Like women’s tennis, women’s pool at the professional level draws TV attention that often overshadows that of males, yet men still dominate by more than 3 to 1 among recreational pool ranks, according to membership figures of the American Poolplayers Association.
But female membership has grown by 9 percent a year for several years, outpacing male membership growth of 6 percent to 7 percent.
Based in Lake St. Louis, Mo., the world’s largest amateur pool organization expects overall membership to surge to 250,000 from 231,460 by the end of 2004, according to public relations manager Jason Bowman.
The APA credits the growth to its handicap system, the Equalizer, which allows players of varying abilities to compete on an equal basis, much like in golf and bowling.
The Equalizer rates players by skill level from 2 to 7, with 7 being best, by using a complex computer program that considers each shooter’s wins and losses and even number of turns needed to decide a match.
The result is a handicap system that determines how many games a player must win to capture a match in 8-ball or the number of points a player must earn to win a match in the 9-ball format.
“Anyone can play and win any night,” according to Brad Hall, league operator and owner of the APA franchise serving the North Side. “APA caters to low to midrange pool players who love the game but aren’t touring professionals.”
The unique system allows 8-ball player Vivian Stahl to be a more intimidating foe than many of her more experienced teammates. For example, if Stahl, who is a 3, were to play someone ranked 5, she would have to win two games before her opponent takes four.
“I used to request to not play against men because it was intimidating,” said Stahl, a 28-year-old surgical coordinator for Chicago Glaucoma Consultants and one of two women players on the team Money $hots. “Now it is more satisfying to beat a woman because they are my nemesis and they’re fewer and far between. Besides, guys are easy.”
Men are not innately superior players, according to Hall, who pointed out that his leagues have many exceptionally skilled women shooters. But ultimately, Hall added, “the APA is for people who want to go out after work and have a few beers.”
For more information about the APA, visit www.chicagoapa.com or www.poolplayers.com.
