For APA 9-Ball, has anyone seen a chart of possible handicaps to play?

Question

You have the 23 rule and 5 players to play, so is there a chart somewhere (or formula in Excel) to use to help figure out who you (or the opponents) can play out of the 8 people on the team? Like all the possibilities to play. I'm looking specifically in 9-Ball, but 8-Ball would work too. Thanx!

Answer 1

You can play most any combination as long as you don't break the 23 rule. You can play 4 "5's" and a "3", or a "7,6.3 2,5. Any combination of handicaps that reach 23 will do except you cannot play 3 senior level players all in the same night. Senior level players are handicaps 6 and above so you cannot play 6,6,7,2,2 or something similar.

Answer 2

It would depend on the rankings within your team. I would take the highest ranks (limiting to 2 senior skill levels) and determine what I could play... For example 7,6,4,4,2 - you could susbstitute a lower number for any rank and still make the 23.

To be honest the make up of the 23 is usually less important then what shooters are there for the team that night.

Answer 3

You just take your players skill levels to get to 23 and decide based on your opponents roster and who is there on match night on who to play against each other.  It is pretty simple and straight forward and there is no need to go to the bother of using an excel chart.  Keep in mind too to use some strategy when putting up a player.   You don't always have to match up equally skilled players.  Sometimes it is a smart move to throw your "2" against a "4" or "5" (for example) since your 2 should have a good chance of winning since they only need 19 balls in order to win.

Answer 4

It would depend on the rankings within your team.  I would take the highest ranks (limiting to 2 senior skill levels)  and determine what I could play...  For example 7,6,4,4,2 - you could susbstitute a lower number for any rank and still make the 23.  

To be honest the make up of the 23 is usually less important then what shooters are there for the team that night.