$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.