My first impressions after 3 weeks of league play

2

219Dave

Pool is my therapy
Silver Member
I just joined a team and started playing in my local APA league (Illiana, serving NW Indiana and South Chicago 'burbs). I wanted to share my first impressions, and also ask a few questions.

By way of background--I got a home table two years ago, and love pool. But I'm not very good- an APA 3, but hope to get back to 4 soon. I played crappy my first two weeks. Up till now I've been mostly only been playing buddies in my basement.

I can understand why many of you more serious players don't like league, and APA in particular, but I think it serves a purpose. Guys like me wouldn't otherwise be out at pool halls playing "cheap sets" or entering tournaments. I'd be home in my basement playing my same old buddies all the time on the same equipment. League forces me to go and play on different tables, in different bars, against all different styles and caliber players. It also forces you to play whether you're in the mood or not. I can't help but think that this constant matching up will make me a better player.

I'm also very impressed by how cool everyone is, both on my team and others. It's been nothing but good vibe all around, but from what I read this isn't always the case. My only real dislike is how smoky it is (you can still smoke in IN bars), how "slop" counts, and I hate the mud ball.

A couple of quick questions:

1. For those of you that play league on valley bar boxes, do your teams bring their own cue ball, or use the mud ball?

2. Assuming you play in a bar with only 2-3 tables, how do you warm up before playing? Or don't you?

David
 
Most captains will carry a "regular" cue ball. Some home teams or bars will even have a set of league balls.

Unless I get to play on the league table with the playing cue ball (CB) I usually won't warm up. I have found that if I play too much I start getting sloppy and tired. Plus the weight of the CB affects everything. Also the other tables may be different in speed, roll and rails.

But if no one else is on a side table and it is open I will shoot a few straight in shots to warm up. This will help getting in stroke and aim. Just shoot straight at the object ball trying to pocket it and have the CB stay on that line after the hit. The CB should not go to the right or left after hitting the OB. This is a true stroke builder. Just shoot in a few and then watch your team mate play

You can learn a lot by watching match going on. You can see the roll of the balls if they are drifting and what break is working. Also being a new player you can learn the strategy of the game and when and how to play safeties. The league is not a place to practice. Make notes of your weaknesses and base your practice on them. The main thing to practice is speed control and CB positioning. Good for the next shot and safeties. If you find a certain cut shot that you are always missing work on that. I have found that if I can remember every bad shot that I have made during a set and reconstructing it really helps me improve. I will set up those shots and layout of the rest of the balls and practice running them out the next day.
 
Good post and questions.
When in western Pa , most home teams supplied a good cue ball instead of the house one.Our games started at 7 pm on mondays. Some places opened the table for practice for the league members at 5.30 or so.
I think advantages of the APA or TAP league is you learn to adapt to different tables and conditions. All these can be positive.There are some good players out there and you will learn something. Some will be more than happy to help newer or lower skill players.
Especially after the match.
Neil
 
I just don't know what I'm trying to accoplish by playing league.It seems like a waste of time and money.
 
Dave, I play in local BCA/ACS/Valley leagues in Porter County, just east of you. Most bars don't have extra tables for practice, so I make sure I get there early to hit at least one rack of balls prior to the league match. The general rule is that the visiting team gets the table from 7:00 to 7:30, with leagues starting at 7:30.

Most bars in our area have "good" cue balls on the tables all the time, but in some cases, they keep the "good" cue ball behind the bar until someone from the league retrieves it to use it for the evening.

Local leagues are as much social as they are competitive. Believe me, I like to win as much as the next guy, but local leagues can't be taken too seriously. Like I tell people when we have discussions about certain people who "ruin the fun" of the league.....there's no one making a living or going to live or die based on a night of league play.
 
I think league play does serve a valid purpose in the effort to keep pool alive. There is no denying that.

My experience with leagues is from the perspective of a former room owner. I considered it a necessary evil. Lots of noise, drinking and arguing over juvenile things.

I was even talked into filling in on home games if a regular player was out.

I had full size GCIIIs in my room, and personally I would never even consider playing on a small table. Thats just me, I find no enjoyment in it.

So in a nutshell I think its great for APA ranks up to 6, but that's about it.

I think it's a great way to socialize while playing pool if you are into that. ( I'm not)

I think it helps getting used to playing strangers when there is something at stake.

Everyone enjoys different things. There is no right or wrong, good or bad. It's what you like to do that counts.
 
apa league

for early players like you i think it serves a good cause. comraderie, techniques, styles, lessons, ups and downs. its all there. what i deplore about this APA league in my area (have been very vocal on it) is that good players sandbag, sandbag, sandbag. a 3 or 4 rated player who is a good 5 and even 6 level player just keeps his average down for underlying reasons. me im a seven. some say i should be higher if that were possible but im a seven because i dont hold back. on the other hand i lose many a game to a 3 who is a run out 5 player. i've since given up on this league even though our team just won the regional and $4000 to boot. my high number actually interferes with the flexibility of the team captain to use his numbers effectively. so get to playing, invite others over to your house where you can play them in a different environment and you can really appreciate their game if they have one to show. also when i try to expose a player i have asked them to play the set for $$, if they agree, then i know they arent going to sandbag. this is frowned upon in the league but it is possible when both keep it on the qt. gerald
 
219Dave said:
My only real dislike is how smoky it is (you can still smoke in IN bars), how "slop" counts, and I hate the mud ball.
Click to expand...

