Play, sit out or sit out and pay entry fee anyway

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What are your thoughts of having winners in local friendly tournaments sit out after wins?

I just won my weekly tournament 3rd week in a row, technically my son and I split the finals but I was in the hot-seat. No-one is complaining, but.... it's a bunch of nice guys, many are improving D and C players that I like teaching, and I like to see new people cash.

I was thinking or either sitting out, or sitting out but still putting in the $7 entry fee to add to the pot. I will be there anyway because my son plays every week.

Would you just play normally, sit out, or sit out and toss in a few $ to the pot? I have won several times in a row before, and have not sit out then, but don't think I have ever won it 4 times in a row. I remember SVB telling a story about how he won some local event 40 times in a row or something LOL.
 
W.Earp said:
Give a bigger spot...
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It's not handicapped but I was thinking of that also. Short races, 4,3 on winners depending on field size and 3,2 on losers. The issue is that there are several others that are usually in the finals or win if I don't, do we make a rule that a 2+ time winner spots a game? I don't mind spotting a game but it may be tough to sort out who needs the spot and who does not.
 
Pay your money, kick their ass, take none of the pot. 2nd becomes first, 3rd becomes 2nd, etc...
I did this after almost a yr of winning every single week, at a local mooselodge. They told me no one wanted to play anymore. So I just played and let them have the money. When they found out they could still win, even if they lost to me, their attitude changed lol.
Big fish, little pond :thumbup:
If there are people, who you have your doubts about spotting a ball to, I wouldn't change anything. I had the story a little backwards. I was thinking you were smashing on everyone.
 
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I wish I can win weekly tourneys in a row! LOL But I got no stroke!

But to answer your question, IMHO, I would just sit it out. First off, this is a personal feeling of yours. Others, on your level, the ones that usually gets in the finals, might not feel the same as you do and might not agree to spotting games. Second, if its not a handicapped tourney, you don't want your good intentions perceived as an a%$ move. Third, if you do give a spot on a non-handicapped tourney, you're cheating yourself and your training of a win. There's a reason there are handicapped and non-handicapped tourneys. I know, some might say you're just challenging yourself but there are other ways. So I say, sit it out one week and enjoy watching and just root for your kid. Maybe it's his turn to win it a couple in a row. Come back next week and play normal.

Either way, hats off to you sir for being considerate and doing something for the game.
 
Handicapping the tournament is one way to do it but my experience is the best players will outrun the handicap most of the time and win anyway.
 
De420MadHatter said:
Pay your money, kick their ass, take none of the pot. 2nd becomes first, 3rd becomes 2nd, etc...
I did this after almost a yr of winning every single week, at a local mooselodge. They told me no one wanted to play anymore. So I just played and let them have the money. When they found out they could still win, even if they lost to me, their attitude changed lol.
Big fish, little pond :thumbup:
If there are people, who you have your doubts about spotting a ball to, I wouldn't change anything. I had the story a little backwards. I was thinking you were smashing on everyone.
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No, there are a few that can beat me, but usually if I give them several opening, This week I actually got a bit lucky, one of the better players should have beat me to send me to losers side, he made a kick on the 8 after I played a safe, but ended up scratching after making the ball, I then won the hill hill game. So it's not like I am beating everyone 3-0. Last week I was down 1-2 in a race to 3 in 9 ball, and I ran the last two racks to beat him after he broke dry. I am just more consistent and getting stronger on not messing up towards the end of the games so have been improving my win % compared to others, who can still shoot OK, just make a bit more mistakes to let me get to the table again when I think I am dead meat hehe.

I don't know if I want to play and just not take the money, it may be more of a jerk move than just playing normally I think. May seem like "I am too good for you, but here is a boon or my graces" LOL. Like I said, the players are friendly, and even those that never cash come to play every week (most of them that is), I think they wold rather just lose the small amount of money than get a hand out. I feel if I sit out rather than play and not take the money it's more honorable for them, I think.
 
alstl said:
Handicapping the tournament is one way to do it but my experience is the best players will outrun the handicap most of the time and win anyway.
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SVB played in a local 9B tournament a couple years ago. The top ranked players had to win six games. Shane went to 12 games and still won.
 
alstl said:
Handicapping the tournament is one way to do it but my experience is the best players will outrun the handicap most of the time and win anyway.
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I tired upping my handicap voluntarily once in another weekly I play in that is handicapped I was a 6 to most of their 3s, after I won twice I said I would play as a 7.

I lost 7-0 7-1 that week LOL.
 
Every weekly tournament is different. The make up of the field varies from one venue to the next. Different formats work for different tournaments. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

The way you conduct yourself has a lot to do with the reception a stronger player will get. I have been welcomed into weekly tournaments that banned a player of my ability. The difference was he was an ass. In my case, the weaker players did not mind that they were donating because they were learning and being entertained. When it gets down to the final match and there is still a gallery watching, the tournament should thrive. In that situation if a split is negotiated we will usually play one game for the title and any money that was not splittable in $5 increments.
 
