What's with this mystery APA handicapping computer program?

Balabushka

Balabushka

Now that's a dress code.
Silver Member
What's with this mystery APA handicapping computer program?

I hear it's all hush hush and hoosh hoosh, (to quote Terry Thomas from "It's a MAd Mad MAd World")
 
http://www.poolplayers.com/equalizer.html

seems sketchy...



The Equalizer? Handicap System

The uniqueness of The Equalizer? handicap system is that it brings out the best in both the novice/beginning player and the expert should they compete in a match. With The Equalizer?, it's feasible for a beginner to have a nearly equal chance in a match against a more highly skilled player. The Equalizer? aids the lesser skilled player by dictating mathematically that he/she needs to win fewer games or points than his opponent to win the match. (In golf and bowling, you give or get strokes or pins.)

In an APA League, you give or get games in the 8-Ball format and you give or get points in the 9-Ball format. How many games or points you give or get is determined by comparing your skill level to your opponent's skill level. A higher skilled player must give games or points to a lower-skilled player, thus evening the match.
8-Ball
1. HOW HANDICAPS ARE DETERMINED

Your Local League Office calculates and reports skill levels to the teams on a regular basis. Your skill level determines how many games you have to earn to win your match. Skill levels are maintained, calculated and updated by the Local League Office. The process includes a number of factors including the application of specific mathematical formulas to the data on the weekly scoresheets, win/loss records, Higher Level Tournament performance, qualitative judgment by Handicap Advisory Committees, and other considerations. You are asked to refrain from attempting to keep your own records as it is generally a disruptive practice. The APA appreciates your cooperation with this policy.
 
I've got the first official screen shot


pong.gif
 
YEs, it is secret!!!

It is an "ancient chinese secret", and letting it out would only ruin the whole system, or maybe that is the Calgon water softener used at some dry cleaners that is secret? I always mix those two things up - MY BAD:p

Love it or hate it, it is the FORMULA behind the equalizer system used by APA, and if you play in the league, you have to believe it works, or move to another league. Just the facts of the league, and what they consider their difference from the other amateur pool leagues.

And if you find out what it is, they will send people to your house to "convince" you not to tell. And they can be quite "convincing"!!!

Michael
 
Here we go AGAIN...the 333rd thread about "What the heck is behind the SECRET APA handicap system"! If you guys would do an archive search, you'd find out that this has been discussed ad nauseum 100x. It is no secret...it is a computer software program, controlled by the home office in St. Louis, applied at the local level, on a weekly basis...and EVERY week, the stats are forwarded on to the national office, where everything is kept in a giant database. It is based on how long a person plays in the APA. You really don't get any kind of accurate rating until you've played at least a whole session, and usually two sessions (26 weeks). It takes your most recent 20 times you've played, wins and losses, throws out the highest and lowest scores, and averages the BEST 10 scores you made (whether you won or lost doesn't matter), and your rating is based on that score. Ratings go up and down most often when you're a new player. Someone who has played for a few years will generally not see wild swings in their skill rating. The league is designed to produce better players, out of bangers (due to the 'coaching while you play' aspect). The premise of the league is to play your best, and not worry about your handicap. People who actually DO that, have the most fun in playing APA.

Scott Lee ~ former APA L.O.
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Moon Cricket said:
http://www.poolplayers.com/equalizer.html

seems sketchy...



The Equalizer? Handicap System

The uniqueness of The Equalizer? handicap system is that it brings out the best in both the novice/beginning player and the expert should they compete in a match. With The Equalizer?, it's feasible for a beginner to have a nearly equal chance in a match against a more highly skilled player. The Equalizer? aids the lesser skilled player by dictating mathematically that he/she needs to win fewer games or points than his opponent to win the match. (In golf and bowling, you give or get strokes or pins.)

In an APA League, you give or get games in the 8-Ball format and you give or get points in the 9-Ball format. How many games or points you give or get is determined by comparing your skill level to your opponent's skill level. A higher skilled player must give games or points to a lower-skilled player, thus evening the match.
8-Ball
1. HOW HANDICAPS ARE DETERMINED

Your Local League Office calculates and reports skill levels to the teams on a regular basis. Your skill level determines how many games you have to earn to win your match. Skill levels are maintained, calculated and updated by the Local League Office. The process includes a number of factors including the application of specific mathematical formulas to the data on the weekly scoresheets, win/loss records, Higher Level Tournament performance, qualitative judgment by Handicap Advisory Committees, and other considerations. You are asked to refrain from attempting to keep your own records as it is generally a disruptive practice. The APA appreciates your cooperation with this policy.
Click to expand...
This sounds good except you forgot to include the "Sandbagging factor" that invalidates the handicaps of players who lose on purpose so they can have a big advantage when it really counts! Like playing in a tournament to help your team win a trip to Las Vegas.......

