Try TAP! The fastest growing pool league in the country!

[tigerseye]

The only division that is fair is masters league of the APA... Want to get better? Play masters league... No spots, no whining about rankings, easy score keeping and very laid back atmosphere...
Handicap systems are impossible to understand... Play even and play pool for all the right reasons.... To get better=)))

 

[skiergirl55]

You're all right about one thing: I don't know squat. Yeah, I suck, I know it. I'm not saying I'm good at anything about pool, but I want to learn. I'm into this game 6 months, I've been considering joining a league but have never been on one.......but look at all of this crap! It's exhausting to read.

So I'm gonna sit back and listen to all the stuff going on here. I will STFU. (High five yerselves)]:slap:

On second thought, fook it......I'm going bowling. At least on a bowling league, you know the rules and it's the same everywhere you play, everyone you play, every league you play.:speechless:

Edit: There is not one thing anyone can say to squelch my enthusiasm for this game. I'm in for the long haul, and if I live long enough to get really good......I'll play safe, I'll play offense and defense, and I'll be the best I can be at this and perhaps you'll hear my name someday.

 

[justadub]

OK, I try to not get into pissing contests. Sometimes I fail.

ChiacgoRJ: "I am learning the game the way it should be played,
WRONG, in baseball three strikes you are out in T-ball, little league, high school, college and the pros. You are learning the wrong rules which hold you back from being a good player. Why do you want to play different rules than the pro's ??????"

Coming from a Little League Coach, father of a High School Baseball Player, and general baseball fan and somewhat a student of the game....

Baseball. Different rules than the pro's. I could take all day. Three strikes and you're out is a simplification. To wit:

T-Ball: As many players as you have in the field to play defense, rather than 9. Apply this to Minor League/Farm League portions of Little League as well. No strike outs at all (there goes your three strikes and your out comparison) in T-Ball. Swing till you hit. Various other rules that apply to the more advanced leagues do not alpply to T-ball (ie The Infield Fly Rule, intentional walks, etc)

Little League: 60 foot basepaths, 46 feet from pitching rubber to plate. (As opposed to 90 foot basepaths and 66.6 feet from the plate in middle school, and above) Cannot steal a base until the ball crosses the plate, no leads allowed. Pitch count limits (more complicated than deserves the space... suffice to say Little League has them, levels above have different levels, until college and pro). Every player has to play defense for at least 2 innings, and bat at least once.

Junior League/Senior League: Different Pitch Count Rules, often the 10-run rule is in effect. (10-run rule applies at different levels until college and pro, your mileage may vary) Every player has to play a certain amount, I cannot remember the details and cannot be bothered to look them up.

College: Aluminum bats are still allowed, versus the professional leagues.

Minor League Professional Baseball: Being caught taking performance enhancing drugs results in a 50-game suspension on the first offense. This does not apply to major league baseball.

OK, ChicagoRJ. Show me where I am wrong. Different levels of baseball, from t-ball on up. Different rules. How does this differ from the various pool leagues across this country, and across the world? Each pool league caters to a different crowd, be they beginner (LT-Ball/Little League) or progressively more advanced? The rules change as the skills advance.

Nowhere has there EVER been a definitive set of rules to play pool by. BCA, or any other alphabet soup variation. There have ALWAYS been "house rules", which could be different in various regions of the country, or even across town. Different tournaments have had different rules for years.

Know the rules you are supposed to play by, and play the game. Have fun. Lather, rinse, repeat. But don't blame the APA for ruining pool for the masses. Most players I encounter in my APA League are observant enough to know the rules they are supposed to play by in the match they are in, be it APA or house rules. (Yes, we play by house rules when it isn't "League night".) Your blanket statement, painted with that ever popular broad-brush, is completely inaccurate. And shows your particular bias. Which you are entitled to, though it doesn't make it fact across the width and breath of this nation.

 

[justadub]

You're all right about one thing: I don't know squat. Yeah, I suck, I know it. I'm not saying I'm good at anything about pool, but I want to learn. I'm into this game 6 months, I've been considering joining a league but have never been on one.......but look at all of this crap! It's exhausting to read.

