Raised to SL 7 for the second time for the last time?

[bmsclayton]

u r missing out

in my 2 years in apa so far i have never seen a 3 run a rack. of course i have never been to vegas either:frown: if there are 3's that can run racks it is due to inaccurate scorekeeping in the local leagues.

i can only think of 2 times i have ever seen a 4 run a rack. i am a 5 and i only had 3 break and runs all of last session, 37 matches.

this session i have no break and runs in 23 matches. mainly because i have been playing like shit lately.

whenever i am in a match i am always watching my opponent, if i see him make a safe i make sure our scorekeeper marks it. accurate scorekeeping will help cut out sandbagging.

I have seen three's run out sets. The apa eventually catches them but what sucks is all the people and teams knocked out along the way. The apa uses pool and people should use the apa to meet people and get some experience to move on to bigger and better things or continue to donate to the apa kind of like a dating website, a way to meet new friends. Believe me I have been to Vegas but I didn't need to. I saw that happen in the apa's back yard.

 

[lorider]

I have seen three's run out sets. The apa eventually catches them but what sucks is all the people and teams knocked out along the way. The apa uses pool and people should use the apa to meet people and get some experience to move on to bigger and better things or continue to donate to the apa kind of like a dating website, a way to meet new friends. Believe me I have been to Vegas but I didn't need to. I saw that happen in the apa's back yard.

i dont think i will ever make it to vegas, every team i play on sucks:grin:

i did try to make it through the singles regionals the last 2 years. come in 2nd last year and only 1st place went. have not even tried to qualify this year, just getting too old and dont have the stamina for long drawn out tournaments.

this is not the 1st time i have heard stories about sandbaggers, i have just not seen much evidence in my area.

our lo is heavily involved in all of his divisions. he visits at least one every night and sometimes more than one in the same night.

he also plays on a couple of teams, i play on one with him. by being there every night and also playing against a lot of members he can keep tabs on peoples speed pretty good. he is not above raising anybody at anytime.

i still aint got over him raising our 2 in the middle of the southern classic at tunica. we went there with a loaded team and when she got raised it basically eliminated us from the tourny. the hell of it is she is the captain of a team he plays on , so he dont play favoritism with anybody.

 

[bigshooter]

APA should change the rule, for example once you hit a speed you stay at that speed forever unless you move to a higher speed. If you become a 6 you are always a 6 until you become a 7 then you are always a 7.

It would eliminate all sandbagging, if you cannot maintain at your level too bad for you, go practice more.

 

[krupa]

i can only think of 2 times i have ever seen a 4 run a rack. i am a 5 and i only had 3 break and runs all of last session, 37 matches.

To demonstrate the difference between SL's in different locations, I have had two break-and-runs in the past year (though I've come close a lot.)

Last night wasn't pretty, but I managed to win. It took a little while to stop worrying about the extra balls I had to make but once I settled down, I played fairly well.

 

[nine_ball6970]

APA should change the rule, for example once you hit a speed you stay at that speed forever unless you move to a higher speed. If you become a 6 you are always a 6 until you become a 7 then you are always a 7.

It would eliminate all sandbagging, if you cannot maintain at your level too bad for you, go practice more.

I assume you mean on regular league nights because there is a lowest attainable rule. If you are at one level in any higher level tournament or get bumped up at Nationals then you cannot move down in level when playing in any higher level tournament. They do have medical exemptions but the instances in those being granted are rare.

I do not think the big problem is players who fluctuate between two levels. It is the players who play 2-3 levels below what they are capable of. Nothing will eliminate sandbagging completely. Certain people will always try to bend the rules if they can. Accurate scorekeeping and reporting players you truly feel are underrated will cut down on the problem.

 

[Rio19]

I always play the best game I can.

The problem is, no one believes me.

"How did you miss that shot? My grandmother could make that shot and she's been dead for 20 years!"

Best of luck in your last session!

I know how you feel because I have been there my friend. When it was happening to me I was more determined to practice and prove my teammates wrong, which made me play worse.

Stay positive and have faith in yourself and most of have fun and don't get down on yourself and I promise things will get better.

 

[Rio19]

I was a 5 for two seasons, moved up to a 6 at the beginning of this session, won ONE match all season. Dropped back down to a 5, played another 5 and waxed him. Following week I get moved back up to a damn 6, loose last week, dropped back down to a 5 for this week.

I don't know if it's a mental thing for me or what. I just dont feel comfortable as a 6. I also try my best every match, but sometimes I play like a "once a month" casual player, other times I can't be beat.

Most people have that problem. My friend and mentor always says sometimes your mind and confidence have to catch up with your game.

 

[Maniac]

My friend and mentor always says sometimes your mind and confidence have to catch up with your game.

My mind is toast, I have zilcho for confidence, and my "game"???? Obviously, you've never seen me play:embarrassed2:!!!

