What do you think would happen if there were no handicaps, in any leagues or tournaments, and all tournaments were Open to all skill levels?

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vintagecollectibles831

Active member
Curious, what do you think would happen if there were no handicaps, in any leagues or tournaments?

Do you think that the popularity of pool still be very good, and competitive?

Do you think that a lot of players would just stop competing?

Do you think that the leagues greatly suffer, and die?

Do you think that the players just stop playing in tournaments, and they too would die?

Thanks for any thoughts on what you think woukd happen, in this fictional world, where no leagues or tournaments ever did handicapping, and all tournaments were open to players of all skill levels.

Would this be good, or bad for competitive pool, in the long run?
 
Most leagues would crumble in my local region.

Pool is a big hobby near me, but that's all it is.. A hobby. People trying to have fun on a Sunday or Monday evening and not get their shit kicked in every match. They won't play if they don't even have a snowballs chance in hell at winning some matches.

There's open un-handicapped tourneys in my state, and you don't see any of the lower skill levels try them. They don't want to donate their money to the pros and shortstops. They stick to their handicapped 499 tournaments.

I think handicapped leagues are the answer to your question. Leagues and tourneys began handicapping to stay alive, they were hemorrhaging players, specifically casual players.
 
there was always handicaps.
Even before amateur leagues and tournaments, before it was considered a sport, it was a gamblers game and hustlers gave weight in order to get action.
So even if the game is sent back to it's dark times, there will still be handicaps. And don't be fooled by this or that movie or old men tales, it was a dark time.

There will always be someone to cry over it, someone who is looking for an easy game rather than accepting the challenge to push to become better.
Anyone who ever gave some weight needs to remember that once he got some weight in the past.
Got to start somewhere and getting to the point that you feel that you give too much weight means you're getting better and this just a step in the way of getting even better, it should get harder, not easier.
 
I hung around the Rack in Detroit a lot in the 70s….it was the best action room in the world.
At least 80% of the big action involved a handicap.
I used to tell people “There is no two people that can’t make a fair game….although I did my best to avoid that situation.
 
pt109 said:
I hung around the Rack in Detroit a lot in the 70s….it was the best action room in the world.
At least 80% of the big action involved a handicap.
I used to tell people “There is no two people that can’t make a fair game….although I did my best to avoid that situation.
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I agree but old-school 'match-up' pool is almost as dead as HulaHoop. sure still some going on but nothing like in the past.
 
I have always said that handicapping is good for pool. Even though they want to slaughter everyone, stronger players would get more out of their game if they had to play well to win every match. Most matches are so uneven that the stronger players dont even have to try and still win.

Handicaps that result in more hill hill matches are good for both parties. The stronger player has to bring it hill hill and the weaker players gets more experience in a situation that may never come up if they were to play that same player even.

The biggest factor for casual players is the buy in. Most casual players would play anyone if the buy in was reasonable. As the buy in increases, the stronger players are happy they can win more money but you start to see weaker players not wanting to play.
 
David in FL said:
For money?

How long would you "love" getting murdered every night before it got old?
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In a league or tournament? Absolutely! American pool culture is so odd in this regard. People would pay thousands for the opportunity to play against a famous tennis pro or a basketball pro, and yet in pool it's somehow a bad thing to play anyone better than you.
 
kingwang said:
In a league or tournament? Absolutely! American pool culture is so odd in this regard. People would pay thousands for the opportunity to play against a famous tennis pro or a basketball pro, and yet in pool it's somehow a bad thing to play anyone better than you.
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One match? Sure.

Week after week, month after month, year after year?

Not so much.
 
If you could see a fargo list of how many 600+ players are 20 - 30, 30 - 40 and 40 - 50 It'd show there just aren't as many solid players as there was 20 - 30 years ago. With handicapping or without it if you don't have players you aren't going to have as many tourneys or action. I never cared about league or understood why anyone would!!
 
Johnson said:
If you could see a fargo list of how many 600+ players are 20 - 30, 30 - 40 and 40 - 50 It'd show there just aren't as many solid players as there was 20 - 30 years ago. With handicapping or without it if you don't have players you aren't going to have as many tourneys or action. I never cared about league or understood why anyone would!!
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No. There are way more people playing now than 20+ yrs ago. A lot more good players too. There are a lot of 650+( damn sporty speed) players scattered around the country. 20-30yrs ago there weren't as many players that speed. There were a lot of players sure but there was a big difference in really 'strong' players and those in the next level or two down. A true 650 would have won a lot of money back in late 80's-early 00's.
 
vintagecollectibles831 said:
Curious, what do you think would happen if there were no handicaps, in any leagues or tournaments?
Do you think that the popularity of pool still be very good, and competitive?
Do you think that a lot of players would just stop competing?
Do you think that the leagues greatly suffer, and die?
Do you think that the players just stop playing in tournaments, and they too would die?
Thanks for any thoughts on what you think woukd happen, in this fictional world, where no leagues or tournaments ever did handicapping, and all tournaments were open to players of all skill levels.
Would this be good, or bad for competitive pool, in the long run?
Click to expand...


It'd be like an industrial park. Biggies and/or "sons of" thereof would set up shop. Startups would come and go making whatever associations come along. A community may form. etc..

If there was pool around me, I'd enter stuff to explore the deal. I (like most prolly) did that when there was pool around. Assessment: Not good enough for big boy fun. Keep nose to wheel. MMOB

Pool would still bomb.
 
SBC said:
You are describing pool from 30 years ago.
You got better or You got used to losing.
The pecking order was clear in every pool hall.

That's how pool should have stayed.
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Just a question so don't hate the messenger: If that format was so great what happened? How much pool now is poolroom based vs. clubs/bars? I liked that era myself but it was destined to die off. The COM movie caused a huge uptick in pool just like the 'Hustler' did but both were doomed in the long run. Just my take nothin else.
 
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