So I'm gonna sit back and listen to all the stuff going on here. I will STFU. (High five yerselves)]:slap:

On second thought, fook it......I'm going bowling. At least on a bowling league, you know the rules and it's the same everywhere you play, everyone you play, every league you play.:speechless:

Edit: There is not one thing anyone can say to squelch my enthusiasm for this game. I'm in for the long haul, and if I live long enough to get really good......I'll play safe, I'll play offense and defense, and I'll be the best I can be at this and perhaps you'll hear my name someday.

All you need to know are the rules that are in effect for the league you are playing in at that time. Everything else is rubbish. By now you understand the basics of the game, and the rules differences are not so significant as the flamers here would have you believe. No matter which league variant you participate in. I believe from reading your posts that you are intelligent enough to see the rules as they are, and to be able to incorporate them into your game. How you play is up to you, and to how much practice you devote to this fine pastime. Do not let the thread-killers take you away from this game. Experience it for yourself, talk to many different people who play (not LO's) and try them out. Worst that happens is you don't play as much as you'd like. But you'll know first hand how it goes in that league in your area. No matter how many posts appear here or anywhere else, you will know how it is where you live. Keyboard commandos live everywhere, but know little about where YOU live and play. And make no mistake, everywhere is different, no matter which alphabet soup league denomination you try. If you have more than one, try them all! I would, if they were available to me. No matter what the posters here said.

Have fun, play pool. Play pool, have fun.

 

[danquixote]

You're all right about one thing: I don't know squat. Yeah, I suck, I know it. I'm not saying I'm good at anything about pool, but I want to learn. I'm into this game 6 months, I've been considering joining a league but have never been on one.......but look at all of this crap! It's exhausting to read.

So I'm gonna sit back and listen to all the stuff going on here. I will STFU. (High five yerselves)]:slap:

On second thought, fook it......I'm going bowling. At least on a bowling league, you know the rules and it's the same everywhere you play, everyone you play, every league you play.:speechless:

Edit: There is not one thing anyone can say to squelch my enthusiasm for this game. I'm in for the long haul, and if I live long enough to get really good......I'll play safe, I'll play offense and defense, and I'll be the best I can be at this and perhaps you'll hear my name someday.

I was one of the initial responders to your first post here. I and others suggested joining a league for friendly competition. Also suggested was the purchase of some good instructional material. It is obvious from your recent posts here that you have not heeded this advice. Almost every book on pool has a section devoted to safety play.....some better than others. All authors agree on the importance of safety play. IMHO the purchase of "The Eight Ball Bible" would go a long way in furthering your pool education and less likely to commit some of the faux pas recently made. It has what i consider the most comprehensive description of safetys and their uses. After reading this book you WILL understand exactly why your opponent may have chosen to play safe.....and most importantly......why you should do the same in a given situation

 

[cuesblues]

Tap

1. The TAP rules are on www.tapleague.com Some of the big differences to the other league is a 25 point team limit, no slop on the 8 ball or if your playing 9 ball, both must be called pockets and the table is open after the break in 8 ball until a called ball is made.

2. Scorekeeping is keeping track of completions, misses, balls left on the table, made on the break, safes, early 8's, break and runs and 8 on the breaks.

3. A total of 21 matches is calculated, throwing the high and low out so a total of 19 matches is used to get a overall average.

4. I am not bashing the APA (or any other league for that matter) but I merely stated that TAP gained more new members then the APA last year (by approx. a 6-1 ratio). We know what we gained in numbers and they posted in IP mag what they did. No bashing at all, just stating their facts and ours.

5. I knew the APA people would come on here as if I stuck a stick in a hornets nest. They always do. TAP has sold all of these new areas I mentioned in the past 3 1/2 months and everyone was a APA member or former member. What does that tell you?

6. This will be my last post on here. If you have any questions about TAP, please call the numbers I posted or PM me. No matter what league you decide to play in...... enjoy the game, the competition and the night out with your friends. That is what it is all about.

