Here's the latest:

AZB Users Who Have Taken the BU Playing-Ability Exams (with top scores to date):

BU Exam Scores (I + II), III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII - User - Table Size, corner pocket mouth, throat, shelf - Video Links

186 (92 + D:94), , , 100, , 75, 96 - kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 3 5/8'', 1'' - Exam I, Exam II, Exam V, Exam VII, Exam VIII
182 (91 + D:91) - Side Pocket - 10', 4 7/8", 3 7/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
181 (93 + D:88), 52, 93, 100, , 75, 84 - dr_dave - 9', 5", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV, Exam V, Exam VII, Exam VIII
178 (91 + D:87) - Ken Cileli - 9', 4 3/4", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
170 (83 + D:87) - Marc Vidal Claramunt - 9', 4 1/8", 3 5/16", 1" - Exam I, Exam II
168 (80 + D:88) - Gerry Williams - 9', 4 1/2", 4", 1 7/8" - Exam I (part 1, part 2), Exam II (part 1, part 2, part 3)
164 (84 + D:80) - theUBC - 9', 4 1/2", 4 1/8", 1 3/4" - Exam I, Exam II
164 (79 + D:85) - Mark Gray (1st attempt) - 9', 4 1/2", 4 1/2", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
161 (84 + D:77) - Shane Van Boening (1st attempt) - 9', 5", 3 7/8", 1 3/8" - Exam I, Exam II
161* (88 + M:73) - dr_dave - 8', 4 3/4", 4 1/8", 1 3/8" - Exam I, Exam II
160 (79 + D:81) - scottjen26 - 9', 4 1/2", 3 7/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I (part 1, part 2), Exam II (part 1, part 2, part 3)
157* (88 + M:69) - Neil - 7', 4 1/8", 2 7/8", 1 3/8" - Exam I (part 1, part 2), Exam II (part 1, part 2)
153 (82 + D:71), 45 - peppersauce - 9', 4 1/4", 3 7/8", 1 1/4" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III
148 (75 + D:73) - JeremiahGage - 9', 5", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
146 (74 + D:72), 49, 89, 94 - td873 - 9', 4.5", 3.75", 1.625" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV, Exam V
146 (72 + D:74) - djkx1 - 9', 4 3/4" , 3 5/8" , 1 1/2"
144* (82 + M:62) - bowiebill - 7', 4 1/2", 4", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
144 (69 + M:75) - kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 3 5/8", 1" - Exam I, Exam II
141 (70 + D:71) - 12squared - 9', 4 7/8", 4 1/8", 1 1/2"
135* (71 + M:64) - Mooneye - 7', 4 7/8", 4 1/8", 1 5/8" - Exam I, Exam II
132* (76 + M:56) - BRussell - 8', 5", 4 1/4", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
130 (64 + M:66) - sjharr - 9'
130 (63 + M:67) - StraightPoolIU - 9', 4 7/8", 4 1/8, 1 1/4"
129 (69 + M:60) - Spimp13 - 9'
128 (64 + M:64) - PocketPooler - 9', 4 3/8", 3 5/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I (part 1, part 2), Exam II (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4)
127 (67 + M:60) - Okie - 9', 4 3/4", 4", 1 1/2"
124 (71 + M:53) - StraightPoolIU - 9', 4 7/8", 4 1/8, 1 1/4"
124 (64 + M:60) - JC - 9', 4 7/16", 3 7/8", 1 3/8" - Exam I, Exam II
121* (63 + M:58) - TheOneGnat - 8', 4 1/2", 4", 1 5/8"
117 (53 + M:58) - RobMan - 9', 5", 4 1/4", 1 1/5"
114 (55 + M:59) - cleary - 9', 4 1/2", 3 7/8", 2" - Exam I, Exam II
113 (? + M:?) - Eagleshot - 9', 4 1/2, 4", 1 1/4" - PM
112* (61 + M:51) - gregcantrall - 8', 4 3/8", 4 1/8", 1"
111 (63 + M:48) - denwhit - 9', 4 5/8", 4 3/8", 1 1/4" - PM
111* (63+ M:48) - kling&allen - 7', 5", 4 1/2", 1 5/8" - Exam I, Exam II
110* (62 + M:48) - caff3in3 - 8'
108 (59 + M:49) - row21097 - 9', 4 1/2”, 4”, 1 1/2” - Exam I (part 1, part 2, part 3), Exam II (part 1, part 2, part 3)
108* (61 + M:47) - JFire - 7', 5", 4 1/8", 1 5/8"
106 (53 + M:53) - StraightPoolIU - 9', 4 7/8", 4 1/8, 1 1/4"
101 (49 + B:52) - kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 3 5/8", 1" - Exam I, Exam II
101* (59 + M:42) - 67tbird - 8', 4 1/4", 4", 1 1/2"
94 (57 + M:37) - BeiberLvr - 9'
92* (59 + M:33) - JFire - 7', 5", 4 1/8", 1 5/8"
91* (62 + M:29) - SeanChamp - 8', 4 1/2", 1 1/2"
90 (? + M:?) - EagleEye - 9', 5", 3 7/8", 1 3/8"
89 (56 + M:33) - mamics - 9', 4 5/8", 3 13/16", 1 1/4"
88 (? + B:?) - DrGonzo - 9', 4.5", 4", 1.5"
87 (49 + B:38), 30 - iusedtoberich - 9', 5 1/8", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III
82 (57 + B:25) - krupa - 9', 4 3/4", 3 5/8", 1 1/4"
68 (35 + B:33) - icucybe - 9', 4 1/2", 3 /1/2", 1 3/4"
68 (44 + B:24) - pleforowicz - 9', 11.7cm, 9.2cm, 3.8cm
63 (41 + B:22) - SamLambert - 9' - Exams I and II

*: not on a 9' or larger table

NOTE - Other scores and videos can be found on the BU Alumni page (official BU graduates) and the BU Exam Challenge pages.