Maniac (it's still the best fun out there though)

 

[Maniac]

APA should change the rule, for example once you hit a speed you stay at that speed forever unless you move to a higher speed. If you become a 6 you are always a 6 until you become a 7 then you are always a 7.

It would eliminate all sandbagging, if you cannot maintain at your level too bad for you, go practice more.

I personally believe that a rule like this would actually increase sandbagging. They (sandbaggers) would be dogging the hell out of every shot they could get away with for fear of shooting to good, going up and staying up.

IMO, a better solution would be that once you got your first 20 matches in, then your skill level can neither go up or down during any given session. Once the session is done, then a new skill level can be given (if applicable) for that player for the next session. This would eliminate teams incurring problems with the 23-rule during the middle of a session or playoffs. The only stipulation I would have is that if you qualify for Vegas as a SL5, then go up between sessions to a SL6, then you must play in Vegas as a SL6. This would stop an improved player from steamrolling players of their "old" abilities.

Just a thought.

Maniac

 

[trob]

Who can figure apa out lol I was a 7 when I started... Became an 8 in two weeks...only lost one game all summer. Low innings ..Back to back runs more then once . Beating all levels including 9s and I don't go up. Just went on a three week losing Streak where I lost tO a 5,9 and then got my butt kicked when i barely beat a 4 to his number. I thought hell I'm going to get moved down. This week I Play a 6 start the match string 3 runs in a row together but he did come back and make it respectable when I made a mistake late in the match...and I get a call from my captain saying were screwed you got moved to a 9 and we can't make the number if you Play. Guess my apa season is done lol

 

[RFranklin]

9 ball really isnt 9 ball

One thing that becomes glaringly obvious when you move up is that 9 ball really isnt 9 ball for two main reasons. First, not being able to roll out becomes huge because you probably spread balls on the break and you shouldnt get penalized because a ball gets between you and the next ball. Last week I broke and ran the first rack, broke and made 3 balls and only had a two rail kick. Missed and gave him ball in hand and now the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control. Also, track how many times you break when you play a 4 or a 5 versus the final score and who actually wins based on APA rules. I cant tell you how many times I have broken 80%+ of the match and it still comes down to the last rack to determine who wins. I am an APA 9/7 and like 9 ball better but what APA calls 9 ball is a far cry from the real thing.

 

[CreeDo]

Good attitude krupa... going up isn't the end of the world, even if it means you can rarely play. Sometimes it's fun to just go with your team and sweat their matches. Seven is a nice number to aim for because it usually means you can really play. There are different levels of 7 but they can all run a rack and most halls only have a handful.

 

[trob]

I call it rotation straight pool Lol that pisses my league operator off for some reason

One thing that becomes glaringly obvious when you move up is that 9 ball really isnt 9 ball for two main reasons. First, not being able to roll out becomes huge because you probably spread balls on the break and you shouldnt get penalized because a ball gets between you and the next ball. Last week I broke and ran the first rack, broke and made 3 balls and only had a two rail kick. Missed and gave him ball in hand and now the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control. Also, track how many times you break when you play a 4 or a 5 versus the final score and who actually wins based on APA rules. I cant tell you how many times I have broken 80%+ of the match and it still comes down to the last rack to determine who wins. I am an APA 9/7 and like 9 ball better but what APA calls 9 ball is a far cry from the real thing.

 

[RFranklin]

I do the same thing and they frown a little. Every tournament I ask them when APA is going to make it more like "real nine ball" just to ruffle their feathers. I also coined the term "I just got APA'ed" whenever I give ball in hand after a break because I had to try to hit one off three rails.

Funny thing is, a 4 doesnt really get the magnitude of how much that really changes the game. They think they can really play with you.

 

[Banks]

Stay positive and have faith in yourself and most of have fun and don't get down on yourself and I promise things will get better.

Yep!

Last week I broke and ran the first rack, broke and made 3 balls and only had a two rail kick. Missed and gave him ball in hand and now the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control. Also, track how many times you break when you play a 4 or a 5 versus the final score and who actually wins based on APA rules. I cant tell you how many times I have broken 80%+ of the match and it still comes down to the last rack to determine who wins. I am an APA 9/7 and like 9 ball better but what APA calls 9 ball is a far cry from the real thing.

First sentence, you say, "the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control." Instead, I see it as it should have been 1-1 if you were just playing straight up. Would you feel better if the race was 9-4 in games? I'm a 7/9, too, and I started as a 4 or maybe went down to a 3. APA 9b taught me how to control a table. If you're just relying on your low opponent to miss, instead of playing correctly, is that what you consider 9b to be?

There are different levels of 7 but they can all run a rack and most halls only have a handful.

Pretty much true from what I've seen. As Ghossst would say, though, they can range from 7- to 7++!!!!77!!!++++. I was barely a 6/6 when I started posting on here, but apparently posting history only goes back 1000. :frown:

 

[RFranklin]

Banks - "First sentence, you say, "the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control." Instead, I see it as it should have been 1-1 if you were just playing straight up. Would you feel better if the race was 9-4 in games? I'm a 7/9, too, and I started as a 4 or maybe went down to a 3. APA 9b taught me how to control a table. If you're just relying on your low opponent to miss, instead of playing correctly, is that what you consider 9b to be?"