I played TAP for 3 1/2 sessions, even won the TAP MVP tournament, and the Dream Team tournament..
I thought the ridiculous scorekeeping system was grueling and we had a tremendous amount of sandbagging, and skill level "rigging".
The LO's were fragmented and seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted with little structure.
The "title holder" & "masters" tournaments where all of the so-called money went was a joke, and were won by the teams that knew from week to week how many misses or completions they needed to keep their skill levels down.
We played 3-16 weeks sessions, won all 48-weeks and all we got was over ranked and no payback.
Had we attempted to keep our skill levels down we could have competed in the those tournaments, but all the money went to the teams "in the know" who purposly lost every week.
Some of the better players on those teams were even shooting left handed.
So much for a money league.

Other than that I liked TAP.

 

[DelaWho???]

You're all right about one thing: I don't know squat. Yeah, I suck, I know it. I'm not saying I'm good at anything about pool, but I want to learn. I'm into this game 6 months, I've been considering joining a league but have never been on one.......but look at all of this crap! It's exhausting to read.

So I'm gonna sit back and listen to all the stuff going on here. I will STFU. (High five yerselves)]:slap:

On second thought, fook it......I'm going bowling. At least on a bowling league, you know the rules and it's the same everywhere you play, everyone you play, every league you play.:speechless:

Edit: There is not one thing anyone can say to squelch my enthusiasm for this game. I'm in for the long haul, and if I live long enough to get really good......I'll play safe, I'll play offense and defense, and I'll be the best I can be at this and perhaps you'll hear my name someday.

Enjoy the game and try to keep an open mind. League play isn't for everyone and it is always easier to tear something down than it is to build it.

I first joined the league out of a desire to get better by playing as wide a variety of people possible. The league, any league offers this, as does tournament play. I've met soooo many really great people on league night, folks I would have never met in any other circumstance, and a lot of them have turned into really solid friendships.

I don't really care what the rules are as long as everyone involved play by the same rules. In a handicap situation I always try to beat my opponent even up where handicap doesn't come into play, IE winning 3-2 when my opponent needs 4 games.

Also like any sport there is offense and defense. I strive to be a well rounded player to play defense when it's appropriate and to get out when I can. I look at someone else playing defense on me as a challenge. getting out of a good safety without giving up ball in hand or selling out the rack is almost as gratifying as winning the game. I appreciate a good safety whether I'm on the receiving end or not.

I have also learned things from players who aren't as skilled as I am (I'm about a c player) sometimes because they did something on accident and I recognize how I could do it intentionally to further my skill set. Playing more skilled players I am a sponge. I'l be watching everything you do and taking from your game the things that will positively effect my style of play.

I would caution you not to pick up any bad habits from guys who play better, a lot of these folks have been playing for years with a funky stroke or approach, so much so that they have learned how to compensate for their flaws and play weel in spite of them.

Enjoy the game, learn from it and the people you play. Everyone has something to offer.

 

[jay helfert]

How can you want to play in a league where the 8 counts on the break, and if you scratch on the break while making the 8 you lose the game? In my opinion, BCA is the best league, with the best rules in the country.

I disagree with you. I think that is the way Eight Ball should be played.

 

[skiergirl55]

I was one of the initial responders to your first post here. I and others suggested joining a league for friendly competition. Also suggested was the purchase of some good instructional material. It is obvious from your recent posts here that you have not heeded this advice. Almost every book on pool has a section devoted to safety play.....some better than others. All authors agree on the importance of safety play. IMHO the purchase of "The Eight Ball Bible" would go a long way in furthering your pool education and less likely to commit some of the faux pas recently made. It has what i consider the most comprehensive description of safetys and their uses. After reading this book you WILL understand exactly why your opponent may have chosen to play safe.....and most importantly......why you should do the same in a given situation

I had a long post written and then deleted. I'll add one more book to these. Then maybe I'll get it.

 

[jason]

I disagree that the 8 on the break is slop. It takes a pretty potent break to get the 8 moving, especially with the lighter plastic balls we find in most of the bars we play in.

Winson,

I have made the eight on the break 5 times in one night, 3 times multiple, multiple times. I have also went months without ever making it too.

Although there is some skill and technique to making the eight, I believe there is a tremendous amount of luck involved also. I very seldom go for the eight even if the table is running well, I'm breaking well and it counts as a win. Personally, I think it cheapens the game a little and the game is better served by runouts.

