Billiard University (BU) playing-ability-exam scores and ratings

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Boy did I have a lot of fun with this. Not because I did well, quite the contrary...I was quite sure going into it that I would do poorly. I simply love the content and the structure.

I didn't even try to keep score, as I knew it would be bad. I spent about 90 minutes working on the drills from the first course.

F1 (cut shot): I did OK, for me. Still poor results, but I wasn't surprised.

F2 (stop shot): Again, OK for me, still not good.

F3 (Follow): 8 -- I felt that I did fairly well on this one, again for my ability. Which leads to....

F4 (Draw): 6 -- I did quite poorly on this one. Draw at distance has always been a challenge for me, and tonight was no exception.

F5 (Stun): 7 -- I was pleasantly surprised with how I did with this. Still wouldn't be a good score, but it wasn't as bad as I expected.

F6: 6 (Pocketing) -- Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

F7: 8 (Wagon wheel) -- This was my biggest surprise of the night. Going into it, I felt this would be my biggest challenge, and I did better than expected.

F8: 10 (Grid target) -- I didn't get to this one.

Realize that I am what I consider to be a mediocre APA 5. This was on a 9-footer with moderately tight pockets. After a couple more sessions of work, I will actually keep score for real, and post it accordingly.

I am really thrilled to have this material to work with, in this format. I really appreciate it. I can't wait to get back to it some more. Thanks again, folks.


yes the structure and format are very good, and it creates a bench mark kinda thing so a person could do it on a regular basis and see how they are improving. kinda fun too
 

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member
Here's my exam 1, score 76. It's an 8' Olhausen with 5" pockets and 1.5" shelf on the corners.

http://youtu.be/DlV7jwr1kj4
Get Exam II posted and report your total BU score, and you can earn the second of the three free diplomas. A pool diploma would look really good on that pretty yellow wall.

That damn wagon wheel was hard.
Check out the following video: NV D.10 - Draw Shot Trisect Aiming System - from Vol-II of the Billiard University instructional DVD series. It might help.

And seeing myself on video I see how bad my stroke is. :eek: It's kinda like when you hear a recording of yourself and you think "do I sound like THAT?"
I know what you mean. I noticed a bunch of little "flaws" in my stroke when I watched my videos.

Thanks for participating. I look forward to seeing your second video. I'll add your results to list on the first page of the thread when you finish Exam II.

Catch you later,
Dave
 

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member
Thanks Dr. Dave. great instructions, and good spin on pool. I do apologize if i miss read it somewhere, but i would like the pro status degree to be reserved to actual field experience, in lieu of in home table achievement, such as winning a major local tournament couple of times, or competing with pros and winning some matches.
The Doctorate does not require "field experience." But you bring up a good point. Somebody that does well in "school" might not always do well in the "real world."

Thanks for your input,
Dave
 

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member

Gerry Williams

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
All videos are now uploaded.

Cheers,
Gerry

Your Exam II videos are not viewable in YouTube yet ("still processing"). Do you know why this is the case? Regardless, I trust you.

Congratulations!!! You just earned the first of the three free diplomas. You are know have a "Master of Pool with Honors." PM or e-mail me your mailing address and I'll send the diploma to you.

FYI, I've added your info to the original post on the 1st page and on the official BU list of graduates.

Keep working and maybe you can reach the Doctorate level.

Thank you for participating,
Dave
 

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member
The reason I like Fargo for self assessment is that it seems to go quickly:smile:
... but Fargo doesn't test the full range of required pool skills. But I agree ... Fargo is a fun and challenging game/drill. I actually considered including Fargo as one of the BU Exam drills, but it is not specific enough and varies too much from one rack to the next.

The BU exams take about 40-50 minutes each. If you think that this is too much time to practice pool, then the BU assessment tools are probably not a good choice for you.

Regards,
Dave
 

dr_dave

Instructional Author
Gold Member
Silver Member
Fundamentals test is filmed, uploading now. Will be a while... (about 5-6 hours) couldn't get the other sites figured out properly.:eek: Score was 81.
http://youtu.be/slVzB8b3UjI is part 1
http://youtu.be/rSGZp439EqQ is part 2

Going to go take the Masters test now.
Neil,

I look forward to seeing your videos for both exams and your total BU score. If it doesn't take too long, hopefully, you can receive one of the three free diplomas.

Best regards,
Dave
 

JC

Coos Cues
... but Fargo doesn't test the full range of required pool skills. But I agree ... Fargo is a fun and challenging game/drill. I actually considered including Fargo as one of the BU Exam drills, but it is not specific enough and varies too much from one rack to the next.

The BU exams take about 40-50 minutes each. If you think that this is too much time to practice pool, then the BU assessment tools are probably not a good choice for you.

