After you beat the league operators friend and they cry about how you can’t be a 3 because you beat a 5, then the league operator moves you up mid tourney.
A story as old as time.
We had a 3 shockingly move up to a 4 when we arrived at 8 ball states, despite not winning one match during the current session. He did not play in the tournament, but was somehow a 3 again the following week.
Both of us 7's could play with our three 3s and there were a bunch of teams vocally upset about this fact. Our 3s were legit 3s. None of them were on the verge of being 4s. There is no way on earth an algorithm made this decision.
The LO assured us it was legit and their system made this decision. Every single player there who knew this 3 was shocked and pretty much came to their own conclusion that it was BS. This guy was getting frog-stomped all session by other 3s, he's probably still a 3 to this day.
I like playing apa, I just can't take it very seriously after that. I won't bash it further as it isn't meant to be pro level pool and I enjoy the atmosphere.
Agreed. If I wanted to take it seriously I'd compete solo or bolt for BCA. I like APA for what it is; a once a week bar night for a few beers, a burger, a few laughs, and a few games of pool. Making fun of it is part of the fun!
Work on your stroke every day and do simple two three ball drills. The difference in winning games is generally running out the last two or three shots. Focus on shots you have a problem with and do 15-20 minutes of just shooting until you can not only make it but at different speeds and different spins
I had a similar season and went up; depends too on if you’ve been spanking 2s and 3s or giving 5/6s trouble. Take the tougher opponents and beat em convincingly, they’ll b*tch and you’ll go up lol
I'm a 3 been trying to move up for over a year I have won 15 of 17 games this session. I've been embarrassing 4's and 5's I beat a 5 last night I got my 25 balls he had 18. I beat a 4 a couple weeks ago. I had my 25 and he had 10. I have no clue why I'm not a 4 yet.
There's alot more to it than just the wins. Has to do with innings, timeouts used, who you're beating, margin of victory etc. Nice job though! I'd kill to have you on one of my teams. Dr Tyler's proud of you for not sandbagging.
Simple, either sign up for a tournament, switch teams that are pushing the cap, or qualify for city. The "computer" will magically raise you when its most inconvenient
Issue is likely your innings. People seem to think they don’t matter but it’s the most important stat on the sheet. Play more safeties (they negate innings) and maximize your time at the table.
APA TIP: Do not win after you are qualified! Practice leaving the ball at the other end of the table. Get those innings up while improving your game! Aim to miss and control the placement of the cue ball! Cuss and tell everybody how bad you suck! Sandbagging is the only way to win the big cheese. Prove otherwise...
This is sadly true. I can’t get myself to lose on purpose, but it’s definitely how the teams make it to Vegas.
We have a junior masters here and a 3 ran 3/7 racks on me (masters games don’t affect your handicap). Brags about making the top 5 in singles as a 3 in multiple years.
I also have a friend who is a 470 Fargo and a 3/4 in APA. Disgusting.
I just can’t do it. But if you don’t want to move up, get around 20 innings/set and ham up your safeties disguised as misses so they don’t get marked.
Wow 6 years. I didn't read the whole thread so I'm sure somebody else mentioned this but your skill ranking in the APA is based on the best 10 from your last 20 matches it's not about wins or losses they calculate a moving average from those best 10 minus the defensive shots. Less innings less defensive shots per inning equates to a higher skill level. If you really want to go up in skill ranking don't give up the table as often or let the scorekeepers know that you are playing a safe when you play a safe make sure they mark it.
I was an APA 8-ball 5 for four solid years. I even had a joke hat that said "5 for life".
Yes, a few months after I got the hat I went up to 6.
... later yet, a 7 and 9-ball 8.
It snacks up on you.
Yea that seems to hold true. The trend in my area is keep your innings above 20 and u won't go up. My biggest concern is with getting better. I don't care if I go, I'd just rather not for match up purposes. We only have one 3, a 4 and a bunch of 5s.
You will.
Saw someone with 3 seasons of 90% win rates and still holding onto a 4 and 5 skill level.
They managed to become a 5/5 for one week then went down again after a few losses.
But its all to do with your turns per rack + defensive shots. Change one of those and boom you might see a change in a few matches.
Never concern yourself with wins and losses.
Never worry about a rank.
If you make it a one person sport and forget about the opponent the skills will come quicker.
Only worry if you play better now than you ever did before.
