More B and below turneys...

[Russ Chewning]

Sure why not. Its not me running people away, its them thinking they are better than they are and not handling the truth that they suck. Its them not wanting to work to the point they can win like I did.

Those that don't play tourneys cause of such and such is playing are wimps.

Right. And I am sure you travel awwwwwwwwwlll over the state to bet it up against the best regional players you can find.

You have a rather arrogant tone, sir, that connotates that you believe that pool owes you a living. There are MUCH better players than you who are quitting the game to get real jobs.

Russ

 

[Zagiflyer]

No matter how you slice it handicapping tournaments and making them fair (whatever that means) is tough. There's plenty of "fun" players out there and beginners who can't run 4 balls in a row (it's where we all started) and no handicap on the planet is going to even them up with an A player. Even if you have a "B down" tournament the weaker players still have very little chance against the better B players. In the end the whole point of competition is that the more skilled competitors win and at some point people have to understand that.

I think the most important thing to do is to keep the entry fee low and make sure that everybody gets to play a fair amount. I would be happy to play in tournament for $10 or so if I get to play a couple or more rounds even if I have no chance of winning. Jack the entry fee up to $20 or more and why would most people bother if they have no chance in hell of placing well? Another suggestion would be to take some percentage of the entry fees and have a raffle with the tournament so theoretically everyone has a chance to win something.

The main thing is that if people have fun they will probably think it was worth the money even if they get beat. If you pay 25 bucks to sit in your chair and rack while a much better player runs out on you over and over you will probably not be back. There's a big difference between losing when you have some chance and losing when you have no chance at all; nobody has fun getting beat so badly that they feel bad about themselves. Plenty of good players feel the same way which is why you almost never see some of them seek out an opponent that is better than they are.

The best option is to have multiple divisions with a "known" crowd so the event director has some idea how everybody plays and players of roughly equal skill levels can be matched up and tweaked with small handicaps. Strangers would have to start in the upper division. After X amount of in-the-money finishes in a division you get bumped up. You don't want to chase the best players away because they are the most fun to watch and they show others what's possible if you really want to work on your game.

I give credit to anyone who takes on the task of running a tournament, it's a thankless job.

 

[StormHotRod300]

Sure why not. Its not me running people away, its them thinking they are better than they are and not handling the truth that they suck. Its them not wanting to work to the point they can win like I did.

Those that don't play tourneys cause of such and such is playing are wimps.

well in all truth, yes you would be running the people away if your the only one winning a tournament... And like others have said some people do have real jobs, and can't live in a pool hall like some people who have future for themselves.....

And like Russ said you sound very full of yourself but I doubt your traveling very far to play in any of the big tournaments, since your such a MONSTER player....

 

[Zagiflyer]

I run a 9 ball tourney in my area and I get a nice field of players each week. It is usually a mix of A, B and last week a couple of local pros played. It was good for the guys that are good, to be able to play against the upper level players.

I have put a rule in place that helps keep the tourney going. If you win two weeks in a row, you sit out a week. I know this isn't the end all, be all, but it works.

I like the second chance tourney idea and I am going to ask the players if they would like to try it out and see how it works. I use the 9ft. tables for the main and will use 8ft. for the second chance. I think this is a good way to grow pool in my area.

This summer a junior league is in the works, including 14 to 17 year olds. I feel like this is a good way to grow pool as well.

Dwight

Your last sentence is great, we've got to get the young people involved in the game if we want the game to survive. I always thought a good idea for a pool hall would be to pick one weekend day and open one or two hours earlier and offer free (or really cheap) pool for kids under 16 (kids only) if accompanied by a parent. This would get youngsters exposed to the game and get parents involved. If you really wanted to take it farther you could have a couple good players volunteer to give a little clinic for kids who wanted to learn the basics and then after some time period let the "kids day" evolve into a youth league or tournament. The promotional opportunities are unlimited and this type of activity could buy a lot of goodwill in the community if handled properly.

Part of the problem with pool is that, unlike almost every other sport, there is no organized way to get young people into the game and teach them the fundamentals. Europe and Asia are way ahead of us in this area with billiard clubs, coaches and school teams.

 

[duckie]

I just don't get it. I really don't.

This whole you are really good and as such no one will play in a tourney because you are in it. I have never done this. I don't care who is playing. I'm there to play my best game. No more and no less.

I get beat alot, but I never back down. I never give up. I make sure the other person works for the win.

Tell me why you don't play in a tourney when someone better is in it.

Something else, seems alot of people have fun playing.......while they are winning, but when they are not its not fun. So is it my fault I took their fun away by beating them? Should I dump to make sure they have fun or to win?