My Combined Training System

As promised, I e-mailed the beta version of the training challege/skill test I have been working on....

Let me stress, this is not complete. I am sharing this with a few of you (confidentially) for you to try out in hope that your feedback (good, bad, or indifferent) will help me to fine tune this training tool...

If I told you that you were in via PM or your name is on the list from a couple pages ago...

Please confirm that you have recieved the e-mail and documents and give me any initial feedback that you have from looking at it. Please confirm that you also understand the scoring. Genral scoring for all drills is on the first page. I don't know that it's clear, but please make sure your confident about that

I wanted to get this out to you so that you might be able to begin trying some of the drills... and ask any questions that you might have. SOme of my instructions on the document may be unclear, but I wanted to get something out. THE SCORING SHEET THAT I GAVE YOU is far from complete, (actually it wasnt even attached, I just put the basics on the last page) it has not be segmented down to the individual subsection tests yet and the percentile math is also incomplete... I will get you the full, version so that you maybe able to find your scoring percentiles, I figure out which drill goes with which drill when trying to test on certain sections... long story... but anyway, you have the basics.

Soon as I get the final revised scoresheets done, and confirmation that you guys got the test/challenge and youve had some time to warm up to it... I will start another thread to discuss...

Please hold up your ends, I need communication about this from all of you... It's not "done" but it's taken a brutal amount of work even if it doesnt look like it. lol.

~D4\/\/G~
 
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Sent to:

~jj~ - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
djkx1 - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
Tak81 - CONFIRMED RECIEPT - DETAILED FEEDBACK PROVIDED
D Player
Ten Pin
Elephant Man- CONFIRMED RECIEPT
Spimp13
Ratta
dr9ball - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
Neil - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
MOJOE
Big h515
Wedge - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
 
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I did not recieve the email, I sent a PM as well. Thanks again
Edit: Got it now. Will check it out in the next couple of days and get back to you with some input.
 
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Sent to:

~jj~
djkx1
Tak81 - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
D Player
Ten Pin
Elephant Man- CONFIRMED RECIEPT
Spimp13
Ratta
dr9ball - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
Neil - CONFIRMED RECIEPT
MOJOE
Big h515
Wedge - CONFIRMED RECIEPT

8 unconfirmed, the file was huge (ms word) so it bounced back on a couple email addresses with file size limits... Elephant Man was kind enough to convert it to .pdf for me, file is MUCH MUCH smaller... If you haven't gotten it, let me know, I will resend it.

If you email me your completed score sheet, I can "grade" it. I didnt include the math for the "percentile" scoring per individual skill subsets... I didnt have time. But if you email it to me, I can break it down. That break down may prove to be useful as based on that I can recommend exactly what drills to work on... and the drills and or fundamentals you may want to examine are not included in the document you got...

Ps. There has been some question about a specific drill I dont think I was clear on... the "combo platter"..

All drills start with BIH if not otherwise noted (and I may need to clarify a few, I didn't have a ton of time and wanted to get it out)

Combo Platter- there are 12 balls- when you make the first 6 (via combination shots) that leaves 6 balls on the table- those six are used (as they lay) to combo into each other (which if successful leaves 3 balls on the table) using the 3 remaining balls, find 1 combo shot... When I typed it, I miscalculated... that would leave 2 balls on the table upon completion. GIST: 12 balls... find 10 combo shot using those balls. (in runout fashion, no BIH unless a shot is missed. The missed object ball is removed, take BIH (at 1 pt now) and attempt to complete. Repeat if missed (remove missed ball, take BIH again) (still 1pt)

Sorry if it wasnt clear.

As we agreed... please provide detailed feedback, I have gotten some from a couple of you... communication is needed on your thoughts not only on the test as a whole, but also on the invidual drills... please consider this a colabrative project... I need your help, that's why I offered to share.

If your name is not on the list, and you asked to participate I apologize. I have not deleted the PM's from the folks that asked but I couldnt include in the first run... and hopefully I choose the right people for the first run that will give me the feedback needed to finetune it down, if I need to find alternates for the first run (if IM not getting help/particiaption from folks on the first list) after everyone has gotten a chance to try it (takes awhile to do the whole test) I will PM you guys back & send file... AFter I drill it down using the feedback, I will have a contact anyone else who has asked and let you give it a try... Also, I will note anyone who I felt helped me ie; "at the suggestion of _____, I have included or adjusted this drill to include _____" When I get it done I will also credit whomever I got an ideas for specific drills... ie; A few drill are inspired by ipat, a few from kinister, a couple from pro skills drills, one from blackjack, etc... if I was inspired by a drill I found from someone else, I will note that. I don't wish to take credit for an idea that someone else had... Im a gatherer, while I did create some of them.. most were inspired and/or motified based on something I tried that I personally found valuable and really liked.

