Rated local pool tournament rates people "2".

[A-Train]

UGH!!!!!!!

I don't know how it works around the country, but in a rated tournament around here basically it's a race to whatever number you are rated to. Let's say you and I were playing eachother and you were rated 8 and I was rated 7. Essentially I would have to win 7 games before you won 8.

Now, given this, a local pool hall in town actually rates people as low as 2. WTF!!!!!! I haven't played there much but I asked what my rating would be and they said I'd be at least a 5. I know 5 isn't much, but getting unlucky and losing 2 games in a set isn't hard to do even against the most infantile of opponents.

Anyone else think that this is outrageous? I don't think I'm going to be participating in any of this establisment's tournaments anytime soon.

[StormHotRod300]

A-train

The first time i went to a Out of town tourny, I thought i would take the tourny because nobody knew me. untill the TD showed up lol, He was the only guy who knew me, and rated me a 5 also. At the time it was a actual barbox 9ball tourny , loser break.

I ended up taking 4th place. And all but one match went to the hill too. But I also was playing very good and very smart.

Now a couple of the guys who were rated 3's or 4's played damn GOOD, I had one match against a 3, and missed a easy shot on the 2ball and he ran out lol. I still won the match but he didnt have a easy shot the rest of the time. I played another guy who was a 4, and he had a unreal break! making 2 -3 balls at a time, and squating whitey. But he couldnt run but 3 or 4 balls in a row.

I've also heard of some places if its a handicap tourny, they will rate you the highest you can go, that way they try and keep the roadie's from sneakin into a tourny and winning it.

[acedotcom]

There's only one tournament around here that uses a rating system but in addition to having to win more games than a lower rated opponent you have to spot them a couple balls. Needless to say, I'm not going there soon.

The only other handicapped tourny is one that rates players -2, -1, Even, +1, and +2. There may be players that exceed these ratings on both ends, but not many. Differences in ratings are translated into games you have to win. An "Even" player has to go to 5, a "-2" player to 3. A "+1" player would go to six against a "-2" player who would go to 3. If you finish in the money, your rating goes up a notch. If you lose three times in a row, your rating goes down a notch. I don't particularly like this system because it's not based on ability, just on how long it's been since you were in the money. Whenever I do participate in this tournament, I always wind up spotting players who are as good as me or better, sometimes with me going to 6 and them to 3. That's tough when you're playing someone as good as you are.

[desert1pocket]

Here in Az we have our own ratings system. It goes from 1-10, but if you can hold a cue you are a 4. I am rated a 7, and many tourneys are a race to rating minus 2, which means I have to go to 5. In a recent 9-ball tourney I played a 4 who went to 2. I hardly gave my opponent a chance at the table for 4 games, and was on my way to skunking my opponent, when I rattled the match winning 9 ball, and it just sat in the jaws. I conceded that game, and then my opponent proceeded to make the 9 in the side on the break. In a matter of just two shots I had lost the whole match.

[acedotcom]

Originally Posted by desert1pocket

Here in Az we have our own ratings system. It goes from 1-10, but if you can hold a cue you are a 4. I am rated a 7, and many tourneys are a race to rating minus 2, which means I have to go to 5. In a recent 9-ball tourney I played a 4 who went to 2. I hardly gave my opponent a chance at the table for 4 games, and was on my way to skunking my opponent, when I rattled the match winning 9 ball, and it just sat in the jaws. I conceded that game, and then my opponent proceeded to make the 9 in the side on the break. In a matter of just two shots I had lost the whole match.

I feel your pain!

[A-Train]

Originally Posted by desert1pocket

Here in Az we have our own ratings system. It goes from 1-10, but if you can hold a cue you are a 4. I am rated a 7, and many tourneys are a race to rating minus 2, which means I have to go to 5. In a recent 9-ball tourney I played a 4 who went to 2. I hardly gave my opponent a chance at the table for 4 games, and was on my way to skunking my opponent, when I rattled the match winning 9 ball, and it just sat in the jaws. I conceded that game, and then my opponent proceeded to make the 9 in the side on the break. In a matter of just two shots I had lost the whole match.

Wow...what a nasty turn of events for you.

This is the sort of stuff I'm afraid of in these tournaments. If I'm playing a 2 and I slip up and scratch late in the rack or leave a ball hanging, it could be curtains for me.

[Flashman]

now you know (if you didn't already) what it's like to play in an APA league,,,there is always a SL2 on the teams we have to play,,,

generally we try to throw off another weak player against the SL2, in hopes of accidently beating the 'sandbagger SL2'...works in league; BUT you're one-on-one in tournament play......

[A-Train]

I went ahead and played in an impromptu tournament last night and had the distinct pleasure of playing a 2 in the first round. I took the first rack without any hitches and was feeling good. This chick couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

On to rack two, I break, run to the 5 ball then leave her the table. Not an easy shot on 5, I was pretty happy about the situation. The smacks the 5 ball, it caroms off another ball, then goes 2 rails and ****s in the 9 ball.