I just posted a 75 on BU Exam VII:

dr_dave said:

FYI, there at 10 money spots available, and only 4 people have participated to date. It would be sad if money goes unclaimed. For the current standings and for info on how to participate, see: $3,000 Billiard University (BU) Draw/Follow Challenge.

FYI, there is an advantage to locking in scores early since a tie goes to the first person who posted.

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I just posted a 75 in the Draw Matrix Drill:

Shooter1 said:

No, I have not played any BCA for 3 years, no BCA reported tourneys, nothing. My robustness has remained the same obviously since I have not played in BCA.

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I’m curious as to where you are, because you use “BCA” as synonymous with “reporting to Fargo”, which is not at all the way I’ve ever seen it.

In my area (Ontario Canada) BCA would only refer to BCA league or maybe a BCA league tournament. Most tournaments report to Fargo but no one considers them to be “BCA”.

42 today. I may post the video later. Typically just do that on runs of 50 or more, but I was pretty proud of how I kept it going and I know I played one not typical breakshot. I am going save it I think and watch it, so may post it.

I personally like Mike Sigel commentating on straight pool matches. He provides good insight.

Patrick Johnson said:

Oops, sorry - but my opinion of how a pendulum stroke works best is unchanged.


Which are the "multi joints" that you think should be involved? Why?

pj
chgo

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It's not a matter of 'shoulds'. For fhe all time greats I mentioned--Earl, SVB, Mika, Efren, Busty--and many other phenomenal cueists including Ronnie O'Sullivam, all joints of the arm ARE involved.

My contention is that these are not strokes that are full of flaws that have been overcome by countless hours of practice, like peddlers of "THE fundamentals" sometimes claim, but that they are in fact better. They are more in line with how we are designed to move and how we are wired to organize movement. They provide effortless power and a level of fine force control (speed control) that cannot be matched by primarily contraction driven movement. Not to mention the fact that they hold up incredibly well under pressure. They are in a word, better.

It is no surprise at all, then, that many of the greatest to ever swing a cue, play these types of strokes. What is somewhat shocking however, is how many instructors still go around calling them flawed simply because they don't fit into their neat models better suited to robots.

We are not robots, we're better. So are these strokes.

@jtompilot Here is the bracket they used brackelope...:
http://live.brackelope.com/t/e2zj8/

Patrick Johnson said:

"Triceps back, biceps forward" sounds like an accurate description of a pendulum stroke, avoiding extraneous movement by freezing the elbow in place. What's wrong with it?

pj
chgo

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The effectiveness/efficiency/good stuff is dependent on arm length.

Well you asked...

kling&allen said:

There was hubbub on the Facebook cue building groups when these were first announced and a few people reported buying them and posted some initial feedback. But I haven’t seen much since then, which probably is our answer (you get what you pay for).

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Went on FB and did search. Looks like everyone that has one likes it

You get what you pay for. It's been this way since??? Only Camel had a pro announcer. Thank god for the mute.

Mensabum said:

Never ceases to amaze me the amount of shit I've encountered over the years due to having long hair, mustache and beard.
I can empathize Hu.

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That's been my problem on a number of occasions. Have long hair and a beard and I've looked like a biker since my mid twenties. In fact I'm almost 80 and I still do. My hair reaches the middle of my back my beard mid chest. It's not on purpose, but I also don't look friendly.

I once was pulled over suspected of stealing my own car. A cop saw me get in my car a Firebird Formula 400. that was usually parked in front of my building all day. I guess I didn't look like the owner. I also dressed pretty bad in those days.

Another time I was kept for like half hour on the side of the road after being stopped on suspicion. I was driving around my girlfriend's neighborhood at 2 am waiting for her to come home. I had about $3000. In my pocket.

I have to admit I was not very cooperative as they were rude to me. The One cop asked me about the money and I gave him no explanation other than it was mine. And he says "You better not be lying to me boy". That was it I didn't even care if they arrested me. In those days my lawyer was Joe Varon. Google him Florida.
I recently had contact with some cops I called after a break in. It took like 2 minutes to be sorry I even called them.

Bavafongoul said:

This is how I became introduced to Bob Owen in 2013. His cue making was principally known via his involvement working with Jack Shurtz that ultimately led to Bob buying Shurtz Cues. Along the way, Bob’s custom cue making became recognized for excellence and today he is one of the more prominent names building amazing custom cues.
Today Bob has become so understandably popular building custom cues he has a wait list like so many other builders.

I had Bob build two custom designs before the ivory ban took effect. Those cues would cost thousands more to make
today. Discovering a talented relatively new cue maker isn’t easy so let’s collectively try to identify and promote greater
awareness about these underappreciated cue makers. I think this would help ensure their future success which is good for these cue makers and all of this thread’s readers that are thinking about having a pool cue built. I hope this thread reveals the identities of cue makers most of us would not ever learn are building some really top notch pool cues.

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I just purchased an Owen cue. One cue maker's cue I haven't tried and can't wait to get it and try it out later this week.

KREE8TIV said:

Traipsing , Word of the day

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Doesn't mean quite what I was going for - (snotty movie sarcasm) but it has a ring to it huh?