Why not a "bounty" format in pool

Rak9up

Rak9up

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Why not have pool use the bounty system poker uses for its tourney's.
For instance if you had a $10 entry fee for the tourney and a $5 bounty
The entry fee could pay just 1st and 2nd
Let the bounty handle paying out all the lower places
Seems like it would make alot more people happier week to week or month to month
The poor guy that only wins a match or 2 every week would leave with something
Plus by the time the winner and runnner up get the finals they have prize money and their bounties
 
Rak9up said:
Why not have pool use the bounty system poker uses for its tourney's.
For instance if you had a $10 entry fee for the tourney and a $5 bounty
The entry fee could pay just 1st and 2nd
Let the bounty handle paying out all the lower places
Seems like it would make alot more people happier week to week or month to month
The poor guy that only wins a match or 2 every week would leave with something
Plus by the time the winner and runnner up get the finals they have prize money and their bounties
Click to expand...

That actually sounds like a pretty cool format. Of course it would probably give the TD a headache passing out the prize money.
 
this would have to be a single elimination tournament...otherwise you are rewarding people for losing a match. The whole idea of a tournament is to try and go undefeated. The better players would lose on purpose to collect the bounties in the losers bracket...I just think it's somethign that would destroy the integrity of the tournament if introduced.

That being said, in a single elimination format, I think this idea has a ton of merit. Good idea...wonder if it's been tried yet somewhere, and if so, what were the results?
 
Dagwoodz said:
this would have to be a single elimination tournament...otherwise you are rewarding people for losing a match. The whole idea of a tournament is to try and go undefeated. The better players would lose on purpose to collect the bounties in the losers bracket...I just think it's somethign that would destroy the integrity of the tournament if introduced.

That being said, in a single elimination format, I think this idea has a ton of merit. Good idea...wonder if it's been tried yet somewhere, and if so, what were the results?
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Or you could just have the bounty on the winner's side
 
Dagwoodz said:
I just think it's somethign that would destroy the integrity of the tournament if introduced.
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in my experience, most of the people that enter $10 tournaments are kids that can shoot a ball or two but mostly just ride the 9 every shot... local 9-ball tournaments make me depressed - and i've only played in 2 of them so far. *sigh*
 
stljohnny said:
in my experience, most of the people that enter $10 tournaments are kids that can shoot a ball or two but mostly just ride the 9 every shot... local 9-ball tournaments make me depressed - and i've only played in 2 of them so far. *sigh*
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Free money makes you depressed?
 
stljohnny said:
in my experience, most of the people that enter $10 tournaments are kids that can shoot a ball or two but mostly just ride the 9 every shot... local 9-ball tournaments make me depressed - and i've only played in 2 of them so far. *sigh*
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I'm sure the "kids" are happy someone of your caliper (I assume very impressive) is not playin in the tourney against them.
 
zy112 said:
I'm sure the "kids" are happy someone of your caliper (I assume very impressive) is not playin in the tourney against them.
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i'm not impressive by any means, but i play the game with a sense of honor and don't try to shit in the 9 every chance i get. if there's no other shot, then i'll take the combo, but i play to run out, not slop out. perhaps i shouldn't be a tournament player? or i just need to get better so that i can run out at will, instead of giving them a chance at rearranging the table every shot. heh.
 
Our league team sponsor does something like this every year for all of the people who play on his teams. Single elim 8ball race to 7 16 players. We pay $10 and he adds some money (this year is was $55). If you win your first round, you get $10. A 2nd round win pays $15, third $20 and another $35 if you win.

He used to do this as a 32 player tournament, and matches were played over the course of two or three weeks - you just scheduled a time with your opponent. Then the final 4 or 8 were played on a Saturday.

Kind of a different format... I enjoy it for a change of pace.
 
DoubleD said:
Sorry to say, but this is BS. It is not dishonorable to use the rules in any way that you feel will benefit you. If these players keep slopping the nine in, you need to find a way to keep them from doing it.

BTW, if you are playing to run out, you may not be playing to win.

This reminds me of a sports psyching book that a champion fooser gave me. It basically said that there are four different types of competitors, I can't remember all of them, but one was 'win by any means', another was 'look good by any means'. This triggered something, because I am naturally in the latter category (which it sounds like you are) and I would rather look good and lose than win in an ugly way. Knowing this helped me become a little less occupied with my appearance and more focused on the outcome.

Good luck.

dld
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it's not a matter of looking good, it's a matter of respecting the game, not taking advantage of it. okay, the rules allow for slop, but you don't see B-AAA players firing at everything just because they hope something goes and they get to roll the dice again... they like to play the game, challenge themselves, not just hit balls really hard.

i want to be able to run out - i can't always - but when i know i can't, i also know it's time to play safe. i like to think i play smart, and when i mess up and leave them a shot - yeah, it's my fault; i'm not trying to make excuses for why i lose, i'm just saying i wouldn't mind losing to someone who plays the game, not the loose rules and big pockets.
 