James
 
SCCues said:
This sounds good except you forgot to include the "Sandbagging factor" that invalidates the handicaps of players who lose on purpose so they can have a big advantage when it really counts! Like playing in a tournament to help your team win a trip to Las Vegas.......

James
Click to expand...


You win a $500 trip by paying your 8, 16, 32 bucks a week to play pool.

Do the math......
 
In our division, all the teams have to change up every session because folks get better and are then choked on points. Is this common? We have a very focused / competitive division. My team rises up every session and we have to split, pain in the butt!
 
One

only has to be familiar with the term 'Hard Coding' to understand why is a secret .... :rolleyes:
 
LeagueShirts said:
In our division, all the teams have to change up every session because folks get better and are then choked on points. Is this common? We have a very focused / competitive division. My team rises up every session and we have to split, pain in the butt!
Click to expand...
That's exactly what the APA wants you to do. They get players hooked on playing and having a good time and then they start bumping up the handicaps on teams to where they can't meet the 23 rule and they have to split up into 2 or more teams. The players that are hooked on playing and want to continue go out and find more players to make more teams and the amount of teams keep growing. With each player paying his dues and the annual membership and the money keeps coming in.

James
 
LeagueShirts said:
In our division, all the teams have to change up every session because folks get better and are then choked on points.
Click to expand...

It's not the most astonishing revelation in the world, but in APA...

3's that can play a little are COMMODITIES

7's (no matter how good they play) are a LIABILITY

Even if your anchor/superstar/best player SL7 is kicking butt all over the league they are handcuffing your roster.

And that coming from someone who handcuffs my team's roster every week.

Welcome to the 23 point rule.
 
McKinneyMiner said:
It's not the most astonishing revelation in the world, but in APA...

3's that can play a little are COMMODITIES

7's (no matter how good they play) are a LIABILITY

Even if your anchor/superstar/best player SL7 is kicking butt all over the league they are handcuffing your roster.

And that coming from someone who handcuffs my team's roster every week.

Welcome to the 23 point rule.
Click to expand...


Here is my roster
7
6
5
5
3
3
2
2

All the lower ranked players ARE for sale to the highest bidder.
 
here is my roster

D_Lewis said:
Here is my roster
7
6
5
5
3
3
2
2

All the lower ranked players ARE for sale to the highest bidder.
Click to expand...
7
5
5
5
4
4
2

i'll keep them all! great team.
 
D_Lewis...

That is a great roster to have...!!

The team I play on looks like this:

7
5
5
4
4
3
3

As far as I know there are no 2's in our entire league.

A three that can run out once in a while is a HUGE commodity.
 
mars said:
7
5
5
5
4
4
2

i'll keep them all! great team.
Click to expand...


This session, I put a couple buddies together from a mens league team (6, 5, 5, 3) and brought a guy from another mens league team (7) and then 3 brand new players that never had played a league or anything other then the occasional game in a bar (3, 2, 2) and some how ended up winning the vegas trip.
 
great 3

McKinneyMiner said:
D_Lewis...

That is a great roster to have...!!

The team I play on looks like this:

7
5
5
4
4
3
3

As far as I know there are no 2's in our entire league.

A three that can run out once in a while is a HUGE commodity.
Click to expand...
our 2 wins 25%of the time. 7 and 2 of the 5's seldom lose. 1 of the 4's is a glorified 3, but plays good.


marty
 
mars said:
our 2 wins 25%of the time. 7 and 2 of the 5's seldom lose. 1 of the 4's is a glorified 3, but plays good.


marty
Click to expand...

This weekend at regionals here are the stats

7 - 4/4
5 - 2/4
5 - 3/3
3 - 1/2
3 - 1/2 one throw off
3 - 1/1
2 (played as a 3 as per APA rules) - 0/2 (two throw offs)
2 (played as a 3 as per APA rules) - 1/1

If ANY of our lower ranked players win, we still have 3 players that should be winning a large number of their matches.
 
We'll be playing our city tournament here in Dallas beginning Friday...

I'll have to keep some stats and see what our players do.

Now I am curious.
 
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