SL 6s & 7s: Why do you play APA?

[Troublemaker]

The APA League I play in has trouble attracting and keeping higher level players. I hear a lot of the better players say there's not that much in it for them. The competition is too weak or they don't like the handicap system, etc...

I'd really like to hear from some 6s & 7s who enjoy playing in APA as to why? Why did you start playing APA in the first place.

We've all heard the complaints on here before, so please, I'd really like to only hear from people who enjoy APA.

Thanks!

 

[cajunbarboxplyr]

Why do I keep playing???

I jsut like the competition.......If Im playing a low ranked player. I look at it like a sparring session.........good practice.........keeps me on hte edge and on my game...........In my area we dont have tour stops or big huge events..........and the tourneys around here arent the greatest but there is a good one now and then.......Other than that I think APA is crap

 

[steev]

I enjoyed being a 7 until I couldn't field a team with my friends anymore...

It sucks having to bring in wives and non-playing friends mid-season to get the team under 23.

-s

 

[pooltchr]

I play because I just love playing. I don't care about going to the city tournament, or vegas. I just like going out for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon and seeing what I can do. I don't even worry too much about winning or losing, although I am always out to win. But if I play well and lose, I'm ok with that. If I play below my expectations and win, I know I need to do some work on my game.
I also get a lot of students from the league who will watch me play and decide there must be something they want to learn from me.
Finally, I have made a lot of good friends over the years playing APA.
Steve

 

[jason]

I enjoyed being a 7 until I couldn't field a team with my friends anymore...

It sucks having to bring in wives and non-playing friends mid-season to get the team under 23.

-s

ditto.

 

[Milo]

Took 3 yrs off

After a 3 year hiatus from APA, I am going to start playing again.
I am playing to support my league house and the team I am playing on are friends from years ago. I think it will be fun.

 

[JDB]

The APA League I play in has trouble attracting and keeping higher level players. I hear a lot of the better players say there's not that much in it for them. The competition is too weak or they don't like the handicap system, etc...

I'd really like to hear from some 6s & 7s who enjoy playing in APA as to why? Why did you start playing APA in the first place.

We've all heard the complaints on here before, so please, I'd really like to only hear from people who enjoy APA.

Thanks!

I used to do it because of friends. I met some of my best friends by playing with them on an APA team. It is also a great way to meet people when you move to a new location. Although I have not had time yet to check out the APA leagues in Dallas, I hope to do so in the near future.

 

[s'portplayer]

Sl6

I just simply enjoy playing pool. We have a large league with relation to the population that allows for alot of comraderie that would other wise be unavailable to alot of people.

 

[desmocourtney]

Keeps me sharp until something better comes around.

Watching wimmins bent over a table aint bad either, even if they are gay.

 

[Beware_of_Dawg]

I like beer, and friends.

 

[Da Poet]

The APA League I play in has trouble attracting and keeping higher level players.

That's weird, usually the problem around here is attracting and keeping low ranked players.


It's fun if you have teamates that have a good attitude, want to get better, and want the advice that a better player can offer. Besides the satisfaction of helping others with the game, the overall social thing is really the only other upside for a higher ranked player.

 

[vgodley1]

It's about the only chance I get to play anymore and even after 20 years of marrage, I enjoy having my wife with me. My moter-in-law lives with us and is in declining health, so it's become our nite out. We also have some very strong players here that play league and a strong masters league. I like to play on both a 8 ball and masters team on my thursday nights out.

Note that we all play on 9' tables around here.

 

[FLICKit]

Just to add something a lil different to the mix...

Sometimes it makes you re-evaluate your own stroke fundamentals, when you can see clear flaws of others. Can see someone, and subconsciously say, can't believe they stroke like that... Oh wait a minute, let me be sure that I don't do it like that.

In other words, seeing it done the right way can be helpful. But sometimes that doesn't sink in as clearly as when you see it the wrong way. Sometimes when you see someone do it the right way, natural tendency is to assume that's the way you are already doing it. But seeing it the wrong way, gives a clear image, and (whether teaching them or not) you can do a little self check to verify that it is proper.

 

[s'portplayer]

neither are problems

We don't have problems keeping low or high handicapped players. We have an abundance of 3's. 4's and 5's, quite a few 6's, good many 7's, 5-10 8's, 3-5 9's. The problem alot of teams face, is having to ask the high skill level players to leave their team, especially after they move up.

My double jeopardy team, now has the "honor" of having a sl 7 and 3 sl 6's, to go along with 2 sl 4's and 2 sl 3's. Two of our 5's moved up to 6'sm which obviously put us in a tight spot when trying to get in under the 23 rule. But, we're all friends and it makes for good fun, but makes it hard to finallly make the decision to ask a player to leave the team .

