What criteria to use to rate Players

[sharandrew]

How would you rate a player in your own area?

What criteria would you use to allow someone to play in a particular tournament or not?

What would be the factors that would bump up someone based on known ability?

The question is more about a master player vs. an open player or “A” player and “B” players differences?

What would downgrade a player?

 

[Snapshot9]

Its not easy

to rate a player.

Usually 9 ball ratings go from 2-12 (in my area anyway).

If the player plays for money, other money players (usually
better ones) will rate them on a scale. Like, Tom is a 5,
and so I will spot him the 7 and the breaks for $100 set.
(I might add that money ratings seem to be the truest
rating, even better than tournament ratings unless they are
the same - The house determines tournament rating. Some
houses will let players in a tournament at a handicap 1 lower
than normal just to fill the tournament up sometimes).

A player would not go down in rating unless he hasn't shot
in over a year, or if he was injured, and thus impaired in his
ability to shoot. Being drunk or drug impaired is not an excuse
for lowering handicaps. That is the player's stupid mistake only.

Lower rated players improve faster and more often than
the highest rated players, and therefore should be adjusted
up in handicap when improved IMO.

Around here, if a player is unknown or new, we usually have
a real good player or two (8 or above) watch them play for a bit,
and rate them as best as possible to start with. If it is obvious
the new guy better than his rating, the TD reserves the right
to raise them up (usually only by 1) during the tournament. If
the new guy wins the tournament, he automatically goes up one.
(Do not have a mediocre player rate people, only players that
are real good, and that can detect faking, and true skill levels.
A real good player (like one that plays for lots of money) can tell
the difference between bar shooters and a player and usually
assign a rating that is pretty true, especially if that new guy has
been shooting on the challenge 9 ball table before the tournament).

I have rated players before, and watched their first match, and if
I think I overrated them, I ask the TD to adjust them down by 1
for the rest of the tournament and thereafter.

 

[sharandrew]

to rate a player.

Usually 9 ball ratings go from 2-12 (in my area anyway).

If the player plays for money, other money players (usually
better ones) will rate them on a scale. Like, Tom is a 5,
and so I will spot him the 7 and the breaks for $100 set.
(I might add that money ratings seem to be the truest
rating, even better than tournament ratings unless they are
the same - The house determines tournament rating. Some
houses will let players in a tournament at a handicap 1 lower
than normal just to fill the tournament up sometimes).

A player would not go down in rating unless he hasn't shot
in over a year, or if he was injured, and thus impaired in his
ability to shoot. Being drunk or drug impaired is not an excuse
for lowering handicaps. That is the player's stupid mistake only.

Lower rated players improve faster and more often than
the highest rated players, and therefore should be adjusted
up in handicap when improved IMO.

Around here, if a player is unknown or new, we usually have
a real good player or two (8 or above) watch them play for a bit,
and rate them as best as possible to start with. If it is obvious
the new guy better than his rating, the TD reserves the right
to raise them up (usually only by 1) during the tournament. If
the new guy wins the tournament, he automatically goes up one.
(Do not have a mediocre player rate people, only players that
are real good, and that can detect faking, and true skill levels.
A real good player (like one that plays for lots of money) can tell
the difference between bar shooters and a player and usually
assign a rating that is pretty true, especially if that new guy has
been shooting on the challenge 9 ball table before the tournament).

I have rated players before, and watched their first match, and if
I think I overrated them, I ask the TD to adjust them down by 1
for the rest of the tournament and thereafter.

good comments

 

[Plummerbutt]

Two weeks ago I spoke over the phone with a TD. I was looking for info and ranking for an upcoming 8-ball tourny. He mentioned a few players that live in my area and asked how I faired agaist them. I told him that they are strong but I hang right with them.
He then tells me that he'll rank me as an "A" player. I'm happy with that because thats where i felt I should be. The tourny was this past weekend and right before it starts he posts players rankings and I'm ranked as a "AA", one step under "master". I think "well, thats cool". Until I start my first match and all I could think of is being ranked as a "AA" and I had better be able to live up to it.
It was my first big tourny and I was nervous. Adding to my nerves was the fact that it was my first time in the place and I wasn't accustomed to the noise and "personalities" of the other players, many of whom are regulars. However, I played not only terrible, but quite stupid as well, and was out of the tourny in two sets (4-4 and 4-2). Both loses coming to what I considered lesser players (two "B" players).
I don't have any hard feelings towards the TD. I just wasn't able to handle the pressure that I put on myself after learning I would be considered a "AA" player. It was a rookie mistake and I'll bounce back and be a real "AA" next time.
I guess what I learned is that over ranking can have a negative affect on a person.., at least on those of us who seem to not be able to handle it.