Some weaker players may not mind donating, but others will stay away if you keep winning. As you suggested, you can try sitting out, maybe assist the tournament director.

If you're not going to sit out, consider doubling, tripling, or more your entry. The weekly non-handicapped tournaments by me, have entry fees rated by skill level. D's pay $20, Cs $30, and I think As are $50.
 
gxman said:
About how many entries?
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Not a huge amount, we have been getting 16 a few weeks, some weeks 6. Last week we had 14.

$7 entry fee so it's not like people are losing the house when they lose LOL

ctyhntr said:
Some weaker players may not mind donating, but others will stay away if you keep winning. As you suggested, you can try sitting out, maybe assist the tournament director.

If you're not going to sit out, consider doubling, tripling, or more your entry. The weekly non-handicapped tournaments by me, have entry fees rated by skill level. D's pay $20, Cs $30, and I think As are $50.
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Most players do not mind losing in this tournament, in fact several of the new players happened to show up to the tournament, I helped them out with some things in their game, chatted with them a bit, and they are now regulars not just in the tournament but also have joined the league there. For the most part, they play even if they lose 2 and out every week.

I am usually the tournament director anyway LOL, I am the rules guy and also do the chart and collect money if the pool hall staff is busy. It's a good place and nice low pressure tournament, we try to play around with the chart a bit to make sure that friends don't play each other in first round and if I see a weaker player that happens to be paired with a good player often, I adjust things so they get to play another weaker player.

The entry fee is only $7 no-one really complains that they lost their $7 to me or anyone else LOL, they get a night of pool for less than what an hour of table time costs and they also get a bunch of instruction time since I am nosy and try to help people get better LOL. Which I think benefits them, the pool room, the tournament and me because I feel good about helping.

I think my plan will be to sit out and pay in the $7 as "added money" LOL
 
It's not clear to me whether you're playing eight ball or nine ball.
 
hang-the-9 said:
This tournament is both, 9 ball on odd days, 8 ball on even days.
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I have found eight ball to very difficult to handicap different skill levels.

But nine ball can be satisfying.

My vision of your tournament is the winner has to give the field the eight next tournament.
....if he wins that one, he gives the 7/8....if he keeps winning, add the next ball...etc.
....any time he loses, take away one ball.
I think this is satisfying to all levels of players...the worst get a cushion...the best wants to
be the first player ever to give the field the 5-6-7-8.

Any final that is split, both players give the 8 next event.
 
pt109 said:
I have found eight ball to very difficult to handicap different skill levels.

But nine ball can be satisfying.

My vision of your tournament is the winner has to give the field the eight next tournament.
....if he wins that one, he gives the 7/8....if he keeps winning, add the next ball...etc.
....any time he loses, take away one ball.
I think this is satisfying to all levels of players...the worst get a cushion...the best wants to
be the first player ever to give the field the 5-6-7-8.

Any final that is split, both players give the 8 next event.
Click to expand...

This is the best idea. And if playing 8ball, just spot everyone one game the next tourney. And 2 games if you win that one. Once you lose, you go back to even.

Makes if more fun for everyone, and for the folks that have no chance, they will at least think they do ;) And nobody will think you're a greedy SOB either :D
 
pt109 said:
I have found eight ball to very difficult to handicap different skill levels.

But nine ball can be satisfying.

My vision of your tournament is the winner has to give the field the eight next tournament.
....if he wins that one, he gives the 7/8....if he keeps winning, add the next ball...etc.
....any time he loses, take away one ball.
I think this is satisfying to all levels of players...the worst get a cushion...the best wants to
be the first player ever to give the field the 5-6-7-8.

Any final that is split, both players give the 8 next event.
Click to expand...

Ball spots is an idea, the only issue is that this tournament has been going on for years with no changes, and the players have not complained about it being unfair for the lower level players. The same few are in the last 3-4 players really almost every week, without any complaining that I hear. I also don't want to make the thing more confusing for players. Instead of changing things for everyone I may just do what I think should be done for myself (if I win several weeks, I sit out and add money in anyway) and let the others play as they have been. We tried mixing things up a bit in another local weekly 9 ball tournament that is handicapped, raising handicaps so there are no 2s, making it called 9 ball, then removing the called 9 but keeping the ratings 3-6, and it made for people complaining about rule changes being confusing for players, especially those that don't play every week.
 
pt109 said:
My vision of your tournament is the winner has to give the field the eight next tournament.
....if he wins that one, he gives the 7/8....if he keeps winning, add the next ball...etc.
Click to expand...

I like this too, and you dont have to announce it, the director states it before the next tourny - that the prior week's winner gives up a spot....
 
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