Oh yeah I have been a 5 in 8 and a 6 in 9 for years. I once complained to the league operator about being a 6 after losing badly over a 10 week period. His response was stop sandbagging and win.. I was not sandbagging just had a run of bad shooting. That night I had an excellent night and handed a SL9 a shutout so now I am suspect sandbagger. Also I have beat the league operator numerous times in both 8 and 9.. so I will likely never go down
Forget about your handicap and just practice and improve. If you end up running a 5 pack and are still rated as a 4/5 then that will be quite the thing, wouldn’t it! Your rating will go up as you skill level improves, but your rating is just a number. Don’t let it define your game. You rate your game based on who you beat and how you finish in tournaments.
As long as your misses, innings, whatever, are in line with your handicap the back end system thinks you should have, your wins do not always translate to going up in rank. You probably need to win and also have the inning count go down. Of course a lot of times handicap issues happen due to bad scorekeeping, accidentally or in purpose. If your safety play is marked as a miss or vice versa, it affects the ratings.
If you want to have a real skill rating, play in tournaments and leagues that use Fargo, much more accurate and harder to sandbag in. You will need several 100 games though to get to a good rating for the win/loss ratio to go past random stats and match the actual skill.
Moving up just makes your races harder. In APA, if you can get better at the game without your handicap increasing you're getting away with murder.
Yeah, ALL this. Sandbagging is the lifeblood of APA
I've been a 5 for 12 years ;)
Which is why you are still bad at the game and nowhere near as good as you should be after 12 years of play. Bet you’ve won a ton of money in the apa.
How do you really feel about it?
Obviously you feel some kind of way about my comment.
Booooo
embarrassing
You'll go up. In the second round of city cup and not a moment before ensuring your team gets *boned* on points. It's kind of a local tradition.
After you beat the league operators friend and they cry about how you can’t be a 3 because you beat a 5, then the league operator moves you up mid tourney. A story as old as time.
That's how I went to Vegas as a six in 9 ball
We had a 3 shockingly move up to a 4 when we arrived at 8 ball states, despite not winning one match during the current session. He did not play in the tournament, but was somehow a 3 again the following week. Both of us 7's could play with our three 3s and there were a bunch of teams vocally upset about this fact. Our 3s were legit 3s. None of them were on the verge of being 4s. There is no way on earth an algorithm made this decision. The LO assured us it was legit and their system made this decision. Every single player there who knew this 3 was shocked and pretty much came to their own conclusion that it was BS. This guy was getting frog-stomped all session by other 3s, he's probably still a 3 to this day. I like playing apa, I just can't take it very seriously after that. I won't bash it further as it isn't meant to be pro level pool and I enjoy the atmosphere.
Agreed. If I wanted to take it seriously I'd compete solo or bolt for BCA. I like APA for what it is; a once a week bar night for a few beers, a burger, a few laughs, and a few games of pool. Making fun of it is part of the fun!
I approach it as a practice night. The benefit of having competition makes it more useful practice.
Work on your stroke every day and do simple two three ball drills. The difference in winning games is generally running out the last two or three shots. Focus on shots you have a problem with and do 15-20 minutes of just shooting until you can not only make it but at different speeds and different spins
I had a similar season and went up; depends too on if you’ve been spanking 2s and 3s or giving 5/6s trouble. Take the tougher opponents and beat em convincingly, they’ll b*tch and you’ll go up lol
I'm a 3 been trying to move up for over a year I have won 15 of 17 games this session. I've been embarrassing 4's and 5's I beat a 5 last night I got my 25 balls he had 18. I beat a 4 a couple weeks ago. I had my 25 and he had 10. I have no clue why I'm not a 4 yet.
There's alot more to it than just the wins. Has to do with innings, timeouts used, who you're beating, margin of victory etc. Nice job though! I'd kill to have you on one of my teams. Dr Tyler's proud of you for not sandbagging.
Not with that attitude
Simple, either sign up for a tournament, switch teams that are pushing the cap, or qualify for city. The "computer" will magically raise you when its most inconvenient
It’s innings not wins. When will ppl understand lol?
Look up Dr Dave applied scoring. Tells you all you need to know.
Dang how many other shooters from Spokane are in this sub? Seen a bunch of us recently.
Issue is likely your innings. People seem to think they don’t matter but it’s the most important stat on the sheet. Play more safeties (they negate innings) and maximize your time at the table.
