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

The way I like to solve the problem (on a desktop PC) is to get the picture on the screen at a good size and then do a screen grab (snip). The resulting file has always been small enough.
You must still be on 1920x1080 monitors? For me on a 4k monitor, I have to make the picture super small so I can barely see it. Then screenshot it. Then it finally can be added to this forum. It shows up normal sized here.
 
Redid my test from years ago since I now have a procut diamond bar box. Pockets are 4.5 at mouth, 4 inch throat, and 1.5” shelf.

Scored a little higher on the diamond which surprised me. I was 136 on the old GC and score 144 on the diamond.


Nice job! I've updated your info on the list.
 
Here's the latest:

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

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

186
(92 + D:94), , , 100 - kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 3 5/8'', 1'' - Exam I, Exam II, Exam V
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 - dr_dave - 9', 5", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV, Exam V
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.
 
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7 foot table should have an asterix. (*not on a 9' or larger table).

And there was some rule for minimum table size for Doctorate Diploma score.

(A 9’ table is recommended because the exams and rating system were designed for a regulation-size table. To receive a Doctorate diploma, both exams must be taken on a 9’ (or larger) table; however, a smaller table size (e.g., 7’ or 8’) is allowed for a Bachelors or Masters diploma.)

It's the only D-score in the list for a 7 foot table.
 
7 foot table should have an asterix. (*not on a 9' or larger table).

And there was some rule for minimum table size for Doctorate Diploma score.

(A 9’ table is recommended because the exams and rating system were designed for a regulation-size table. To receive a Doctorate diploma, both exams must be taken on a 9’ (or larger) table; however, a smaller table size (e.g., 7’ or 8’) is allowed for a Bachelors or Masters diploma.)

It's the only D-score in the list for a 7 foot table.
My previous score was on a 9ft GC3 so I’m sure he just forgot to remove the D. The D. Lol
 
You must still be on 1920x1080 monitors? For me on a 4k monitor, I have to make the picture super small so I can barely see it. Then screenshot it. Then it finally can be added to this forum. It shows up normal sized here.
Yup. But you might be able to set your output format to high-compression jpeg and get it under a MB which I think is the AZB limit.
 
7 foot table should have an asterix. (*not on a 9' or larger table).

And there was some rule for minimum table size for Doctorate Diploma score.

(A 9’ table is recommended because the exams and rating system were designed for a regulation-size table. To receive a Doctorate diploma, both exams must be taken on a 9’ (or larger) table; however, a smaller table size (e.g., 7’ or 8’) is allowed for a Bachelors or Masters diploma.)

It's the only D-score in the list for a 7 foot table.

Thanks for letting me know. I fixed the errors.
 
Last BU Challenge was 4 years ago. Would love to see a new edition. New records set :D

Sorry, but we don't plan to do any prize-fund challenges in the near future. But this thread will always remain as an informal challenge.
 
Here are the latest standings:

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

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

186
(92 + D:94), , , 100 - kanzzo - 9', 4 1/4", 3 5/8'', 1'' - Exam I, Exam II, Exam V
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 - dr_dave - 9', 5", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV, Exam V
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.
 
Sorry, but we don't plan to do any prize-fund challenges in the near future. But this thread will always remain as an informal challenge.

At least need a new goal like "Honorary Professorship" of Billiard University for example for reaching 190 points (with a new Diploma)

:D
 
At least need a new goal like "Honorary Professorship" of Billiard University for example for reaching 190 points (with a new Diploma)

:D

If you reach a score of 190, I would be happy to reward you by sending you an "Honorary Professor" diploma (instead of "Doctorate with Honors"). I look forward to seeing you achieve this goal. 190 would be very impressive!
 
I’ve resumed my Billiard University “Habilitation.” Curious to see if I’ll get the professorship in the end.

bu exam I F8.jpg


 
I’ve resumed my Billiard University “Habilitation.” Curious to see if I’ll get the professorship in the end.

I look forward to seeing how high you can push those scores. Maybe you'll inspire me to give it another "college try" also.
 
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Thanks :)

wagon wheel.jpg

This is one of the most demanding drills I’ve come across so far.
Getting 19–20 out of 20 is a real achievement.
Excellent practice for refining stroke mechanics — I’m very curious to see how much improvement I’m capable of.


Maybe a few more AZBilliards folks will want to break their teeth on this one too — just for fun and bragging rights.
 
Thanks :)

View attachment 860426
This is one of the most demanding drills I’ve come across so far.
Getting 19–20 out of 20 is a real achievement.
Excellent practice for refining stroke mechanics — I’m very curious to see how much improvement I’m capable of.


Maybe a few more AZBilliards folks will want to break their teeth on this one too — just for fun and bragging rights.
Nice! I assume you accomplished this in 1 take? It is edited which is why I ask. 🙂

Has this drill made you a better position player?
 
this drill was to get perfect 5 on every position. so no, it wasn't in one take 😆 (but I will practice it, til I am able to score 19 out of 20 in the version of BU Exam I (just to hit the ball) and I will post an unedited video, when I manage to do it first time :) (At the moment I am about 15 out of 20).

Has this drill made you a better position player?

It depends on how you define “better position.”
These aren’t natural cue-ball paths. You can play good position simply by understanding rolling paths — you can even play solid pool and good position without having a great stroke, just by rolling balls or playing stop shots.

But drills like this help you develop a great stroke — which, in my definition, means being able to hit the cue ball consistently with the exact amount of english, speed, and draw you intend. That becomes especially valuable on new cloth, when the rails don’t grab as much spin and you need more stroke for precise position play.

It’s a tough drill, mainly because we rarely use these kinds of shots in real games. Still, it can be valuable, since it adds tools to your arsenal. Personally, I enjoy it more as a means to an end — for its own sake — because it shows you how good and consistent your stroke really is.

Basically (and this I also learned from Dr. Dave’s videos), it’s all about hitting exactly the same spot on the cue ball with exactly the same speed as intended — easier said than done.
 
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