question for apa players

[Banks]

Unless you're really good for an amateur, being on the high end of the APA ranking scale for 9-ball can seem to be without reward at times.

Everyone expects you to win against a lower ranked player, but anyone who's done it knows that giving up a 40+ balls to your opponent is a challenge if they can even hit the ball in the general direction of the pockets:
Give up more than a few balls a rack, and you're in trouble. You rarely get a good rack, but don't want to make a fuss of it. Hanging a ball in the pocket is suicide. Most of the time when you come to the table, the leave is horrible because your opponent isn't playing position for anything. Top that all off with the fact that your opponent is usually extra focused because they really want to beat you but also relaxed because they know their team will understand if they don't, and it's really tough to win.

I've had a 2 run out from the 3-ball on a 9ft. table before. None of the shots were ducks and she's not likely to do it again any time soon, but the focus was there for that match.

Don't misconstrue this as complaining; it's only fair for us to give up that much weight. Just make sure your high ranked players know you're only kidding if you rib them for losing to a low rank.

I started out just like everybody else, working my butt off to improve. One of the biggest changes I had to deal with was from going in as an underdog, to going in with a target on my back. I've usually been better at playing up to a better opponent and slacking a little if I think I've got the best of it. Coming to the realization that I now had to play, in some cases, harder against the lower ratings, made things interesting for me.

I, too, have seen a 2 break and run on a barbox. Like you said, I wouldn't bet on it happening again any time soon. But, that's the way it goes sometimes. I always say that it's going to be ugly if one person's playing well and lucky, while the other's dogging it and unlucky. You just have to suck it up and take it like a man(or a woman). As for those that try to give me jabs on a serious level, I just ask them if they want to play. As for the spot, it's pretty reasonable, considering a 9 shooting well could lay down 30-40 points just in break n runs.

 

[dabarbr]

Frank,

Met you at the BCAPL's. I play with Greg Kuhl and the Pickle gang from the Cue Club.

Just don't like APA 9 Ball. Probably has something to do with no local NY team wants me. No room for a 9!

Surprisingly, no local NY player has complained about me. Have a great group of people to play with on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Seems everyone wants to play me from the 2's on up. One of the guys said its bragging rights if they beat me! Supposedly its just a game! Yet right!!!!!

Lyn

Yes I remember you. I know what you mean about no room on teams for a 9 level. Most teams need to have a skill level one for the nine to be able to play.
In 2004 I played the regionals in both eight and nine. I played in the nine ball just to keep warmed up for eight ball, my facorite, because there were no practice tables. I qualified for Nationals in both and wound up winning the nine ball. I hated that they made the players keep score. (no outside score keepers allowed) For me I had to put my glasses on an off and it was a bother. I haven't played nine ball since.

 

[justadub]

Unless you're really good for an amateur, being on the high end of the APA ranking scale for 9-ball can seem to be without reward at times.

Everyone expects you to win against a lower ranked player, but anyone who's done it knows that giving up a 40+ balls to your opponent is a challenge if they can even hit the ball in the general direction of the pockets:
Give up more than a few balls a rack, and you're in trouble. You rarely get a good rack, but don't want to make a fuss of it. Hanging a ball in the pocket is suicide. Most of the time when you come to the table, the leave is horrible because your opponent isn't playing position for anything. Top that all off with the fact that your opponent is usually extra focused because they really want to beat you but also relaxed because they know their team will understand if they don't, and it's really tough to win.

I've had a 2 run out from the 3-ball on a 9ft. table before. None of the shots were ducks and she's not likely to do it again any time soon, but the focus was there for that match.

Don't misconstrue this as complaining; it's only fair for us to give up that much weight. Just make sure your high ranked players know you're only kidding if you rib them for losing to a low rank.

Take this from one of the lower ranked players, I agree with this completely. I am far more at ease "playing up" in 9-ball than in 8-ball. (Neither bothers me, and I like the challenge, regardless. Still, I am more confident of my chances "playing up" in 9-ball.)

We only have one SL8 in our division, and a couple of SL7's, one of which is on my team. (We have a small 9-ball division, only 6 teams currently. Compared to our 8-ball division with 14 teams, and seven SL7's, with a couple more that come into and out of the league now and again.) Any time he loses a match, it is an upset. To anyone in the room. So I understand your situation.

This past weekend I hung with one of the best SL8's in our entire state, and came close to winning, because I picked off enough here and there to stay in it while he had to continue "not missing". Still, were we to play a game-based race, he would likely mop the floor with me most times, unless I got on a particularly sustained good roll, or just got lucky. He is just that good, and all I would be left with for shots would be long sharp cuts and/or banks, or wild flyers at combo-ing the 9. So while the points based system does make it more of an even game, I recognize the challenge you upper level players have to face when you have to "play down", which around here is most of the time. Sustained excellence... 55, 65 or 75 points, that does show great skill. In a tournament scenario, like last weekend, it's even more impressive, multiple matches scoring that many points, over and over again. Wow.