Rak9up said:
Why not have pool use the bounty system poker uses for its tourney's.
For instance if you had a $10 entry fee for the tourney and a $5 bounty
The entry fee could pay just 1st and 2nd
Let the bounty handle paying out all the lower places
Seems like it would make alot more people happier week to week or month to month
The poor guy that only wins a match or 2 every week would leave with something
Plus by the time the winner and runnner up get the finals they have prize money and their bounties
Click to expand...


Sound like a good idea!
 
I totally thought this was a different thing based on the title.

Something I've felt might be cool is to have bounties on particular players (you know, the guy who keeps coming in week after week). You have your usual 1-2-3 payouts, but you can get bonuses for beating any past tournament winner, and a larger bonus if it's someone who has won multiple times. Maybe other special bonuses, like taking out anyone who has won 4+ games in a row and especially anyone who skunked every opponent on the way to the hotseat.
 
DoubleD said:
The reason you don't see better players firing at random crap is because they realize it doesn't benefit them.

Really didn't mean to call you out, just want to offer a different perspective.

People who will try to slop in the nine are insecure and have no skill base on which to fall. You obviously respect the game, but you can also respect the fact that someone is trying to win the only way they know how. You don't have to respect their ignorance, but try to not put yourself on a pedestal just because you have been enlightened.

You probably already beat these people most of the time. I know the bad beats can hurt and tend to stick with you, but they are part of the process.

Be well, sir.

dld
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You're right, it is part of the process and losing to those players does burn a bit; and since it was just this last weekend, it's still a pretty sore spot for me.

I don't know that I'm putting myself on a pedestal, exactly, but I can't help but feel a bit ... offended or something by those players. There's a difference between someone inexperienced but wanting to learn - and the guy slamming beers and balls all night, y'know? I'm pretty sure any one of us can spot the student vs the banger.

I think it comes down to a question of character - someone that wants to understand pool and takes it a learning challenge vs someone that only sees it as a way to pay for their next 12 pack. *shrug*

Like I said earlier, I'm nothing special, still a full-time student of the game, learning new things all the time - and the tournament was no exception, I learned things there. So, while I'm a little pissy about the other players' approach to the game, it's not what I'm really focused on.
 
This reminds me of the Borana- OMGWTF livestream from the other night.

About halfway through the match when it was clear that neither player was playing anywhere NEAR their normal speed, the announcer (an accomplished female player who's name I am totally blanking on right now... help?) simply stated that they should start "letting the cue fly" when the 9 was hanging or could be solidly hit after OB contact.

It sounds like maybe your opponents, whether consciously or not, simply know that they don't have the game that you have/ strive to have. And on a Valley/Dynamo or Shelti you certainly can slop in a lot.
 
DoubleD said:
If the idea of a tourney is that everybody leave with something, why not give gold stars and their entry fee back?

Ooooo, maybe you could give trophies for things like 'neatest miss' or 'best loss'.

I bet everybody would start feeling really good about themselves.

Sorry for the tone, but I get so tired of people who think that the guy who is coming every week and not winning isn't having fun and therefore deserves some kind of condescending prize. You want that guy to keep coming out, make it your job to make it fun (actual fun) for him--talk to him, get to know him, give him help.

Believe me, I've been on both sides of this scenario. When I started playing foosball I was playing against nationally ranked players (basically think of a newb going into a tourney with second and third tier pro pool players). I didn't stand a chance of winning anything, they didn't make up a special prize for me, but I went to 100 straight weekly tourneys simply because they were gracious winners, gave me pointers, played pick-up games with me and became friends.

Conversely, another area I played tourneys in gave half-priced entry to beginners, which was great--until the beginners were not deemed to be beginning anymore and had to pay full price, at which point they stopped coming out.
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Your right its a stupid idea poker went from nothing to prize money in the millions of dollars it could never work. Why try and get more people excited about pool.. leave it alone. The thought of getting paid each time you win is a dumb idea, but I do agree it would have to be a single elimination tourney.
 
au2ag said:
This reminds me of the Borana- OMGWTF livestream from the other night.

About halfway through the match when it was clear that neither player was playing anywhere NEAR their normal speed, the announcer (an accomplished female player who's name I am totally blanking on right now... help?) simply stated that they should start "letting the cue fly" when the 9 was hanging or could be solidly hit after OB contact.

It sounds like maybe your opponents, whether consciously or not, simply know that they don't have the game that you have/ strive to have. And on a Valley/Dynamo or Shelti you certainly can slop in a lot.
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Hahaha - i just finished watching the archives yesterday and i think it was Jay that said "in a case like this, with a layout like that... i'd be riding the 9 a lot" and Tina was surprised to hear that. IIRC, that's how it went.

Well, it's possible - but probably they realize they don't have to run the table, or even call a shot, to win... which is why I'm straying from 9-ball and learning more towards 10-ball for my rotation game of choice.
 
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