Playing APA 9-ball for the first time tonight

[ScottW]

What I love most about APA 9-ball is that even if you don't win your individual match you still will generally get some team points based upon your performance. That is the way a team sport should be, all members of the team should have a way to contribute without having to hit a homerun or score a goal. APA 9-ball IMO, may be the only true team form of pool.

That's a good point. I wonder if that same principle could be applied to 8-ball. It's a much tougher prospect though, considering the nature of the two games.

You can't do it purely by games won, as the races are all different and one team who, based on their put-ups and races, may end up with potentially more games won in a night than another.

I'm almost thinking it could be done by a win/loss percentage - i.e. what percentage of each matches' games needed were won. Say a 6 vs a 4 - 5/3 race - 6 gets 5 (100%), 4 gets 2 (66%). Basically would have to keep a running average of all match plays over the session, and the division scoring would be determined by that average - like the lead team is at 72% win/loss, 2nd place at 68%, etc.

That sort of system would also go a fair way to putting the kibosh on sandbagging - can't just dump games and then come back and win the match!

 

[NeZ]

I had my second 9 ball match last night and I played a lot better than last week. I was more comfortable and relaxed since I understood the system a little more. I ended up winning 25 - 12. I had a few good 4 and 5 ball runouts and the match was over pretty quickly.

I wasn't sure about the APA 9 ball after last week but I liked it a lot more this week. I still think I prefer 8 ball for APA but I'll stick around for 9 ball and enjoy it.

 

[buzzsaw]

I am a 9 in 9-ball and they put a 2 up against me. I forget the race but it was something like 70 to 20. The 2 didn't make 2 balls in a row the entire match. When it came down to me making 6 and him making 5 for all the marbles he runs 3 balls and then banks the 9-ball for game, set and match.

 

[ScottW]

I am a 9 in 9-ball and they put a 2 up against me. I forget the race but it was something like 70 to 20. The 2 didn't make 2 balls in a row the entire match. When it came down to me making 6 and him making 5 for all the marbles he runs 3 balls and then banks the 9-ball for game, set and match.

Yep that happens. It's a lot easier for a super-low handicap player to beat a super-high handicap player in APA 9-ball than it is APA 8-ball. All the low player has to do is slop a ball in here, a ball in there.

FYI I think your matchup was your 85 to their 14. (Your race may have been 75, but I'm pretty sure it's 85 for a 9) With slop involved, working more in your opponent's favor than yours, that's a tough race. That, on top of the whole mental "oh crap" feeling of playing the weak, sloppy player.

 

[NeZ]

I know some of the higher SL players in my division weren't very happy with the move to 9 ball for the same reason. It's a lot harder for them to win against a novice than in 8 ball.

Of course, I guess that means the handicapping system is working since it's leveling the playing field, but some people feel it's a little too weighted toward the lower SL's.