(And I never rib our SL7 about losing, believe me. He takes care of that on his own, and he doesn't deserve it, coming from me. I will rib him about plenty of other things in our world, trust me. We do have a good time, at the pool room and away from it. And he's a great help to my game, as well.)

 

[Matt]

I always say that it's going to be ugly if one person's playing well and lucky, while the other's dogging it and unlucky.

True. It also gets ugly when two high ranks are playing and one is shooting well and the other never gets a good look at a ball. A few break and runs, a few good safes and a couple of good rolls will get you to 55/65/75 in a hurry.

A few month ago, a 9 had me down fifty-something to zip after 3 innings where I kicked twice (without leaving him bad enough to prevent a run out) and missed a long cut down the rail. That was in a singles tournament, so it didn't matter if I got 0 points or 8 points, I'd still be out. I've never forfeited a match before, but that one had me thinking about it...instead, I stuck with it and lost miserably in very short order. My only consolation was that another 9 did almost the same thing to him in the next round.

 

[cardiac kid]

True. It also gets ugly when two high ranks are playing and one is shooting well and the other never gets a good look at a ball. A few break and runs, a few good safes ....

At Regionals last Fall, my first match was against the number one ranked player (by APA stats) in NY State. Won 5 / 1. My second match, played the number two player. Also won 5 / 1. Waited nearly four hours. Played another local 7. Someone I beat on a regular basis. He won the lag. Broke and ran the first rack. Broke the eight ball in. Broke and ran the next rack. Didn't make a ball on the break and I ran out. Broke dry. He ran out. He broke dry. I got a bad roll going to the eight. Probably my fault. Don't remember. Scratched on an unforeseen carom after hitting the eight. Lost 5 / 1. As he lost his first match, he continued playing. Lost to someone I had already beaten his next match. I won my first two so I was out of the event. A three inning match. Is that what you call "gets ugly"?

Lyn

 

[Banks]

At Regionals last Fall, my first match was against the number one ranked player (by APA stats) in NY State. Won 5 / 1. My second match, played the number two player. Also won 5 / 1. Waited nearly four hours. Played another local 7. Someone I beat on a regular basis. He won the lag. Broke and ran the first rack. Broke the eight ball in. Broke and ran the next rack. Didn't make a ball on the break and I ran out. Broke dry. He ran out. He broke dry. I got a bad roll going to the eight. Probably my fault. Don't remember. Scratched on an unforeseen carom after hitting the eight. Lost 5 / 1. As he lost his first match, he continued playing. Lost to someone I had already beaten his next match. I won my first two so I was out of the event. A three inning match. Is that what you call "gets ugly"?

Lyn

That's what I absolutely hate about their modified tournament format. They really, really, really need to change that.

 

[Tony_in_MD]

I was in the 80's as a 7 in 8ball for over 5 years. I remember becoming a 7 midway into my first session. I have not played APA in a long time.

Is there a way for an old fart like me who has been out of it for an extended period to get an account to look up past mistakes?

 

[Banks]

I was in the 80's as a 7 in 8ball for 5 yearts. Have nort played APA in a long time.

Is there a way for an old fart like me who has been out of it for an extended period to get an account to look up past mistakes?

You have to be a current member to access the stats and such, I think.. not to mention, they appear to only have info going back through 2011 or something. That's 2011 A.D., I mean.

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Cripes, I need the records to go back to 1991 B.C.

Maybe they have my stats on a stone tablet somewhere.

You have to be a current member to access the stats and such, I think.. not to mention, they appear to only have info going back through 2011 or something. That's 2011 A.D., I mean.

 

[DecentShot]

Playing 9 ball in the APA is a lot of fun. I like the format so much, that I dont really want to play rotation any other way than keeping a point per ball system. Im an SL 7 and ive finished in the high tier top five both sessions ive played. I played 8 ball one sessions...and I was kind of meh about it. But that is for more practical reasons than most people have. I dont like the racks I get in 8 ball. It is far too many balls for all but the most pristine bar tables. Nobody sits there for 30 seconds per rack to get it perfect. Ill play 8 ball when the APA allows magic racks.

 

[McKinneyMiner]

I was curious about this so I actually looked up my stats for the first time in forever...

I am a 9 in 9-Ball and a 7 in 8-Ball

9-Ball: 14 Lifetime Matches 86%
8-Ball: 77 Lifetime Macthes 79%

One note is that I have never lost to a player of my skill level on a regular league night... I have in Vegas but not in league...

