Cornerman no my friend isnt good enough to Sandbag. He is simply kept at a 3 to fill the point system allotted. He might be a good four. Your assessment is spot on. At times he plays like a 2 at other times like a 5. That tournament was just a small bar thing top prize was like $200 bucks or something. He went pretty far into the thing before losing his first time doing this. Which raised some eyebrows by fellow APA players we played against.T I do believe that due to handicapping system some four or fives arent as good as I think they are. Its hard for me been beginner to know the definition of a "good player". I have seen some that play pretty decent and possibly are in the APA just to beat people and inflate their Ego's a little more. This is just an honest opinion. I said "some" people not all some truly love playing. Just for the record Im a 3 a legit 3. Team Captain has pointed out that I rush shots and get nervous. My fellow teammate pointed out in his words I try to do too much and while sometimes it works I dont possess the skills yet.
My observations after two APA sessions..
- Thread starter offaxis
- Start date
Someone stated that "the APA has put more into pool..."
I believe they have opened the doors for beginning pool players and encourage the higher level players to sandbag, thus giving the lower players a false sense of their actual skill and holds the higher level players at their current level. There's no reward for excellence in the APA, period! Ohh, sure you get a patch for everything, next you'll get a "I screwed my cue together patch"
Many people think that the APA puts a lot into pool, but they are taking 3-4 times what they are putting in... robbing the everyday player! Do the math!
Zim
I believe they have opened the doors for beginning pool players and encourage the higher level players to sandbag, thus giving the lower players a false sense of their actual skill and holds the higher level players at their current level. There's no reward for excellence in the APA, period! Ohh, sure you get a patch for everything, next you'll get a "I screwed my cue together patch"
Many people think that the APA puts a lot into pool, but they are taking 3-4 times what they are putting in... robbing the everyday player! Do the math!
Zim
It's the 23 rule, not 21.
I disagree. You need to raise the 23 rule to 24 and have 9s in 8 ball. Give the lower players a real chance to win by making the handicapps favor them. In APA 9 ball it may be very hard for an SL9 to win all the time.
The main thing is that the weaker players should be watching the better players to learn something. Teamwork does this.
You guys who are anti APA because you are so hung up on your ego is indeed pathetic. But that is your choice NOT to play APA. In which case you should not be so inclined to criticize somehing a LOT of people really enjoy.
I am not anti-APA, and it was not my choice not to play. I was thrown out by our league director.
In fact, one of the reasons our team went from worst to first is because I was helping them to play better. I was recently divorced and new in town at the time when I was approached by a guy in a bar and asked if I would be interested in playing in a league. On the first night, no one on the team had ever seen me play before, and when I proceeded to blank my opponent 3-0 with 2 break and runs, my captain had some explaining to do to the league director, who had a hard time believing him that they had all just met me that night. I believe the league director had it in for me/us ever since. It was nothing about egos or anything, just an overall bad situation. The APA is actually very good for lesser players who are willing to learn and want a fair chance to win regardless of their skill level. Turns out it just wasn't for me.
For where I play APA that is a ridiculous statement. Actually it's a ridiculous statement in any area. Let's say I make 500k off my franchise. By your math me putting in only 100k back in is robbery.
The director here owns roughly half the franchises in NC so she makes a pretty penny. She also puts on the cities at the Charlotte Expo twice a year (a very large building to rent), with about 80 Diamond bar boxes she owns (no small expense) and Kelly Fisher is there for the whole thing (a player she sponsors). That director and others like her do a great deal for pool.
The APA isn't perfect, but it still does a great deal for pool. Just because they make money in the process doesn't mean I will throw them under the bus for it.
bryanschmidt
Registered
if leagues and their directors weren't making money a leagues there would be no leagues.restaurants make money and i still eat there.
Masters
Masters Leagues are available in all local leagues. There just has to be enough players interested to form a division. League Operators aren't afraid to make more money. They'll form any kind of division if they can make money.
The US Amateur Championships is a singles version of Masters league. Same format, just singles as opposed to teams. In Masters league, you will see the differences between SL7/9 in your local area. The US Amateur is a national event and you will see amateurs that play like pros.
Masters Leagues are available in all local leagues. There just has to be enough players interested to form a division. League Operators aren't afraid to make more money. They'll form any kind of division if they can make money.
The US Amateur Championships is a singles version of Masters league. Same format, just singles as opposed to teams. In Masters league, you will see the differences between SL7/9 in your local area. The US Amateur is a national event and you will see amateurs that play like pros.