Well the APA goes out of it's way to make it a beginner friendly system. And personally, I wouldn't pay a nickel to play on a coin-op table in a league environment. If that is your only option, I hope that changes soon...truly.


gmillioni, I'm sorry to hear about your league ignoring sandbaggers. It really is a shame that some people are so egocentric that the only thing that they care about is their W/L percentage. I'm fortunate to play in a league that does not have a problem with sandbaggers. There are some but my division rep and the league operator do try to step on blatant S.B.ers.
 
219Dave said:
A couple of quick questions:

1. For those of you that play league on valley bar boxes, do your teams bring their own cue ball, or use the mud ball?

2. Assuming you play in a bar with only 2-3 tables, how do you warm up before playing? Or don't you?

David
Click to expand...

1. I play in a local 9 ball league and we don't use a mud ball. My league bought new sets of balls for our league play and we lock them up after our matches until the next match. If I had to play with a mud ball all the time i'd find another hobby.

2. I can warm up normally if I get to the pool room/bar early since we have a number of tables, but if i'm running late I have to play cold and I usually don't do well without some warm up.

James
 
219Dave said:
I just joined a team and started playing in my local APA league (Illiana, serving NW Indiana and South Chicago 'burbs). I wanted to share my first impressions, and also ask a few questions.

By way of background--I got a home table two years ago, and love pool. But I'm not very good- an APA 3, but hope to get back to 4 soon. I played crappy my first two weeks. Up till now I've been mostly only been playing buddies in my basement.

I can understand why many of you more serious players don't like league, and APA in particular, but I think it serves a purpose. Guys like me wouldn't otherwise be out at pool halls playing "cheap sets" or entering tournaments. I'd be home in my basement playing my same old buddies all the time on the same equipment. League forces me to go and play on different tables, in different bars, against all different styles and caliber players. It also forces you to play whether you're in the mood or not. I can't help but think that this constant matching up will make me a better player.

I'm also very impressed by how cool everyone is, both on my team and others. It's been nothing but good vibe all around, but from what I read this isn't always the case. My only real dislike is how smoky it is (you can still smoke in IN bars), how "slop" counts, and I hate the mud ball.

A couple of quick questions:

1. For those of you that play league on valley bar boxes, do your teams bring their own cue ball, or use the mud ball?

2. Assuming you play in a bar with only 2-3 tables, how do you warm up before playing? Or don't you?

David
Click to expand...

Welcome to the future of pool. Although alot don't like it, it's pros outweigh it's cons.
 
I agree with Dave that the APA serves a purpose. It gives many people new to pool, or people who don't have the time to practice much a chance to get out and play.
I feel that the top players can get frustrated at times. If you have a high rating like a 6 or 7 and the other teams put up a 2 or 3 against you it is not fun. Handicap or not, I don't get any pleasure beating up on a very weak player. Win or lose it is just not fun.

It is a very personal thing. If you like the league and its members great. If not then find another way to compete. I always find it funny when players say thinks like let's play some cheap sets. It is the only way you will get better. Yet, these same players never seem to play anyone better. I guess these cheap set guys just don't want to get better
 
Thank you guys for your responses. I think my quick fix solutions at first will be to bring a cue ball from my home table, in case it's the mudball. And, to try to get home from work a little early to be able to warm up on my home table for a while before playing. (It's tough with kids, dinner, a wife that's annoyed with me, etc.)

I also think that I have to get out and practice on seven foot tables more. Mine's an eight foot pro with simonis, and it's definitely a different feel.
 
Some more impressions, and questions, if anyone is still interested:

1. I haven't played a lot of guys before that play good safeties. Being able to play a good safety seems to separate the average players from the good ones. I need to work on playing safeties, and work on my kick shots to get out of tight spots when my opponent plays one on me.

2. On that same subject, should I learn how to jump? Are jump cues allowed in APA?

3. There are a lot of good shotmakers in my league. Very few people have great cue ball control. Even the good shotmakers, guys that are 6-7 seem to get out of line a lot.

4. My league is barbox 8 ball. It seems like everyone I talk to really only plays that one game. Some people play a little 9 ball, but for most people there it seems that barbox 8 ball is their only game. Most people on my team haven't even heard of straight pool. The one exception is there is one team of older African-American gentlemen, and many of them are primarily bank pool players.

5. I do worry a little bit about my other games suffering. I only really have time for one night of league, and then practicing on my own. I've basically stopped having buddies over to play, and when I do I assume that I'll want to play only 8 ball with them, to work on my game for league. Have others here found themselves in similiar situations? I love 9 ball and straight pool, but if I'm in an 8 ball league, I feel that I should be working on that game.

6. Finally, if I'm plaing league on bar boxes, is that what I should be practicing on? I have an eight foot pro at home, and am not going to sell it to buy a seven foot. But should I make an effort to get out and practice on seven footers?
 
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