The Biggest Flaw of APA's Handicapping

[cookie man]

Has the APA given any thought to a rolling 10 match performance outcome to help determine true handicaps? I say this because “the past is prologue” saying could have impact here. A player could be hotter than a 3 peckered billy goat for 4 matches, but not be able to make a ball the next 6 matches. On average, he’s really not that good. I’ve seen hcps raised in this scenario, but not lowered when he stinks up the place. You know how a rolling average works; drop match one to replace it with match eleven. There would always be 10 matches used to determine a hcp. I think this would be a fair way to determine a truer hcp.

10 matches aren’t enough. That’s one session of dumping to get your rating down.

 

[APA Operator]

This was my point. League Operator’s input would no longer be needed under a rolling average system. Rolling average is a purely objective system; no longer would someone stay a SL 7 when their match outcomes say they are lesser skilled player, just because the LO thinks so.

Let me rephrase that for you. No longer would someone stay a SL 7 when they want to be a SL 6. You need oversight no matter what the computer does.

 

[Tom1234]

10 matches aren’t enough. That’s one session of dumping to get your rating down.

Why would someone “dump” one session? They would be of no help to get their team into the playoffs; maybe even Vegas. Besides, in a rolling 10 match hcp rating, their hcp would go up when they start winning. Let’s face it, LOs would not like a truly objective system. Losing on purpose serves no purpose. People sandbag now hoping to get their hcp lowered. If that works, their hcp goes back up when they start winning. I just want to take the ridiculous subjectivity out of APA hcps.

 

[pogmothoin]

APA ratings are too generous. The rating should reflect some level of skill. 5's that can't perform a simple stop shot? 7's that rarely run tables? Give me a break. Winning doesn't mean you're any good, just better than the person you played. Toughen up on the criteria to advance and then maybe the system makes sense.

 

[ctyhntr]

APA ratings are too generous. The rating should reflect some level of skill. 5's that can't perform a simple stop shot? 7's that rarely run tables? Give me a break. Winning doesn't mean you're any good, just better than the person you played. Toughen up on the criteria to advance and then maybe the system makes sense.

You do realize that 7 is the terminal handicap in APA 8-ball, meaning no matter how good you become (such as Shane level) they can't raise you. In my area, it takes as little as C+/B to become a 7. Those are hardly players you expect to run tables.

 

[us820]

Why would someone “dump” one session? They would be of no help to get their team into the playoffs; maybe even Vegas. Besides, in a rolling 10 match hcp rating, their hcp would go up when they start winning. Let’s face it, LOs would not like a truly objective system. Losing on purpose serves no purpose. People sandbag now hoping to get their hcp lowered. If that works, their hcp goes back up when they start winning. I just want to take the ridiculous subjectivity out of APA hcps.

You can play apa 6 days a week here.Pick one or two team nights where it's a drink 800 beers and bang balls anywhere but in the pocket and it's enough to keep you down.Also we have many tourneys to play.People around here just play active apa to have a lower rating in the tourneys than they should.When people complain the bar owners look them up as active players for years at "X" rating and shrug their shoulders at you and tell you to play better.The pool world's ethics make me sick.