Now to rack 3. She breaks, I take control of the table, run to and drop the 6 and then scratch. She has ball in hand on 7 and I'm thinking there is NO way she is out. She proceeds to take a rather stupid shot on 7, get lucky shape on 8 and leave herself crappy on the 9. She hits it and leaves me with the cue ball and the 9 ball on the opposite short rails. I hit it gently and leave her a tough bank which she ultimately nails (which was an excellent shot, she split the side pocket ).

It's frustrating being as though I'm CLEARLY a superior pool player to her and most people in the room and I'm at such a disadvantage. I'm rated 6 there (I'm told it only goes to 7) so I have to win 3 times as many games as she does and I have to play almost flawlessly to get there. If I hang one 9 ball or leave her an easy out at any point, she's on the hill and I'm in a very dangerous situation even if I've already taken a few racks.

I'm going to petition the powers that be at that pool hall and see if they will consider making the ranking system a little more rewarding to those who dedicate themselves to the game more than your average hobbyist billiard player. It's very frustrating to see a girl who literally could not run 3 balls with ball in hand walk on her opponents like that. Yes, I'm taking it personally.

She wasn't even that cute...I think that's the real kicker here...lol

[shexcpoolgawdess]

Goes to show that no matter how good you are and no matter how much higher rated you are anyone can win at any given point!

Never underestimate the abiity of someone lower rated!

[A-Train]

Originally Posted by shexcpoolgawdess

Goes to show that no matter how good you are and no matter how much higher rated you are anyone can win at any given point!

Never underestimate the abiity of someone lower rated!

The word "ability" may be an exaggeration here. I think "luck" may be more appropriate for these particular ladies.

[Tony_M]

Instead of trying to have the ranking system changed, I would spend the time to assess exactly what I did in the match to cause me to lose.

For example in rack 2 did I blow position on the 5 leaving me a tough shot? Was there an chance to put a good safe on the 5 ball. Did I pass up options because of my assessment of my competition?

In the next rack, how did I lose control of the cue to cause the scratch?

These are things that I would work on when I practice, and I would be the better player for it than spending the time trying to get the rankings changed.

AJM

Originally Posted by A-Train

I went ahead and played in an impromptu tournament last night and had the distinct pleasure of playing a 2 in the first round. I took the first rack without any hitches and was feeling good. This chick couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

On to rack two, I break, run to the 5 ball then leave her the table. Not an easy shot on 5, I was pretty happy about the situation. The smacks the 5 ball, it caroms off another ball, then goes 2 rails and ****s in the 9 ball.

Now to rack 3. She breaks, I take control of the table, run to and drop the 6 and then scratch. She has ball in hand on 7 and I'm thinking there is NO way she is out. She proceeds to take a rather stupid shot on 7, get lucky shape on 8 and leave herself crappy on the 9. She hits it and leaves me with the cue ball and the 9 ball on the opposite short rails. I hit it gently and leave her a tough bank which she ultimately nails (which was an excellent shot, she split the side pocket ).

It's frustrating being as though I'm CLEARLY a superior pool player to her and most people in the room and I'm at such a disadvantage. I'm rated 6 there (I'm told it only goes to 7) so I have to win 3 times as many games as she does and I have to play almost flawlessly to get there. If I hang one 9 ball or leave her an easy out at any point, she's on the hill and I'm in a very dangerous situation even if I've already taken a few racks.

I'm going to petition the powers that be at that pool hall and see if they will consider making the ranking system a little more rewarding to those who dedicate themselves to the game more than your average hobbyist billiard player. It's very frustrating to see a girl who literally could not run 3 balls with ball in hand walk on her opponents like that. Yes, I'm taking it personally.

She wasn't even that cute...I think that's the real kicker here...lol

[A-Train]

Originally Posted by Tony_M

Instead of trying to have the ranking system changed, I would spend the time to assess exactly what I did in the match to cause me to lose.

For example in rack 2 did I blow position on the 5 leaving me a tough shot? Was there an chance to put a good safe on the 5 ball. Did I pass up options because of my assessment of my competition?

In the next rack, how did I lose control of the cue to cause the scratch?

These are things that I would work on when I practice, and I would be the better player for it than spending the time trying to get the rankings changed.

AJM

This was a long time ago, I have trouble remembering.

Regardless, this rating system puts people like me at a very large disadvantage. Sure, if I had to give this broad the 7 out in a race to 5 I'd certianly demolish her. But even strength in a race where I have to win 3 times as many games is completely unfair. I'm not a flawless pool player...yet.

[Tony_M]

I too have to give up large spots. It is the choice you make to play in that tourney. If you don't like it, perhaps you need to play in an open tourney, where it is not handicapped.

Originally Posted by A-Train

This was a long time ago, I have trouble remembering.

Regardless, this rating system puts people like me at a very large disadvantage. Sure, if I had to give this broad the 7 out in a race to 5 I'd certianly demolish her. But even strength in a race where I have to win 3 times as many games is completely unfair. I'm not a flawless pool player...yet.

[A-Train]

Originally Posted by Tony_M

I too have to give up large spots. It is the choice you make to play in that tourney. If you don't like it, perhaps you need to play in an open tourney, where it is not handicapped.

Nah, I'd rather put my money in and pitch a ***** when it doesn't go my way. LOL

Just kidding.

I haven't played in that tourney since.