 

[Mark Griffin]

no 8 on the break

I disagree with you. I think that is the way Eight Ball should be played.

Jay, I gotta disagree on this.

I don't think any pool game should be won (or lost) on the breeak.

Sure, there is a level of skill - but a lot of luck is also involved in making the 8 on the break (or the 9 - or the 10).

Look at 10 ball as the rules evolve. Initially the 10 counted on the break, then did not count in the bottom pockets, and now pretty much does not count on the break.

Mark Griffin

 

[Blackball75]

I don't think any pool game should be won (or lost) on the breeak.

Sure, there is a level of skill - but a lot of luck is also involved in making the 8 on the break (or the 9 - or the 10).

- See post #51 for an opposing view

- IMHO 10-on-the-break in a pocket other than the two rack-near corner pockets is a fine compromise, just adding to the break that slight extra element of chance to those it already has

**

Anyone know what % of games the professionals make the 8-ball on the break on average?

 

[randyg]

I'm with Mark on this one. I don't feel like driving 2000 miles to get beat on the break.....SPF=randyg

 

[mikepage]

I'm with Mark on this one. I don't feel like driving 2000 miles to get beat on the break.....SPF=randyg

I'm with Mark & Randy.

We've grown so accustomed to this cartoon-like exaggerated importance of the RACK and the BREAK that we've lost perspective.

Setting up a game situation that worships the break as much as, say, many high-level 9-ball and 8-ball tournaments do really disrespects other aspects of the game.

The pool community waking up woud be a good idea, imo.

 

[jason]

I'm with Mark & Randy.

We've grown so accustomed to this cartoon-like exaggerated importance of the RACK and the BREAK that we've lost perspective.

Setting up a game situation that worships the break as much as, say, many high-level 9-ball and 8-ball tournaments do really disrespects other aspects of the game.

The pool community waking up woud be a good idea, imo.

I'm with Mark, Randy, and Mike on this one too. Jay, I'm really surprised on your view point on this one. Care to elaborate?

 

[jason]

Jay, I gotta disagree on this.

I don't think any pool game should be won (or lost) on the breeak.

Sure, there is a level of skill - but a lot of luck is also involved in making the 8 on the break (or the 9 - or the 10).

Look at 10 ball as the rules evolve. Initially the 10 counted on the break, then did not count in the bottom pockets, and now pretty much does not count on the break.

Mark Griffin

I really, really would hate the thought of playing a team event in Vegas, getting to the 25 match and then being snapped out on. If the opponent ran the 25th rack, I would feel he/they deserved it. Snapping out, I would feel like they stole it. I wouldn't want to win that way either.

Personally, I don't like it in nine-ball either and it is a lot easier to make the nine than the eight on the break.

 

[MEMPHISBULLFROG]

ill tell you like this the apa is bullshit u get raised if you shoot one good match and tap says if you do it enough you get raised. there is only one bad thing about tap in that as long as you make an attempt not to foul it is not a foul that is bullshit. but tap is by far better better players better league.

 

[justadub]

I'm with Mark on this one. I don't feel like driving 2000 miles to get beat on the break.....SPF=randyg

With all due respect (I can't believe I'm actually going to argue with RandyG, must get head examined) this thread was at one time about leagues.

8 on the break at a tournament, I can see your objection, and completely understand it. But for a weekly local league night? Making the 8 on the break adds a little spice to the night, mixes things up some, and generates some excitement for the winning side. And again, it's just league level.

I had it happen against me this week, and it didn't ruin my night. Made me want to get my turn it having it happen...

 

[jdxprs]

the break is probably the most important shot in pool.

i dont like any rule that takes away from the importance of the break.

 

[danquixote]

I had a long post written and then deleted. I'll add one more book to these. Then maybe I'll get it.

Well ma'am....I stand corrected, you did indeed purchase some instructional material......quite a bit of it in fact. So without trying to offend or insult I will ask if you have experienced information overload, or simply have not had the time to study and absorb so much material. If you have really studied the sections on safety and have a basic understanding of how and why they are used.....then why get upset or complain about another player using this elemental strategy.........Dan