Dave
 
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I haven t received a mail :-(

Still looking forward to it :)

take care bro^^
 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Instead of answering everyone's questions, Im sure some of you (have had) and will have similiar questions I will post the answers if I wasn't perfactly clear (which IM sure I wasn't at some points)

QUESTION: The only question so far is on the stop and go if you do the first 5 follows at 2 pt each and miss the last one, is that it? 10 points or do you reshot it for 1 point? same drill if you miss the first shot are the rest woth 1 point each and what if you miss another? turn over or just go to the next shot?


yes, on "stop and go" and any other (if not noted otherwise) you start with the first shot being worth 2 pts (for successful shot & leave) you continue doing the drill at 2 pts per shot until a shot is missed (and/or leave missed) the pts for the errored shot are 0 and that ball is removed from the table (if it not already gone) (if its a drill with multiple balls on the table and the cueball touches any other ball on tha table, 0 points plus removal of contacted ball too) you then take BIH (or in the case of the stop & go, just move back to the next target spot) and remainder of the balls successfully pocketed during the drill are 1 pt each. That process continues if additional balls are missed (remove ball, take BIH, continue drill)

No drill is complete until every ball is off the table. Regardless how many mistakes you make during a drill, and how many times you have to do it to clear the table. (REMEMBER to remove any ball missed or contacted during that drill from the table (those points are unavailble (forfiet).)

EXAMPLE: "eggshells drill" 15 balls on the table, you make the first 3 balls (without contact with any other balls) on the 4th ball, you make the ball but contact another ball with the cueball.... thats 3 balls at 2pts each, 4th ball forfiet ("0") and contacted ball forfiet (removed) that wold leave 10 balls on the table... take BIH, start shooting again at 1pt each... you make 5 more balls, during the shot at the 6th ball.you miss the shot and contact a 7th ball... that's 5 pts for the first 5, remove the 6th & 7th balls from the table... there would be 3 remaining balls on the table... take BIH, begin shooting the last 3... let's say you make the next two and miss the 3rd... the 3rd is forfiet but you've earned 2 more pts for the first 2 of 3.... YOU HAVE SCORED: 13 pts (6pts+5pts+2pts)
the scoring for all drills are the same...(unless otherwise stated )

QUESTION: In one of the bank drills it doesn't say if you get ball in hand for each shot or if you have to start with the cueball center table and bank out. I don't believe it says whether the balls are frozen to the rails which it looks like they are.

Banks; Yes, BIH to begin. All the balls should be 1 inch off the rail. Bank out. every successive bank is worth 2 points, if a bank is missed that ball is remove and you get BIH and try to finish banking out but after the 1st miss, each bank only worth 1 pt.

QUESTION: Ok, well I just realized that I did the scoring wrong for a lot of these. Let me explain the mistakes I made, and perhaps we can clarify things.

Teeter Totter, Rail Bird, Boxing, The Snake and River Bank:

I didn't even see the (x2) until I really created my spreadsheet for scoring. Only today I realize that I was supposed to (I think) do those drills twice? When I do the drills twice, do I do the exact same layout, or do I mirror the layout for the second run?

Please let me know what you mean in your score sheet with the (x2) next to some drills, and how that affects the layout of the table for the drill for run #1 and run #2.


Yes, 2x means 2 times. The drill does not change at all, just repeats. (at MAX level it will be "mirrored" to the opposite side) as is, just try the drill twice. Gives you a second chance and hopefully you learned from the mistake you made doing that drill the first time, and can improve it... if you did it perfect the first time, it tests your consistancy in making the right choice & leaves.

PS, based on the above suggestion, I have changed the score sheet and drill sheet to reflect that it is repeated 2 times on those drills. Thanks Jay!
 
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Dave, sorry its been busy around here lately. I did receive mine, and have looked over it breifly. I look forward to getting it printed out and implementing it during my next training session. I only fear that it will be a couple weeks before I can get back to a table. Hope that is not the case. Will keep you posted.
 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Con't.

You might want to mention even though it should be obvious that these tests are only good if a person is honest on their results. Cheating will not be a very good assessment tool. Also do not give up after one trial, everyone has a bad day/drill they struggle with.

Thank you for pointing that out. I hope that it's obvious that the only person that losses if someone tries to fudge a result or give themselves a "mulligan" is that person... Character and integrity can not be instructed, if they don't know by now that they are only hurting themselves, they just do get it. There is nothing I can say to change that.

and yes, your absolutely right. This test has been called the GAUNTLET as was named by my friends... because its grueling. Mentally and physically, it takes a ton of mental fortitude to do the entire test in one setting and maintain your focus for maximum results... I wouldnt expect anyone to be able to stay sharp though the whole this without considerable practice...

LOL, yeah that was the idea... as I mentioned the drill set was called "the gauntlet" before I renamed it (and may change the name back)... doing them all at once is mentally brutal...

ideally they should be done all at once for maximum brutality and mental conditioning... but that's unrealistic for most people's shecdules... they will be (and actually already are) broken into segments (5)... each segment is around 45 minutes and each has a warm-up (ie; addendum) and individual scoring... when Im done, you will get the whole thing.... Im using some feedback to adjust, remove, & add some elements to the test.

