Handicaps APA vs NAPA

Pool League Information > NAPA Handicaps

DETERMINING INITIAL NAPA SKILL LEVELS

The North American Poolshooters Association handicaps individual matches based on a skill level scale that is much more granular and dynamic than those employed by other national pool leagues. Although there is no theoretical cap for an individual NAPA handicap, the nationally highest skill players in 8- and 9-ball are currently rated 149 and 115 respectively. The majority of NAPA players, however, fall in the range of 30 to 70.

Players with no previous league experience begin NAPA play with a skill level of 50 (men) or 40 (women) unless NAPA of Central Missouri league operators have due reason to adjust the figure up or down based on personal knowledge of the player's ability. Once league play has begun, the league operators have no influence whatsoever in determining a player's ongoing skill level.

Players who have participated in organized league play are assigned an initial NAPA skill level appropriate to their established ability. NAPA uses the following chart to translate player handicaps from the most popular national pool leagues including APA, BCA, and TAP.

Some players argue that all leagues have a handicap limit that tends to break apart teams that have played together for a long time. That may be an end result of the team handicap but it is not the primary reason for establishing a team handicap. It is for fairness for teams. Each player/team handicap is designed to allow for the possibility to win 50% of the games/matches they play. NAPA is no different. However, let's take a moment to look at team handicaps of NAPA vs APA.

Individual and team handicaps in NAPA vs APA and TAP

A chart depicting the conversions of TAP and APA handicaps to NAPA handicaps is located HERE.

For example, in converting APA handicaps to NAPA handicaps the rule is to add a 0 and then add 10. For example if you are a 3 in APA, add a 0 (30) and add 10 (40). So your handicap in NAPA would be a 40.

So for a four person team in APA the max limit is 19. So add a 0 (190) and add 40, each player add 10, gives you 230 which is an equivalent team handicap in NAPA. HOWEVER, the standard team handicap in NAPA for a 4 person team is 260 which is 30 points HIGHER than an APA team handicap. That equates to a team handicap in APA of 22 for a 4 person team but they only allow 19! NAPA allows players to stay together! Actually, NAPA also has the option of raising team handicaps. Columbia and Jefferson City have a team handicap of 280! That equates to 24 in APA for a 4 person team! A 5 person team is even better!

In APA a 5 person team handicap is 23. To find the NAPA equivalent add a 0 (230) and add 10 for each player (50) to get 280. But the handicap in NAPA for a 5 person team is 325!! That equates to an APA team handicap for 5 person team of over 28 and not 23!

NAPA keeps teams together longer than APA BECAUSE of their handicap!

There are MORE differences between APA and NAPA. Check it out!