. You'd never come out ahead.
Anyway, it's just something that the more experienced players and board members take care of. If your level of play increases and you're benefitting from it, as in cashing in events, you're gonna go up.
And for what it's worth, I've only been in the league for 2 years and I've never seen anyone go down a skill level. It's not very "fluid". You're going to have to show a body of work that proves you're a better player than your rating. Just about the only time where you might move up all at once is if you win the state tournament or a kick-off tourney. Those generally get you a "automatic" level raise, and even then, it's not set in stone. Just more of a tradition.
We do have a rule that if a level 3 player EVER cashes, they're automatically moved up immediately after the tourney. No ifs, ands or but.
I guess my point is.......with all the fancy, electronic, proprietary formulas used by these nation-wide leagues......our leagues uses our eyes. We watch you play. We watch you cash. We move you up. 'Nuff said.