Playing in the APA doesnt and shouldnt define anyone.
I saw here and an in other threads posters state that the best thing someone can do is quit the APA.
Why?
Do the large majority of poolplayers play believing and thinking that they are going to be Pro. Heck what is Pro? There is not tour at all..none.
Do the majority of players out there even try to get better anyway? Thats always an arguement for quitting leagues or APA... lack of competition. The answer is no overwhelmingly.
The APA and other leagues dont exclude their members from playing other nights, more on the same night or from playing in tournaments/other leagues. Its one night out.
If you show up and play some with friends or meet some new friends whats the harm in that.
No one should ever have any one thing that they do in pool be 100% of their pool world existence.
To the original poster... its not just APA or league pool. There are bad losers and bad winners in life.... every sport, every business, in any group period.
Align yourself with the players you like and want to be around. Find the better players and ask questions, watch their matches and then try and
put different things into your own game. Support your teammates and try and do your best. Have fun.
I saw here and an in other threads posters state that the best thing someone can do is quit the APA.
Why?
Do the large majority of poolplayers play believing and thinking that they are going to be Pro. Heck what is Pro? There is not tour at all..none.
Do the majority of players out there even try to get better anyway? Thats always an arguement for quitting leagues or APA... lack of competition. The answer is no overwhelmingly.
The APA and other leagues dont exclude their members from playing other nights, more on the same night or from playing in tournaments/other leagues. Its one night out.
If you show up and play some with friends or meet some new friends whats the harm in that.
No one should ever have any one thing that they do in pool be 100% of their pool world existence.
To the original poster... its not just APA or league pool. There are bad losers and bad winners in life.... every sport, every business, in any group period.
Align yourself with the players you like and want to be around. Find the better players and ask questions, watch their matches and then try and
put different things into your own game. Support your teammates and try and do your best. Have fun.
Pool is not about excellence.... its something we should do for fun. For some its fun to test ourselves and see how good we can become.However most of this group never truely do what is needed to find out. So we are back to playing for fun.
In all sports only a small majority really want to become excellent. A really small percentage. A miniscule portion will actually try to do whatever they can to do so. Most can not become excellent or near the top of any sport.
The APA and other leagues do stir interest and even if those players never play a regional level event or even put 50% into becoming excellent they are good for the sport.
Why can't pool players just let people go play pool a couple nights a week, couple times a month or twice a year and let it be. Why do they always state that ALL players need to play better players and work towards being excellent?
Shouldn't it ALWAYS be about having fun.
Of course their are always sore losers and bad winners in every aspect. I do and should ask more questions. I constantly see players practicing and I have practiced with some of them at Pool Halls. Im actually surprised usually the day before our match the majority of people are at the Pool Hall practicing. Even the day off people try and get their early to take a few warm up strokes or get a quick game in.
"Why can't pool players just let people go play pool a couple nights a week, couple times a month or twice a year and let it be. Why do they always state that ALL players need to play better players and work towards being excellent?"
"Shouldn't it ALWAYS be about having fun."
Im in total agreement with this and this pretty much describes myself.
As a fisherman also I am part of some fishing boards. I see this ridicule their to "weekend warriors" "shoobie". Unless your are fishing every waking moment you are tagged as a "Weekend Warrior". If you are unwilling to hold a rod when its ten degrees outside you are considered "weak" or inferior. Cant you just fish for fun? As anyone ever know fishing is the hobby where the most lies come out of. On that note I do take fishing a little more seriously than pool. Of course not the extreme. If you wish to take something to extreme thats well and dandy and great that you have that level of commitment. However their is no need to poke fun at people who dont or cant or just dont know.
"Why can't pool players just let people go play pool a couple nights a week, couple times a month or twice a year and let it be. Why do they always state that ALL players need to play better players and work towards being excellent?"
"Shouldn't it ALWAYS be about having fun."
Im in total agreement with this and this pretty much describes myself.
As a fisherman also I am part of some fishing boards. I see this ridicule their to "weekend warriors" "shoobie". Unless your are fishing every waking moment you are tagged as a "Weekend Warrior". If you are unwilling to hold a rod when its ten degrees outside you are considered "weak" or inferior. Cant you just fish for fun? As anyone ever know fishing is the hobby where the most lies come out of. On that note I do take fishing a little more seriously than pool. Of course not the extreme. If you wish to take something to extreme thats well and dandy and great that you have that level of commitment. However their is no need to poke fun at people who dont or cant or just dont know.
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