That's weird, usually the problem around here is attracting and keeping low ranked players.


It's fun if you have teamates that have a good attitude, want to get better, and want the advice that a better player can offer. Besides the satisfaction of helping others with the game, the overall social thing is really the only other upside for a higher ranked player.

 

[Quesports]

I was an 8 when I stopped playing in the APA. I became the sudo coach and mentor to a group of non players that just wanted to get drunk and stoned. I lent them books that they spilled beer on and cues that they dropped and dinged. Then of course they would expect me to stay until 1 am to tell them how and what to shoot at. There were times that I would sit from 7pm until 12:30 am to play my match, which would be over in 30 minutes and cost me $11.00.. Of course there was plenty of sandbagging as the most experienced players knew exactly what they would need to keep there rank from going up which is a big problem for most teams, the 23 rule makes it very difficult on the better players and there teams.
It just became a real drag and stopped being fun for me, this was just my feelings and the reason I stopped playing in the APA. I know many enjoy the APA and I did for a while also.
JMO,
Dan

 

[Da Poet]

We don't have problems keeping low or high handicapped players. We have an abundance of 3's. 4's and 5's, quite a few 6's, good many 7's, 5-10 8's, 3-5 9's. The problem alot of teams face, is having to ask the high skill level players to leave their team, especially after they move up.

My double jeopardy team, now has the "honor" of having a sl 7 and 3 sl 6's, to go along with 2 sl 4's and 2 sl 3's. Two of our 5's moved up to 6'sm which obviously put us in a tight spot when trying to get in under the 23 rule. But, we're all friends and it makes for good fun, but makes it hard to finallly make the decision to ask a player to leave the team .

Usually the problem with keeping higher ranked players is not their interest, but the 23 rule as you are saying. But the OP seems to be saying they are having trouble getting higher ranked players on their team or in their league which isn't the norm around here.

 

[Scott Lee]

Nothing like a little "re-education" to clear the mind, huh, FLICKit? It's amazing how quickly the stroke flaws of others become so OBVIOUS to us, once we truly understand the "hows" and "whys" of how things work on the pool table, the way they do! It makes us all better 'coaches'! Many players fail to see this a an additional side benefit to getting lessons!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Just to add something a lil different to the mix...

Sometimes it makes you re-evaluate your own stroke fundamentals, when you can see clear flaws of others. Can see someone, and subconsciously say, can't believe they stroke like that... Oh wait a minute, let me be sure that I don't do it like that.

In other words, seeing it done the right way can be helpful. But sometimes that doesn't sink in as clearly as when you see it the wrong way. Sometimes when you see someone do it the right way, natural tendency is to assume that's the way you are already doing it. But seeing it the wrong way, gives a clear image, and (whether teaching them or not) you can do a little self check to verify that it is proper.

 

[mouse]

First off I LOVE TO PLAY POOL. That said the only reason I play APA is to go to Vegas for the mini tournaments. I have been to the team tourn twice, once we got 33 in the 8ball division and another time 9 in the 9ball division. I have 10 times more fun going and playing minis than the team tourn. You dont have all the political crap and can just play.I have been kicked off 2 teams because I went up and we couldnt make numbers when I was a 5 and a second time because the team captain that he was a better 6 than I. I am now a 7 and a 9 will only play if I put the team together as I dont understand 2 or 3 sk that put teams together and them want to coach team with an 8 or 9 sitting there. APA is what you make of it in my opinion and I absolutely love to go to Vegas. Goold luck and enjoy.

 

[Banks]

I agree with Mouse, the APA is what you make of it. I enjoy getting together with my friends once a week, shooting pool and having a few beers. I also get to go to different bars that I'd normally never know about and play people that I'd not normally play. Having the handicap system also makes stay on your game, too - a 5-3 race against a 5 means you can't be screwing off, because you still need to play up to your rating to make sure you cover the spread (same for 9). I just went up to a 7 in 8, so I'm happy.

 

[hobokenapa]

The APA is about playing with your friends, having a good time, and getting to Vegas. I am an SL9, and enjoy bringing beginners onto my team so I can help them to improve. In fact, just last week I brought two new players onto the team that are SL2 and both very enthuisiastic about the game. I have a great team that all get on so well. No drama. No tantrums. You have to put the team first. Next weekend we play in the 9-ball Gold Cup to get to Vegas, and the following week, we play in the 8-ball Gold Cup to get to Vegas. I can't wait!