$3000 BU Exam Challenge – Draw and Follow Mastery – Enter Online for Free

[Paul Bell]

it's a great combination of drills that will be used hopefully for years to come. So it would be a nice motivation for every new beginner to score high at the draw/follow fundamentals workout)

There is little motivation for beginners to post videos of their average or poor play that, given early results, would result in no win. What is needed is a $100 prize for a loser in the competion besides merchandise discount. Perhaps there could be a random pick of anyone who submitted videos.

That, or expand the merchandise discount

See the Black Blade cues company owner and Temu merchandise below:

 

[kanzzo]

There is little motivation for beginners to post videos of their average or poor play

Seems like a difference in fixed vs growth mindset. There are 7 different straight draw shots to practice and master (8 if you add the monster draw from BU I). (Or you can reduce to 30% just practicing the 7 and 8 diamonds draws. Adjusting for higher contact point or less speed should be very easy, once you have these two down.)

The interesting part is to see, how you can improve from horrible to finishing in prize money within few weeks. (And the 4.5 months challenge gives you more than enough time for this). No entry fee and bragging rights plus some real money for finishing high.

(and pro tip: aim for nickel target instead of one square foot target when practicing )

 

[dr_dave]

It's probably easier to watch an 8 minutes video on your smartphone than to practice draw shots from different distances and with different targets for hundreds of hours

The draw matrix is a tough drill. Without the stop shots I am about 60% at the moment on most of the draws from the matrix challenge. (But I am very positive that I can pop it up to 90% in a few weeks with my draw workout and my goal is definitevly to post a video with a score of 85% (so I have 180+ in both challenges).

My workout is 10x same ball (same distance to cb, same draw distance) for about 10-14 different combinations and all about being able to repeat it constantly. Building muscle memory, practicing hitting the CB on the exact same spot and being able to test "the interchangability" of CB-OB distance and drawing distance. (Your formula is about just adding these two, so 3 diamonds CB-OB and drawing 2 diamonds is about same stroke as distance 4 and drawing 1 or distance 1 and drawing 4.) If feel like on my older draw more spin gets lost with CB-OB distance.

But I found out that the draw from BU I (last position, 6.5 diamonds between CB and OB and drawing 2.5 diamonds is the same as drawing from same spot but with CB on 2. diamond (5 diamonds CB-OB) and drawing 4 diamonds. (that would be acutally spot on with your formula - but having this draw in my workout mix I will improve on the draws for BU I so I can finally steal your magenta highscore in this (BU I) challenge.

If it's true, one just needs to practice 8 different draws (for a sum of 2-9 diamonds). Shouldn't be that hard

I am curious if I will stick to the workout long enough for the mentioned improvement. Life has a tendancy to get in the way of such optimistic tough goals (especially having the challenge already finished for me ). Also I am getting older and need a more physiological way for all the hundreds of draws. (Had lateral epicondylitis (tennis ellbow) last time I overdid it with the 9 diamonds draws from BU I )

I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I look forward to seeing your best at the Draw Matrix Drill.

If more people had your work ethic, there would be a lot more good players out there.

 

[dr_dave]

FYI, I just posted a new video that announces the latest Billiard University (BU) Playing-Ability Exam Draw and Follow Online Challenge. New exams assess and give you excellent practice with draw and follow control. $3000 in prizes are available for 10 people and everybody who participates gets a discount on Dr. Dave merchandise. It is free to enter, and you must do so by September 30, 2026. Check it out:

Contents:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:38 - BU Exams
• 1:48 - Exam Instructions
• 3:07 - BU Exam VII – Draw Matrix Drill
• 4:22 - BU Exam VIII – Follow Matrix Drill
• 6:38 - More Info

Supporting Resources:

• $3,000 Billiard University (BU) Draw/Follow Challenge
• BU Exams resource page
• 9’ table diamond ruler
• Player Rating table and other info
• Dr. Dave’s discounted Merchandise

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

Anybody else out there plan to enter? You can see the entries to date and current standings on the Challenge page.

 

[dr_dave]

FYI, kanzzo just posted an 75 on the draw drill. His video and current standings are on the Challenge page.

 

[dr_dave]

I just posted an 84 on the Follow Matrix Drill. I think I can do much better, but it will take some work.

The current standings are on the Challenge page.

 

[kanzzo]

Any bonus for a perfect score?

I am betting $ 100 of my prize money that I can do a perfect score in both drills til the end of the challenge. Any takers to give me 50:1 on my money?

 

[dr_dave]

Any bonus for a perfect score?

Yes. A guarantee of getting the top individual prize ($500), lots of respect from me and others, and lots of pride for you.

I am betting $ 100 of my prize money that I can do a perfect score in both drills til the end of the challenge. Any takers to give me 50:1 on my money?

I am confident somebody will get a perfect score on the Follow Drill. I think it is possible even for me.

A perfect score on the Draw Drill is much more difficult. I hope we see it (maybe from you), but I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t happen. I doubt it is possible for me, but I will certainly give it a try at some point.

 

[kanzzo]

This is from last challenge. So I obviously meant something like a perfect score bonus.

