“ALL IN ONE” Progressive Practice Drill – Billiard University Playing Ability Exam IX

[Bob Jewett]

... 11-15 are substantially harder. The break really is the issue IMO. If you hit it too soft, you have a major cluster to deal with. Too hard and you have too many balls up table. ...

Maybe plan a rebreak either with a wasted shot or something like a 14.1 break shot?

Doing 15 more than half the time (now in 25 strokes) is supposed to be Efren/Gorst/Filler level of play.

 

[td873]

Maybe plan a rebreak either with a wasted shot or something like a 14.1 break shot?

Doing 15 more than half the time (now in 25 strokes) is supposed to be Efren/Gorst/Filler level of play.

Yeah. Good idea. For a while I was starting with a one-ball carom shot off the remaining balls in the stack pushing things apart and moving the one towards the hole. This was OK, but ended up with a lot of balls by the opposite corner. 12-15 really is challenging. It makes sense that 15 is GOAT territory.

-td

 

[dr_dave]

I tried this and 10 was pretty easy at 30 shots. I even tried it with a wide open 10-ball break and made it. (Below 10 was the same)

11-15 are substantially harder. The break really is the issue IMO. If you hit it too soft, you have a major cluster to deal with. Too hard and you have too many balls up table. I was able to clear 11 fairly consistently (2 out of 3), but 12 only a couple times. 13-15 were a crap shoot to even clear 1 out of 3.

I should probably think about a useful break to facilitate this drill. My current head-on, medium light speed with a touch of draw yields a decent starter most of the time, but things are pretty congested after that.

-td

If you can get 1 out of 3 at Level 15 with the new 25-stroke limit, you should be happy. Level 15 is meant to challenge even the best players.

 

[dr_dave]

Doing 15 more than half the time (now in 25 strokes) is supposed to be Efren/Gorst/Filler level of play.

If it isn’t, we need to make it harder. Hopefully, more players will try it and let us know how they do.

 

[td873]

If you can get 1 out of 3 at Level 15 with the new 25-stroke limit, you should be happy. Level 15 is meant to challenge even the best players.

To be fair, mostly 0 out of 3 for level 13-15. Getting 1 at level 13 @26 strokes is definitely rewarding [now at 25, it's super challenging].

FWIW, I am able to run 30+ in K-ball, but this is another level.

-td

 

[Poolmanis]

i tried this but don´t know why i did not like it much. Maybe because i need to count, or use counter..

(Offtopic but maybe this is reason i don´t like this now I try later..)
Had nice tournament last weekend. Won 2 shootouts=race to 1 winner takes all, 800€ and 930€ pots that i shared with my student. We got there and decided split all money from shootouts because they are so hard to win and he is good enough win those too.. 5th on main tournament and lost quarterfinal to my pool student 5-7 who ran 4 run outs and kick 2 times ball in from my safe and ran out those too. Both missed one ball. He got good money finishing second and opponent did not miss a ball in final. He did fly to Spain to play Eurotour this weekend. Pretty strong for guy who played 3 and half years.. Still somewhat inconsistent but aren´t we all?

I got tournament next weekend too.. Maybe i just want to practice for that now..

 

[dr_dave]

i tried this but don´t know why i did not like it much. Maybe because i need to count, or use counter..

Sounds like a “first-world problem.”

 

[Poolmanis]

Sounds like a “first-world problem.”

Maybe... There are many drills also i like but i never do because they are slow and hard to set up.
I used to like play vs myself but i always forgot is is player one or 2.. and this drill i noticed i forget to push counter when i start get focused.
Then I need to try remember how many shots i missed on counter and focus is gone..
Maybe it would be fun if do it with friend and another keeps score when another shoots..
Or just take a video and count from it afterwards.

 

[Mensabum]

If anybody tries AO, please let me know how well you think the Level-based player rating (in the AO document) at the end of your session corresponds to your actual level of ability.

Please try it. It is fun, and it is excellent practice for many important skills.

Doc,
your drills always shatter my illusions of grandeur in how well I think I play.
My delusions are in tatters.

 

[dr_dave]

Maybe it would be fun if do it with friend and another keeps score when another shoots..

Agreed.

Or just take a video and count from it afterwards.

Yep. Just finish every rack to completion and check the count later.

 

[dr_dave]

Doc,
your drills always shatter my illusions of grandeur in how well I think I play.
My delusions are in tatters.

... then Bob and I must have done a good job.

If the game were easy, it wouldn't be fun.

 

[dr_dave]

Here's a scored version of AO called AO100, as an alternative to the progressive version. Give it a try and please posts scores (and video links if available).