Strongest Level Of Play In Leagues
- Thread starter mongoose-
- Start date
i would say vnea. there are no caps on skill handicaps and you do not have to be an amateur to play.
Ironman317 said:
I think if you ask most league players that actually participate in National events the opinion would be that the BCA Pool League would be the toughest. There are no handicaps at the Nationals and with the addition of the Grand Master division, many pro level players enter. The fields are larger as well.
Bill S
mongoose- said:
IMO - a league with NO handicap - straight races - no weight - no coaching
8 ball - BIH - "open" after break (even if you only make 1 stripe or 1 solid) - all ball fouls - all fouls BIH - no coaching
9 ball- Texas Express - 3 foul rule
Even though 99.9% of us are never going to become pros, nor do we have the time or money to pursue gambling as a "lesson", I feel that if we do want to raise our game to our own personal highest level possible then we should seek out the tightest game parameters and the toughest opponents we have access to.
This is sort of a silly question since the strongest league players in the country play in all of these events. The BCA definitely has a very large turn-out (probably the largest) of strong players. However, the APA's 7 division is a very dense field. Without a doubt, the BCA Master's Division and Grand Master's Division are probably the strongest events you'll find but don't be surprised if you see some of its participants in VNEA and APA events, as well.
randyg said:
Obviously. Texas has one of the strongest leagues in the country. The state always has strong representation in the nationals.
Having been around all the different league systems, I believe BCA hands down has the most high rated players. Not all BCA leagues, but many of them. TAP and APA are more for lower - mid range players. VNEA has some great players as well, but not quite as many as the BCA.
If you are a mid-range player and want to improve, I suggest joining a competitive BCA league. Push yourself, go to nationals and compete. You'll increase your game tremendously.
If you are a mid-range player and want to improve, I suggest joining a competitive BCA league. Push yourself, go to nationals and compete. You'll increase your game tremendously.
Find a local bar league. A league with no national affilliation. These leagues play with no handicaps and have the strongest local players. The reason for this is because almost all of the money goes directly back to the players in point money. There is none of this BS about paying out thousands of dollars that only a very few teams ever get and hardly any money being returned to the other teams.
If you're talking national level and only care about the quality of play at the national tournaments, then BCA is probably your best bet. Otherwise it's going to be different in every area. Here in Charlotte APA is king and the best league players are found there. There isn't much else here other then APA and 8-Ball Express (which sends their teams to the APA Nationals). In Minnesota the M8 league had great players and I saw very little APA there.
Basically IMHO the best players in a city will play in the local league that is run the best.
Basically IMHO the best players in a city will play in the local league that is run the best.
I agree with stuckart here, having had experience with all of the leagues mentioned. 3 of the four are played almost exclusively on 7' tables. Much of BCAPL play is on 9' tables, in pool rooms, even though the national tournament is played on 7' Diamonds. VNEA, by necessity, has to be played on Valley barboxes. Add to that, anyone can join BCAPL and compete at nationals. You have to "qualify" to play in APA, VNEA, or TAP nationals.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
stuckart said:
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