As a contrast my BCA stats for the previos year were:

8-Ball: 77%
9-Ball: 70% (still running)

I almost think there is nothing harder than winning as a 9 in APA 9-Ball against lower skill level players...

Recently in a regional singles qualifier I played a 6 with me needing 75 and him needing 48...

I was ahead at one point 56-3 and only won 75-39...

It is really hard to stop people from making balls on Valley bar tables...

They get a clear shot, run a table and then they're off to the races...

I take the challenge, but I never assume I am going to win...

 

[justadub]

When reading this stuff, I have to keep reminding myself that many (perhaps "most") folks playing APA are doing so on 7-footers.

Everyone here plays on 9-footers, 99% of the time. (We did get one team added to our division that has just 2 Valleys, but we play them once a session, and only half of us have to go there. This is only their second session, so who knows if they'll even be part of our division in the future.)

Oddly enough, the last two years, we have to play states on 7-footers, even though the extreme majority of the entire state plays league on 9's. The LO reasons that since Nationals will be on 7's, that is how we should play states as well. (And that room did just put in a bunch of Diamonds, so at least they are nice.)

It's just so foreign to me playing on 7-footers, I have to remind myself that's the norm most places.

 

[lorider]

our sunday night double jeapordy givision has grown quite a bit in the last 2 years.

when i 1st started playing it we played strictly on 7 footers. after a while we had 2 new teams and not enough tables. the lo and room owner put their headstogether and come up with the bright idea of rotating teams on the 9s. each week we had 6 teams play on the 7s and 2 teams play on the 9s.

every 6 weeks my team would have to play on the 9s. well a couple of sessions ago we added 2 more teams. now its every 4weeks we have to play on the 9s. now we have 6 teams on the 7s and 4 teams on the 9s each week.

it makes for a long night when your team plays on the 9s. the innings skyrocket on those nights for some players lol.

 

[DelaWho???]

8-Ball Last Date Played: 04/10/2012 9-Ball Last Date Played: 04/14/2011
8-Ball National Lowest Attainable: 5 - 2009 Open Team Championship 9-Ball National Lowest Attainable: 0 -
* 8-Ball Matches Played Lifetime: 284 * 8-Ball Matches Won Lifetime: 154 * 8-Ball Lifetime Win Percentage: 54%
* 9-Ball Matches Played Lifetime: 63 * 9-Ball Matches Won Lifetime: 43 * 9-Ball Lifetime Win Percentage: 68%
* Total Matches Played Lifetime: 347 * Total Matches Won Lifetime: 197

My masters is an horrible 25% win rate. I have a lot of work to do...

 

[DelaWho???]

When reading this stuff, I have to keep reminding myself that many (perhaps "most") folks playing APA are doing so on 7-footers.

.

Our local bylaws state that matches must be played on a 7' table if it's available or an 8' table. Play offs are on 7' tables. There is only one host location in my division that has 8' table the rest are shitty valley and the like bar boxes.

I don't think there is a pay Diamond table in the state of Delaware... 7' or 9'

 

[lorider]

Our local bylaws state that matches must be played on a 7' table if it's available or an 8' table. Play offs are on 7' tables. There is only one host location in my division that has 8' table the rest are shitty valley and the like bar boxes.

I don't think there is a pay Diamond table in the state of Delaware... 7' or 9'

we do have one poolhall in town that has diamond tables. i happen to play in a travel league that visits there, unfornutaly we only go there 4 times a year.

as i stated earlier once a month we play on 9' goldcrowns, rest of the time i play on valley barboxes, some are pretty good and the rest are crap lol.

 

[4rails88]

When reading this stuff, I have to keep reminding myself that many (perhaps "most") folks playing APA are doing so on 7-footers.

Everyone here plays on 9-footers, 99% of the time. (We did get one team added to our division that has just 2 Valleys, but we play them once a session, and only half of us have to go there. This is only their second session, so who knows if they'll even be part of our division in the future.)

Oddly enough, the last two years, we have to play states on 7-footers, even though the extreme majority of the entire state plays league on 9's. The LO reasons that since Nationals will be on 7's, that is how we should play states as well. (And that room did just put in a bunch of Diamonds, so at least they are nice.)

It's just so foreign to me playing on 7-footers, I have to remind myself that's the norm most places.

first post here and love the website but this is completely opposite from what I'm used to. We play the whole session on bar boxes but for regionals get thrown on to 9 footers. completely throws you off if your not used to it. Don't understand it when you play on 7's for nationals.

and since everyone else is doing it...finally made it up to a SL6 in 8ball last week. Which i don't think is too bad being that i only started playing in leagues January 2011. Only 53% lifetime in 8ball, haven't screwed around with any 9ball leagues yet.