And to improve the chances of you (or any sponsor) to never having to pay it out, I even would ante up the challenge, that only the first to get perfect score in both drills gets it

(I mean, the perfect score bonus from the last challenge never had to be paid out ;-)

 

[dr_dave]

... to improve the chances of you (or any sponsor) to never having to pay it out, I even would ante up the challenge, that only the first to get perfect score in both drills gets it

There is no "sponsor" other than the Billiard University (owned by me and Randy Russell).

How much are you willing to offer for the first person to get a perfect score in both (or either of the) drills? We can have that be an AZB-only bonus prize. You might be the only AZB user with enough dedication and skill to go for it. Although, if you offer a bonus prize for the Follow Matrix Drill, I will definitely put in a little extra effort to try to be the first to 100.

 

[kanzzo]

How much are you willing to offer?

Just from the math there is a huge difference between 72 out of 75 and perfect score (like running 75 in straight pool or running 75 in 4 innings).

So the chances to get a perfect score in both are astronomically little. With 90% to draw perfect target each shot its 0.6% (one in 133) to get the right position 48 times in a row.

And for most people (including myself) 90% is way too optimistic (at least at the moment). On most draws I am more like 60-75%.

So I did mean it as a bet. Getting some favorable interesting odds (as an idea). I would bet $ 100-200 of my own money to win potentially a few thousand. Neither sum would be a life changing amount but the bet would add to the motivation to find out, how close I can get.

This was the reason for my post.

As for your question of how much I would offer for a perfect score:

I could imagine to match your offer Something in the range of $500 - $2500 sounds interesting. (So that I could win something myself.) This way I would have a chance to win 50% of the prize pool and have a motivation to stay on the challenge.

If we make it AZB only then it would basically be a challenge between us two and perhaps Poolmanis (and potentially a handful others). With the knowledge, that in about 98% nobody will have a perfect score but the potential prize money could fuel lots of practice sessions trying to find out what is possible.

So I would match your contribution to a best total AZB score (or everyone under 720 Fargo to keep Bongers, Filler and SVB and the likes out) in both drills (say "have to exceed 180 points out of 200 and gets paid). Say something like $200-1000. And a bonus for perfect score (range $500-2500).

And we could do it in the same manner just for the follow drill (we post the same amount each for the perfect score and the first one getting 100 gets the prize, while the challenge also stays open to AZB and the participants that have already contributed to the challenge).

 

[kanzzo]

In the same manner I would still be interested to go for perfect score in BU I and going for 195+ in BU I + BU II.

 

[dr_dave]

Just from the math there is a huge difference between 72 out of 75 and perfect score (like running 75 in straight pool or running 75 in 4 innings).

So the chances to get a perfect score in both are astronomically little. With 90% to draw perfect target each shot its 0.6% (one in 133) to get the right position 48 times in a row.

And for most people (including myself) 90% is way too optimistic (at least at the moment). On most draws I am more like 60-75%.

So I did mean it as a bet. Getting some favorable interesting odds (as an idea). I would bet $ 100-200 of my own money to win potentially a few thousand. Neither sum would be a life changing amount but the bet would add to the motivation to find out, how close I can get.

This was the reason for my post.

As for your question of how much I would offer for a perfect score:

I could imagine to match your offer Something in the range of $500 - $2500 sounds interesting. (So that I could win something myself.) This way I would have a chance to win 50% of the prize pool and have a motivation to stay on the challenge.

If we make it AZB only then it would basically be a challenge between us two and perhaps Poolmanis (and potentially a handful others). With the knowledge, that in about 98% nobody will have a perfect score but the potential prize money could fuel lots of practice sessions trying to find out what is possible.

So I would match your contribution to a best total AZB score (or everyone under 720 Fargo to keep Bongers, Filler and SVB and the likes out) in both drills (say "have to exceed 180 points out of 200 and gets paid). Say something like $200-1000. And a bonus for perfect score (range $500-2500).

And we could do it in the same manner just for the follow drill (we post the same amount each for the perfect score and the first one getting 100 gets the prize, while the challenge also stays open to AZB and the participants that have already contributed to the challenge.

I’m already putting in $3,000 (not to mention all the money I’ve put up in all past Challenges), and you are pretty much guaranteed to get $500 of that, so I would prefer you do the bonus on your own. That way, I (and others) also have a small chance at some of your money (although, you will probably win it anyway).

 

[kanzzo]

I’m already putting in $3,000 (not to mention all the money I’ve put up in all past Challenges), and you are pretty much guaranteed to get $500 of that, so I would prefer you do the bonus on your own. That way, I (and others) also have a small chance at some of your money (although, you will probably win it anyway).

Whatever your motivation is or was for putting up the prize money for the challenge, I respect it. Maybe it's to promote Billiard University, attract people to the camps, or simply give something back to the pool community.

That said, I have no interest in putting up my own money into the prize pool when the best-case outcome for me is merely getting my money back. That's not really an appealing proposition from my perspective.