You missed my point. At least with a roll out, I would be able to strategically make him try to safty me (possiblity of missing) or make a difficult shot (possibility of missing) or finally pass it on to me to try and safe him. It would not necessarily have been a 1-1 game. He was only a 6 and very likely wouldnt have been able to run the remaining 6 from where I would have left him.

 

[krupa]

One thing that becomes glaringly obvious when you move up is that 9 ball really isnt 9 ball for two main reasons. First, not being able to roll out becomes huge because you probably spread balls on the break and you shouldnt get penalized because a ball gets between you and the next ball. Last week I broke and ran the first rack, broke and made 3 balls and only had a two rail kick. Missed and gave him ball in hand and now the score is 13-7 instead of what should have been more in my control. Also, track how many times you break when you play a 4 or a 5 versus the final score and who actually wins based on APA rules. I cant tell you how many times I have broken 80%+ of the match and it still comes down to the last rack to determine who wins. I am an APA 9/7 and like 9 ball better but what APA calls 9 ball is a far cry from the real thing.

I have found that my approach to APA 9-ball is all wrong for "real" 9-ball. In APA, I'll run balls and play safe if I have to, but if I've already cleared most of the table, I don't worry too much about the remaining balls. It's a bad habit but it's there right now. Of course, this mentally fails me miserably playing "real" 9-ball. If I run 6 or 7 then miss or play a bad safety, I just lost.

Good attitude krupa... going up isn't the end of the world, even if it means you can rarely play. Sometimes it's fun to just go with your team and sweat their matches. Seven is a nice number to aim for because it usually means you can really play. There are different levels of 7 but they can all run a rack and most halls only have a handful.

Thanks, I hadn't really thought about that; I mostly just look at the people who are still above me and want to keep going. Kind of like climbing a mountain (I have never climbed a mountain) and always looking to go higher instead of feeling good about how high I've already gone.

I have no illusions about my game; there's a lifetime of improvement in front of me, but I'm happy that in the last year and a half since picking up a cue again, I've come a long way. (Thanks to my teacher, Dale Baker.)

 

[justadub]

I do the same thing and they frown a little. Every tournament I ask them when APA is going to make it more like "real nine ball" just to ruffle their feathers. I also coined the term "I just got APA'ed" whenever I give ball in hand after a break because I had to try to hit one off three rails.

Funny thing is, a 4 doesnt really get the magnitude of how much that really changes the game. They think they can really play with you.

Not all of "them" do.....

I'm a 5, and I know that I don't wanna try and hang with the 7's and 8's in a regular 9-ball format. In a games won scenario, I'd get smoked, far more than an 8-ball match with the same player.

We have a local weekend tourney here, and we use APA skill levels to handicap it, since 99% of the people who play in the tourneys also play APA. But instead of having to keep score, we switched to games won, 8-ball style (need to win one less than your Skill Level).

The TD is allowing push. I went two weeks without thinking to even use it, lol.

I also learned quickly to change my break. Scratching on the break can mean a very quick game.

It's fun, makes you get out of your routine.

 

[Banks]

You missed my point. At least with a roll out, I would be able to strategically make him try to safty me (possiblity of missing) or make a difficult shot (possibility of missing) or finally pass it on to me to try and safe him. It would not necessarily have been a 1-1 game. He was only a 6 and very likely wouldnt have been able to run the remaining 6 from where I would have left him.

Yeah, I guess I did miss the point there. Instead of going for the shot, you could've just made the run-out difficult. Either way, I know what you mean, but it's not like the rules were sprung on us when we signed up. I've just made it through my 8th year, so I'm comfortable with the rules being what they are. I don't think they're perfect, but even BCA has a couple of rules I'm not big on. If I'm executing my break properly, the chances are high that I should have a shot afterwards. If I'm not executing well, then I should pay for it. Even then, I should be able to(or learn how to) get myself out of those situations.

It is what it is and APA 9b has actually helped my game quite a bit. I need to work on my safeties a bit in 9b, but other than that I'm doing alright. I'm no monster.. yet.

 

[RFranklin]

Not all of "them" do.....

I'm a 5, and I know that I don't wanna try and hang with the 7's and 8's in a regular 9-ball format. In a games won scenario, I'd get smoked, far more than an 8-ball match with the same player.

JustaDub - I read my comment and I didnt mean it to be condescending. I was a 5 in 09 and move up in Feb of this year. Of course I quietly thought I could hang with anyone but I prefer to speak softly and carry a big stick. Your attitude about playing is perfect. Play in those tourneys with your goal being to never be an easy out. Dont give up when you are down, especially when you are getting weight. I have two 5s on my team that if they would stick around and practice afte hours I could have to a 6 or 7 by next session.