Why Play UPL?
UPL is a modern 8-ball format designed to fix everything players hate about traditional leagues. Plus... 8th place in our nationals pays more than most leagues champions.
30-Minute Matches
No more 2 a.m. nights. Every match is a 30-minutes, play fast, stay sharp, and actually get home on time.
30-Sec Shot Clock
A 30-second shot clock keeps the pace electric and the nerves real. No stalling, no endless safeties, just pure action.
UPScore Fair Play
Skill decides matches, not politics. UPscore’s national rating system makes sandbagging pointless and competition honest.
Every Skill Shoots
Every team must play at least one lower-rated player each night, so new and improving shooters get real table time.
Singles Leaderboard
Even if your team doesn't win, your stats can qualify you to compete in the UPL National singles.
More Players = Bigger Prizes
Top teams from each region advance to the $100k Grand Finals. Compete and win big!
Where We Play
Tuesdays 6pm-10pm
Thursdays 6pm-10pm
$100,000
No Gimmicks, No Nonsense.
Punch your ticket to the UPL Nationals, and now you’re playing for the real bag. No hidden entry fees. No endless weekend qualifiers. Just your weekly league nights and a straight shot at a six-figure finish.
The Difference
UPL details on the left, other leagues on the right.
Guaranteed $100,000+ to the winning team. (Missouri team just won $100k). UPL openly targeting $1,000,000 amateur payouts.
Vegas payouts are nowhere near six figures for the winning team and are heavily diluted across formats.
$3,500 per qualifying team for travel + custom Jam-Up team jerseys + National Finals entry.
Travel packages often not guaranteed cash, vary by operator, and often require out-of-pocket costs.
UPscore: Built by Oxford University analytics professor. Tracks real-time performance across formats.
SL system: opaque, exploitable, sandbagging is a meme at this point.
30-minute matches with clocks and structure. No more 2 am nights, unless you choose to 😋
Long, dragging matches. Often hours long. Players sit most of the night bored waiting their turn.
Seeing so much money going back to the players is honestly the most impressive thing I've ever seen.
This league is here to give back to players more then they have ever had before.
I wasn’t sold on the Ultimate Pool format—until I played it. My heart was racing. I haven’t felt that playing league in years.
Pool teaches patience, discipline, strategy. I’d put my own child through the game just to learn those life lessons.
Common Questions
How much does it cost?
Every player pays a $32 annual membership fee, good for 365 days.
After that, you only pay $15 per night you play. This covers your $10 UPL fee and a $5 table fee paid to the venue for unlimited play during league hours.
No rolls of quarters, no hassle.
Where does the money go?
Every dollar — and even some of mine — goes right back into the league. Your weekly fee keeps things running: tablets, score systems, trophies, and local operations. The rest fuels the prize pools.
What prizes are we playing for?
Weekly league nights: Compete for standings and local cash payouts every session.
Division winners: Move on to the Regional Finals, where every winning team earns a $6,000 travel package — entry fee paid, custom jerseys, hotel, and travel expenses covered.
Regional champions: Advance to the UPL Nationals, where the country’s best battle for $100,000 in total prize money
In addition to the standard UPL structure above. We add $100 per team, every session, straight into the local prize fund — so the more we grow, the bigger your payouts get. So yes, even If we get 100 teams in a session, we will pay out $10,000 in additional winnings for those UPL Players.
Just keep showing up and loving this beautiful game and making memories with friends.
What makes UPL different from APA or BCA?
Timed matches. You know when you’ll be home. 30 minutes per player x 5 players per team.
Fair ratings. UPscore tracks your performance across matches — not fake safeties, exaggerated innings and politics.
Balanced teams. You can’t stack monsters; every roster must play at least one lower-rated player and max two 600+ ranked players.
Real progression. Real Payoff.
League → Regionals → Nationals → $100K.
I’m not that good… will I just drag my team down?
Not here.
Every team must play one lower-rated player each night, and the handicap chart actually gives you a fighting chance.
Even if you lose your match, your performance still earns points for your team — meaning every rack counts.
You matter from Day 1.
Will you be expanding to other pool rooms?
ABSOLUTELY! If you are Interested in bringing UPL to your room? Click here to message the UPL Operator Josh Setterfield and start the conversation.
What if I already play in other leagues?
Perfect. UPL isn’t trying to replace them — it’s just your favorite night of the week.
You’ll play quicker matches, get more action, and chase real money without sacrificing your weekends.
Plus, everyone keeps saying how UPL has helped them win even more in their other league matches, hmmm.
What’s the path to the big money?
Step 1: Play your local season and finish as the division winners.
Step 2: Win your Regionals and your team scores a $6,000 travel package to Nationals.
Step 3: Take your teams best shot at Nationals for the $100K and national bragging rights.
Is it complicated to learn?
Not at all. If you know 8-ball, you’re 90% there and the rest is really easy to learn. The UPL tablets handle scoring and timing — you just focus on your game.
For those that don't mind reading, the rules can be found at the top of this website. Otherwise dig into the library of videos explaining everything you need to know about UPL Hampton Roads by clicking here.
Who runs this thing?
Each area is operated by a certified UPL League Operator trained under Ultimate Pool USA’s system.
Locally, that’s Josh Setterfield — the guy who schedules, communicates, and enforces consistency so every match runs fair and smooth.
No faceless HQ. No chaos. A real person running a real system.
How do I join?
Three simple steps:
- Click HERE and register as a UPL Hampton Roads player and create your account.
- Download the UPL app by searching "Ultimate Pool League" in your app store and login the new account.
- Message the League Operator Josh Setterfield with an intro and details.
Example, " Hey Josh I just signed up, looking for a team to play on Tuesday at Q-Masters. I'm an APA 5 with 2 friends looking for more players."
After you that, you’re in the system, connected to the League Operator and ready for league night.