Spectators aren't under pressure. Players are. Game nerves need to be tempered in the fires of hell.
Opinions regarding a former top pro playing in and dominating a Poolroom‘s weekly handicapped tournament?
- Thread starter ChrisinNC
- Start date
Spectators aren't under pressure. Players are. Game nerves need to be tempered in the fires of hell.
simple reason isnt he wins all the time its the other players dont even get to shoot against him. so a good way is to handicap the top players in local tournaments is to make it so their opponents get to shoot multiple times each rack.
make him run two and stop. or three. this way he wins only if you miss the seven or eight usually.
or one pocket on the 9
or even bank the 9.
the easy way is to also have him spot some balls like the 3 and 6.
but forcing him to let the others get a shot every game is the key.
make him run two and stop. or three. this way he wins only if you miss the seven or eight usually.
or one pocket on the 9
or even bank the 9.
the easy way is to also have him spot some balls like the 3 and 6.
but forcing him to let the others get a shot every game is the key.
Just spitballing here with an idea off the top of my head. If the former pro wins, make him split the top prize with his final opponent. Everyone else still has something to play for, and he still gets some cash if wins every week. He may eventually decide on his own without having to be banned, that it isn't worth it. Everyone still gets a chance to play a former pro. Hopefully everyone is happy.
I’m thinking the simplest solution without just banning him would be to make the handicaps so hard on him to the extent that he decides it’s not worth it. For most matches, the opponent wins with 1 game. The nature of 9 ball will take of that.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
Those are the 3 words that make my heart grow fonder.
I also like the variation "ride and hide." Send the 9 ball on a journey where it has a good chance and hide the CB. These type of 2 way shots are great fun when you can really lock up the CB for the next guy. Sometimes I would almost swear you can see smoke coming out of their ears.
I VERY often see decent players have BIH and an unmissable early 9 ball combo, but they choose to do the "honorable" thing of shooting all the balls off, even on situations with clusters or tough layouts... then miss on the last couple balls and lose the game. An early win is a win and there's nothing wrong with that. The quicker the "W" just means you're getting paid more by the hour.
I don't know if I should feel guilty or proud that one of the young players soon earned the nickname Bam Bam.
I think he's the one that told me that I should wear a shirt with Tiger on the front and Jack Rabbit on the back.
The plain truth is that when you have a very dominant player vs. a much less skilled player- the less skilled player almost never gets to table situations that will help make them battle ready - when you are getting crushed you learn nothing in terms of close match/ critical shot nerve management.
handicaps are to make everyone even or very close to it.
if they dont do that then they are flawed and useless. and are deceptive and make those on the wrong aide of it being basically cheated.
unless stated that the handicap favors the better players disproportionately. then its players beware.
if they dont do that then they are flawed and useless. and are deceptive and make those on the wrong aide of it being basically cheated.
unless stated that the handicap favors the better players disproportionately. then its players beware.
How old is Ray Martin these days?
I have no problem with a C player the is content with being a C player. It is recreation. For those that enjoy improving I could relate how I went from C to B to A to Master but it was a long journey that the Whinney Butts with defeatist attitudes would find boring. So nevermind . It did take years of practice and donations playing better competition as long as it was within my budget. I shake my head at the ones that spend big bucks on all the top flight gear but won't bet a dollar that water is wet.
I like your points here and in other posts in this thread. One problem is that I have never seen a handicap that balanced a beginner and a very good player. Either the better player wins or you have a ridiculous spot, like hit your ball and you win.
Along with handicaps I think weeks off for the first and second place players might be a good idea, maybe run a separate tournament for the top handful of players? I think weeks off should correspond to how many wins in the last twelve months too.
Hard to find a reasonable solution. I banned myself from a friend's tournaments. The tournaments were to build business, not annoy people when they saw I was there and they would be donating another week.
In events other than pool that had cash options which are an idea I like for side pots, I always bought into the cash options from day one. I had every intention of winning some later and I wanted people to remember I entered them when I wasn't competitive too.
Hard to come by easy answers. Main thing is to remember tournaments are ultimately about the business so do what is right for the business while explaining to players that get the short end of the stick why they had to.
Hu
If someone can’t win with an extreme handicap. Too bad, go learn to play, pay your dues.
I don’t believe in protectionism beyond a handicap
I don’t believe in participation trophy’s
But that’s just me. Old school, I suppose we need to modify the rules so the old good player has to be reduced down to the level of the weak players who didn’t pay their dues. I mean we are all the same right. Communists…..
All I got on this one. And I know a shit ton more about this one
Later
Fatboy<——-will die trying
I don’t believe in protectionism beyond a handicap
I don’t believe in participation trophy’s
But that’s just me. Old school, I suppose we need to modify the rules so the old good player has to be reduced down to the level of the weak players who didn’t pay their dues. I mean we are all the same right. Communists…..
All I got on this one. And I know a shit ton more about this one
Later
Fatboy<——-will die trying
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
If someone can’t win with an extreme handicap. Too bad, go learn to play, pay your dues.
I don’t believe in protectionism beyond a handicap
I don’t believe in participation trophy’s
But that’s just me. Old school, I suppose we need to modify the rules so the old good player has to be reduced down to the level of the weak players who didn’t pay their dues. I mean we are all the same right. Communists…..
All I got on this one. And I know a shit ton more about this one
Later
Fatboy<——-will die trying
I always wondered where the sense of accomplishment came from when winning a handicapped event.
It's like me beating Usain Bolt in the 100 after drugging him and breaking his ankles. I winned!
In the early 80’s, I lived in Modesto, CA and Kim Davenport would occasionally play in our local Wednesday night 9-ball tournaments. I was a C+ player and got the 7 and 8 and 2 games on the wire in a race to 5. I really appreciated those chances to play against him and I even won the set one time. Kim often won the tournament, but with a $5 entry, it wasn’t really worth his time. It was the only way we regular players had the opportunity to play against him.
About 8-10 years ago, I had opportunities to play against Billy Thorpe in local 9-ball tournaments in Dayton. It was clear back then that he would become a fine player. I didn’t come close to winning either time. But he was pleasant and respectful and I enjoyed being able to play a future star in the sport.
About 8-10 years ago, I had opportunities to play against Billy Thorpe in local 9-ball tournaments in Dayton. It was clear back then that he would become a fine player. I didn’t come close to winning either time. But he was pleasant and respectful and I enjoyed being able to play a future star in the sport.
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You make good points.
One small tournament I frequented allowed the winner to play the next week with the restriction that they could only get 2nd the next time they played. Pretty sure they incorporated ball spots. Playing 8 ball my opponent might only have to make a portion of their ball set then rake the rest to be on the 8 ball. The weaker players not having to deal with tied up balls was very helpful.
In my playing weaker players I started shooting left handed to make it more even. Then Dammit my left got as good as the right.
Go Figure.
I'm confused. It feels like there might be something wrong with how the handicaps are set up. Or maybe we're missing details around the quality of the field (small field? Mostly C level and below?)
In NYC, we will occasionally get a 800+ Fargo player dropping in to our tournaments and the max spot is 10-4. Yes, they're favored to win but by no means a lock to win the tournament.
In NYC, we will occasionally get a 800+ Fargo player dropping in to our tournaments and the max spot is 10-4. Yes, they're favored to win but by no means a lock to win the tournament.
Ball spots in 9 ball was the traditional equalizer. The Orange crush was the wild 5 and out. I once saw a match that the weaker player only had to hit the 1 ball to win. The safe 8 was the smallest spot I have been offered.
I believe Ray is closing in on 90.
Johnny Archer?