Tony Chohan Interview - "APA takes in 26mm, pays out 1mm"
- Thread starter behindthe9ball
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I'll admit that I don't like handicapping either. I understand that you attract more ppl with handicapping, so I guess you could say that I do support it.
I'm not sure when handicapping became the norm, but it seems relatively new. When I first started playing in the 90's all the tournaments were either open, or they were A or B & C tournaments. All regional tournaments were open. It was the local tourneys that were A or BC and personally I'd rather it go back to that.
I'm not sure when handicapping became the norm, but it seems relatively new. When I first started playing in the 90's all the tournaments were either open, or they were A or B & C tournaments. All regional tournaments were open. It was the local tourneys that were A or BC and personally I'd rather it go back to that.
Dont know why people are so against handicapped leagues. Handicapping has been around forever. Very few people play even up when gambling. Heck even pros spot each other in a match.
all i ever read on here is how much of a spot an a player should give a b or c player in a match. . A spot in a gambling match is nothing but a handicap. why should a bunch of amateur players be looked down upon for playing under a handicapped format in a league ? It's the same situation in my book.
I'm a 1 and I'm going to win the tournament!
My Mommy told me I am a good person and I deserve to win!
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I cant tell you how many times I take 2s and 3s aside and tell them "if we work on this or that we can get you to a 4 or 5 by next year easy " and they reply how they like where they are and dont want to get moved up and HAVE to play better.The league mentallity sucks.
Why does it suck??? You have a lot of interested people playing pool and generally the higher level players are playing against each other, who actually understand pool... is that such a bad thing?
Who cares if there are some people that don't have the ambition to get better? That doesn't affect the higher level pool players at all except for a random night or two...
Gambling and leagues are completely different.
Does the APA do anything to help a player want to get better? If I'm a 5, and every year my team does well, and we win money. Why wouldn't I just continue to play just well enough to remain a 5?
What incentive is there for me to get better and raise my SL?
I think "completely ridiculous" is a little over-the-top. You are entitled to your opinion, which I respect, but people have always, and will always bet on any form of competition. That is the nature of the beast. And some players cannot get their heads in the game unless something is on the line. It could be money, dinner, drinks or whatever. Some people like to walk away with a prize, it's that simple.
What's the difference between league and gambling ? In both instances you have 2 players shooting pool and trying to win a match. Maybe they have different motives for playing one or the other but the end result is they are playing pool and not very many people want to play a superior player in either format without a handicap.
Apa offers free videos from a few instructors to help improve your game. As for incentive ......well I guess that's up to each individual to decide how much time and money they want to devote to improving their game.
During my time in apa so far I have seen people improve and others that will more than likely never improve.
I do not doubt what you've said and experienced, however, this has never been my experience. Every single person Ive offered help to has been happy to receive it.
I do know that the people you're speaking of do exist but I would argue in a much smaller number than you've made it sound.
By and large, league mentality is great. It turns so many of us into avid pool players. I go to BCA Nationals or APA Nationals, maybe both, every year. I purchase streams. I spend money in pool halls 2-3 times a week. I show people pool etiquette and equipment etiquette. I will help anyone that needs or asks for help. And I'm no saint nor alone in this mentality. There are many people around who do the same. At least in my experiences.
Another thread where one side (gamblers) are adamant is the only way to make you better, or to make it enjoyable. Like the non LD folks versus the LD folks. The LD folks don't mind or complain about the non LD folks, ever.
I've played baseball for 40 years and NEVER had to bet a nickel to run into a fence, or take a fastball in the back to get a free base. You played to win no matter what.
I think folks like Lou just don't enjoy the game enough to play for "free". I love the game, I love practicing in my basement against the ghost. Some folks just don't have that, and that's OK. But, they don't understand the rest of us.
Yeah, I can play for fun or a few bucks.... but I only play for a few bucks because the other guy can't play for fun and $10 per game is the same as "funsie" to me. I spend more than that for lunch ever day.
If I lose $50 or $100, I would not even notice it gone from the wallet, but the other guy would. But, I guarantee I'm trying just as hard or harder, cause you only play to win. Most folks don't know any other way.
Maybe these "pool gamblers" don't have the same commitment to win no matter what unless they are getting paid and don't understand others can play "balls to the wall' every time no matter what.
I hope I never play pool only for money because the game became so boring and the only thrill is to win a few bucks. If that's the case, there has got to be better way to make a few bucks for your time, no? I'd just quit pool at that point and donate more time at the local animal shelter.
I've played baseball for 40 years and NEVER had to bet a nickel to run into a fence, or take a fastball in the back to get a free base. You played to win no matter what.
I think folks like Lou just don't enjoy the game enough to play for "free". I love the game, I love practicing in my basement against the ghost. Some folks just don't have that, and that's OK. But, they don't understand the rest of us.
Yeah, I can play for fun or a few bucks.... but I only play for a few bucks because the other guy can't play for fun and $10 per game is the same as "funsie" to me. I spend more than that for lunch ever day.
If I lose $50 or $100, I would not even notice it gone from the wallet, but the other guy would. But, I guarantee I'm trying just as hard or harder, cause you only play to win. Most folks don't know any other way.
Maybe these "pool gamblers" don't have the same commitment to win no matter what unless they are getting paid and don't understand others can play "balls to the wall' every time no matter what.
I hope I never play pool only for money because the game became so boring and the only thrill is to win a few bucks. If that's the case, there has got to be better way to make a few bucks for your time, no? I'd just quit pool at that point and donate more time at the local animal shelter.
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If I play bad, I feel like crap no matter if I lost $100 doing it or if I made a mistake on my home table alone. You can learn the same thing watching some pool videos as you would giving your money to a pro to rack for them while they run out, unless you actually got lessons for your money.
I think you can learn from watching videos AND from getting beat to death by a great player. You are just learning different things. When I watch pool, I like to see how these better players play patterns, that's what I learn from videos. When I play a better player, I learn how to deal with pressure that I cannot get from the video. Pressure makes people do funny things.
Great post :thumbup:
Yes, the mental part you can't learn without experience, but in some cases you can't learn it at all no matter how much you try, your brain just does not want to listen to you. Learning things like how to meditate, calm your body, breathing, even something like Yoga or martial arts can help you mentally. I am betting Buddhist monks would make some killer pool players if they picked up playing.
Totally agree. I know some people who have been gambling for years and I'll let them play the 3-ball ghost all day long:thumbup:
Who says they don't.
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*I think* some people just say stupid stuff.
I have written about and shared my passion for pool for over 20 years, going back to RSB. So my credentials -- when it comes to enjoying the game -- are just fine.
Yours, not so much.
Lou Figueroa