Regards,
Dave

I was just kidding with you in reference to the speed I set that video at. You must not have clicked on it. Joke, joke. Relax!:)

After Scott Lee showed me his "mother drills" and we went through them he asked me how long I thought it would take to perform them all daily. I said maybe 45 minutes and he just laughed. He told me more like 3-4 hours and that I needed to now make a choice between them and my family.

JC
 

Neil

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Neil,

I look forward to seeing your videos for both exams and your total BU score. If it doesn't take too long, hopefully, you can receive one of the three free diplomas.

Best regards,
Dave

I'll have it done tonight, and will post my scores, but it looks like it won't be viewable until tomorrow. (early , early morning)
 

robsnotes4u

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I visited eith Mike Page last night while he eas testing himself again. I will look into it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
 

Neil

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Fundamentals- score 81

http://youtu.be/slVzB8b3UjI is part 1
http://youtu.be/rSGZp439EqQ is part 2

Masters- score 60

Masters test part 1 http://youtu.be/MF9TFjMCkOE
Masters test part 2 http://youtu.be/gpfv-rmmPII
Masters test part 3 http://youtu.be/dlyH0FSK_-8


Total score- 141


This was a good test. Worked a lot of different areas. I recommend everyone try it and work with it, it can only improve your game. I tested about where I thought I would end up. Felt like I could definitely have done better on a few areas, but that's what happens when you hardly ever play anymore.

edit: Just so you know, on S8, you will see that I make the ball, but fouled the blocker ball. I did not count that shot as a make, but as a miss.
 
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DeadStick

i like turtles
Gold Member
Silver Member
Fundamentals- score 81

http://youtu.be/slVzB8b3UjI is part 1
http://youtu.be/rSGZp439EqQ is part 2

Masters- score 60

Masters test part 1 http://youtu.be/MF9TFjMCkOE
Masters test part 2 http://youtu.be/gpfv-rmmPII
Masters test part 3 http://youtu.be/dlyH0FSK_-8


Total score- 141


This was a good test. Worked a lot of different areas. I recommend everyone try it and work with it, it can only improve your game. I tested about where I thought I would end up. Felt like I could definitely have done better on a few areas, but that's what happens when you hardly ever play anymore.

Neil, did you shoot those in IMAX format or something? I've never seen YouTube videos take so long to process. :eek:
 

BRussell

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here's my exam 1, score 76. It's an 8' Olhausen with 5" pockets and 1.5" shelf on the corners.

http://youtu.be/DlV7jwr1kj4

That damn wagon wheel was hard. I think I missed about 8 in a row at one point.

And seeing myself on video I see how bad my stroke is. :eek: It's kinda like when you hear a recording of yourself and you think "do I sound like THAT?"

This is my test 2, score 56. http://youtu.be/bUuq-0Y-R6k

I only got 3/10 on the safeties.

Total score: 132.

Nice job Neil. I quoted mine above. It looks like I tied Gerry Williams, but I think I should get extra points for doing mine on an 8' table with big pockets, instead of his snobby 9' table with tight pockets. :wink:
 

Neil

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Neil, did you shoot those in IMAX format or something? I've never seen YouTube videos take so long to process. :eek:

To be perfectly honest, I'm about as computer literate as a chimpanzee. I'm just a little proud of myself that I even managed to get them uploaded at all. I have no clue whatsoever why it takes so long??? I film them, put my memory card in the hard drive, download it to documents/videos, then upload that to you tube. Probably doing something backwards as usual. ???

Heck, I feel like I finally arrived in the 20th century having a computer and a camera that can at least record 25-30 minutes. I know, I know, this is the 21st century and I'm still WAY behind the times.

edit:Just checked, and the master #1 says 20 more minutes, the rest are still hours away. Should be view-able in the morning.
 
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Neil

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Nice job Neil. I quoted mine above. It looks like I tied Gerry Williams, but I think I should get extra points for doing mine on an 8' table with big pockets, instead of his snobby 9' table with tight pockets. :wink:

lol, I ought to get two of those banks that got the points! I was pretty disappointed with my break shots. Couldn't keep the cb off the rails, and barely got the required # of balls uptable, I think one of them didn't even do that! Of course though, I had great runnout capabilities on all three, and I didn't have to run out. Usually I'm hooked or banking the 1 or 2 ball. I really blew it on the safeties. Speed was off because of all the rain we had yesterday and today, over compensated too much, and had trouble getting any draw on the draw shots.
 

pogmothoin

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Thanks

I want to say that I've read your website and viewed your video's for some time. They have been a big help in my quest to improve my game. I am certainly not a top player, just a person who likes to play for relaxation. I'll be testing myself using your system, not because I will break any records but because it's great practice.

Thanks for all you've done to improve my game and that of many, many others.
 
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