As I mentioned before, my original idea was a bet. To me, odds somewhere in the 15:1 to 20:1 range on somebody achieving a perfect score would be attractive, and that's the kind of situation where I would consider risking my own money. (If 30 people would be willing to put up $100 to find out if they can be the first to get a perfect score, taking the bet on 20:1 would obviously be a no brainer. Especially if you would estimate that in 98% you never have to pay out.)

I'd also be willing to put my money up against yours in a side challenge: first person to achieve a perfect score in either drill (or both drills) wins the pot.

But contributing money to the challenge itself, with the possibility of only winning back what I put in, doesn't really make much sense to me.

 

[kanzzo]

And I honestly don't understand why these challenges don't attract far more participants.

You are essentially offering free money for practicing two fundamental skills that every serious pool player needs anyway. Draw and follow control are about as basic and important as it gets. Being able to repeat those shots accurately is at the core of cue-ball control and overall precision.

Looking at it from the outside, I would expect every larger club to have at least a handful of players giving it a try. Instead, there seem to be only a small number of people from around the world who actually took the time to participate.

It's not like these are gimmick drills that nobody will ever use in real play. The ability to consistently reproduce draw and follow shots is one of the foundations of the game.

That's why I'm genuinely surprised that so many AZB members and so many of the thousands of people subscribed to your channel seem to simply ignore it.

 

[kanzzo]

Anyway, as mentioned, I really like the drills, especially the Draw Matrix Challenge.

So I was a little disappointed when I realized that I probably won't be able to win anything in this one and will essentially be participating outside of the actual competition.

That said, I'll keep working on it, keep experimenting, and keep posting my results. The challenge itself is interesting enough that I want to see how far I can push my score.

 

[kanzzo]

The only explanation for the low participation I can come up with is something Malcolm Gladwell wrote about.

There was a famous case in New York where a crime happened, dozens of people witnessed it, and nobody called for help. The explanation wasn't that city people were less caring. It was that everybody assumed somebody else would surely do it.

This challenge feels a little similar.

If you offered it at a local club, half a dozen players would probably give it a shot immediately. Free entry, free money, and useful practice.

But when the challenge is presented to a worldwide audience of 330,000 YouTube subscribers, most people probably look at their draw game, assume everybody else is better, and conclude they have no chance.

And draw shots have a special reputation. Even Efren Reyes — arguably the greatest player of all time — was relatively weak at his draw shots compared to the rest of his game. Whether the story is fully true or not, many players seem to believe their draw game is one of the weaker parts of their skill set.

So people assume that somewhere out there are dozens of stronger players who will post great scores, and they don't want to publicly post a mediocre one.

Ironically, if enough people think that way, a challenge that should attract hundreds of entries ends up with only a handful of participants.

 

[dr_dave]

Whatever your motivation is or was for putting up the prize money for the challenge, I respect it. Maybe it's to promote Billiard University, attract people to the camps, or simply give something back to the pool community.

That said, I have no interest in putting up my own money into the prize pool when the best-case outcome for me is merely getting my money back. That's not really an appealing proposition from my perspective.

As I mentioned before, my original idea was a bet. To me, odds somewhere in the 15:1 to 20:1 range on somebody achieving a perfect score would be attractive, and that's the kind of situation where I would consider risking my own money. (If 30 people would be willing to put up $100 to find out if they can be the first to get a perfect score, taking the bet on 20:1 would obviously be a no brainer. Especially if you would estimate that in 98% you never have to pay out.)

I'd also be willing to put my money up against yours in a side challenge: first person to achieve a perfect score in either drill (or both drills) wins the pot.

But contributing money to the challenge itself, with the possibility of only winning back what I put in, doesn't really make much sense to me.

Understood.

I’m not interested in a side bet.

I post the money mostly for fun and to give back to the pool community. We don’t need marketing for the Boot Camps. They fill a year in advance and we always have long waiting lists.

 

[dr_dave]

And I honestly don't understand why these challenges don't attract far more participants.

You are essentially offering free money for practicing two fundamental skills that every serious pool player needs anyway. Draw and follow control are about as basic and important as it gets. Being able to repeat those shots accurately is at the core of cue-ball control and overall precision.

Looking at it from the outside, I would expect every larger club to have at least a handful of players giving it a try. Instead, there seem to be only a small number of people from around the world who actually took the time to participate.

It's not like these are gimmick drills that nobody will ever use in real play. The ability to consistently reproduce draw and follow shots is one of the foundations of the game.

That's why I'm genuinely surprised that so many AZB members and so many of the thousands of people subscribed to your channel seem to simply ignore it.

I am also baffled and disappointed by how few people participate. Maybe some people might be intimidated by filming themselves and posting it online, either because they might be embarrassed, or because they don’t know how to do it and don’t want to bother with it.

 

[dr_dave]

Anyway, as mentioned, I really like the drills, especially the Draw Matrix Challenge.

So I was a little disappointed when I realized that I probably won't be able to win anything in this one and will essentially be participating outside of the actual competition.

Understood.

That said, I'll keep working on it, keep experimenting, and keep posting my results. The challenge itself is interesting enough that I want to see how far I can push my score.

I’m glad to hear it. I plan to keep working also, even though I know it is very unlikely I can match your scores. I am finding the practice very helpful for my focus, and the challenge of improving my scores is fun.