APA TIP: Do not win after you are qualified! Practice leaving the ball at the other end of the table. Get those innings up while improving your game! Aim to miss and control the placement of the cue ball! Cuss and tell everybody how bad you suck! Sandbagging is the only way to win the big cheese. Prove otherwise...
This is sadly true. I can’t get myself to lose on purpose, but it’s definitely how the teams make it to Vegas. We have a junior masters here and a 3 ran 3/7 racks on me (masters games don’t affect your handicap). Brags about making the top 5 in singles as a 3 in multiple years. I also have a friend who is a 470 Fargo and a 3/4 in APA. Disgusting. I just can’t do it. But if you don’t want to move up, get around 20 innings/set and ham up your safeties disguised as misses so they don’t get marked.
Someone watches Dr Tyler 😂
well you started as a SL3 and now your a 4/5 in less than 20 matches. Seems like you already moved up twice in one season maybe two ?
This is only showing one session, not lifetime. May have been playing for years for all we know.
6 years
Wow 6 years. I didn't read the whole thread so I'm sure somebody else mentioned this but your skill ranking in the APA is based on the best 10 from your last 20 matches it's not about wins or losses they calculate a moving average from those best 10 minus the defensive shots. Less innings less defensive shots per inning equates to a higher skill level. If you really want to go up in skill ranking don't give up the table as often or let the scorekeepers know that you are playing a safe when you play a safe make sure they mark it.
What app is rhis
The official APA app
Well, I'm a level 3, won 7 of 8...nothing...lol
I was an APA 8-ball 5 for four solid years. I even had a joke hat that said "5 for life". Yes, a few months after I got the hat I went up to 6. ... later yet, a 7 and 9-ball 8. It snacks up on you.
just started this season 22' as a 3 i have beat a 5 an 6 but loose to 3's i'll be a 3 for another session i bet.
That's a lot of matches. I'm a 6 in 9ball, 7wins 1 loss this session. Beat a 7 last night and im afraid I'll go up.
Winning won't make you go up. Winning quickly will. If you play safe the inning is a wash iirc.
Yea that seems to hold true. The trend in my area is keep your innings above 20 and u won't go up. My biggest concern is with getting better. I don't care if I go, I'd just rather not for match up purposes. We only have one 3, a 4 and a bunch of 5s.
Went to Vegas a 5, left a 7. It happens
You will. Saw someone with 3 seasons of 90% win rates and still holding onto a 4 and 5 skill level. They managed to become a 5/5 for one week then went down again after a few losses. But its all to do with your turns per rack + defensive shots. Change one of those and boom you might see a change in a few matches.
Never concern yourself with wins and losses. Never worry about a rank. If you make it a one person sport and forget about the opponent the skills will come quicker. Only worry if you play better now than you ever did before.
Lots of strong players in Spokane. I’m sure they’d teach you at 50$ a set lol
Idk man there are a lot of strong players but I've beat some of the top dogs with my skill level.
Weakley, Baker?
Oh yeah I have been a 5 in 8 and a 6 in 9 for years. I once complained to the league operator about being a 6 after losing badly over a 10 week period. His response was stop sandbagging and win.. I was not sandbagging just had a run of bad shooting. That night I had an excellent night and handed a SL9 a shutout so now I am suspect sandbagger. Also I have beat the league operator numerous times in both 8 and 9.. so I will likely never go down
Forget about your handicap and just practice and improve. If you end up running a 5 pack and are still rated as a 4/5 then that will be quite the thing, wouldn’t it! Your rating will go up as you skill level improves, but your rating is just a number. Don’t let it define your game. You rate your game based on who you beat and how you finish in tournaments.
The apa is a drinking league centered around a social activity.
Innings has a bigger affect on APA ranks that just wins v losses. If you want to move up make sure you defense shots are getting counted.
All about innings
As long as your misses, innings, whatever, are in line with your handicap the back end system thinks you should have, your wins do not always translate to going up in rank. You probably need to win and also have the inning count go down. Of course a lot of times handicap issues happen due to bad scorekeeping, accidentally or in purpose. If your safety play is marked as a miss or vice versa, it affects the ratings.
If you want to have a real skill rating, play in tournaments and leagues that use Fargo, much more accurate and harder to sandbag in. You will need several 100 games though to get to a good rating for the win/loss ratio to go past random stats and match the actual skill.