QUESTION: Am I correct to assume that the player gets to decide if they want to try the rookie or max versions?

Yes, but you should decide BEFORE you do any drill which version you are attempting or as it's written right now you will comprimise your scores as far as percentiles, etc... I will be adjusting that by the way... Im in the middle of that now.

QUESTION: Stop and Go - A suggestion for the first drill with the stop shots would be to use the white plastic reinforcements to place the object ball on. This will be easier for measuring if the cue ball moves forward more or less than one ball length, and the reinforcements are cheap to buy

Just to be clear am I correct to assume 2 points are given if you A. make the ball, and B. do step 2 of either stopping within 1 ball or following the object ball into the pocket depending on which part of the drill you are attempting? I am assuming this one will either be a 2 or 0 for each shot with no 2nd chance 1 point shot?


Good idea on the stickers, I'll leave that up to you guys.

Yes, it's 2pts or none. If you get "none" or foul a shot (not make AND get shape), ball is gone (and its pts), move to the next shot and now your at 1 pts per successful shot attempt. (repeat as needed.. miss, remove, repeat (1pt) till there are no balls of shots reamining

QUESTION:Egg Shells –Is it 2 shots max with 2 points and than 1 point respectively for the rookie version or do they get to keep taking ball and hand for 1 point after every foul?

Hope the above FAQ answers got this but... No the "2 max shots" is only on "MAX version" which is not recommended until you've completed the test as it is written and grade yourself to see if your ready to try "MAX"... otherwise as many shots as it takes.. (see scoring exanple above...

QUESTION: Mississippi Run – After a foul where a person does not make the ball am I correct to assume the object ball stays where it is at and ball in hand is taken with a chance for 1 point then on each additional ball pocketed?

No if you shot at a ball and miss, that ball is removed from the table (REMEMBER, if that missed ball comes into contact with any other ball after missing those balls are remove also... Take BIH and start with whatever the lowest reamining ball on the table is (at 1 pt now!)

QUESTION: Middle Ground – Brutal drill with no contact and only 2 shots max.

Only 2 shots on "MAX" version... others you continue I will explain why all drills are this way later


QUESTION: Combo Platter – interesting drill…I am assuming the slight one chalk angle is so the initial ball hit will go down toward the corner pocket setting up another combo? I assume no bonus points or respot if more then one ball drops from a combo?


Yes. and no, no bonus points. You do not want to make 2 balls in one shot, removes needed balls for later combo's.

QUESTION: The Gates – I could see the rookie getting 0 here. Does the cue ball have to be in the position shown on each shot?

Yes, it should always be in the same spot. and Yes, "rookies" and medium to even some higher skill level players could see themselves walk away from this with a zero

QUESTION Bowliard Variations – If someone scratches on the break what happens? If two balls are made on the break are they both spotted one right behind the other similar to one pocket?

"free break"- nothing happens on a scratched break. Yes, similiar to one pocket, if 2 balls are made and need to be spotted after the break they are lined up directly behind one another.
 
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OK, I don't want to be adding to this thread with a bunch of stuff out here in the open forum when it really is primarily for the attention of a smaller group of you that have the test in hand...

I started a private social group "GAUNTLET GROUP" and sent invites to all of you (I think)... by accepting the invite you should be part of the group...

To access any conversations about this test/challenge and to diuscuss this with me & the others please check that group as much as possible..

For those that do not know about private social groups here on AZ.... Click "user CP" at the top of the page, on the left hand side you should see "social groups" click that, under your groups you will see "Gauntlet group" there will be private discussions there... you can ask anything you like, or (please) share your thoughts on the indviidual drills/format, etc,....

Also, I have sent each of you a "friend request". accept that... the reason you need to accept my invite is so that you can see my private album of images... Im going to upload every page of the test & update them as things are adjusted based on your feedback... You can not see these images, or any future images I upload without accepting that invite.

For any of you that have been paying attention to this thread and you want to see the test pages and or be include on getting the updated test and taking it, send me another PM... I can put you in the private "social group" and you can see everything.

Dave

FYI, I tried to email a simplified score sheet to all of you... it's uploaded into the social group discusion
 
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If anyone else had been following this thread, or would like to take the time to read this thread to see what its all about...

and is interested in helping me/beta testing and can commit to giving me feedback that I need to take the next step in the development of this project (and then release)...

Please request to become a memebr of the GAUNTLET GROUP under social groups, the entire test has been uploaded as images to that group.

if you want to help, and you want a free training program/drills/and free scoring evaulation for your individual skill subsets you can also reply here I will send you an invite...

In doing so, you agree to help me with detailed feedback & completed scoresheets for my evaluation (to be given back to you) when you are a member of the social group you will see what the basic scoring eval looks like, they are posted there.

I know alot of people are busy and doing this will be a commitment of time (test takes hours) but Im getting limited feedback so far and Im itching to move forward.

Help me, Help you!! Help Me, HELp YOU!

lol.
 
If anyone else had been following this thread, or would like to take the time to read this thread to see what its all about...

and is interested in helping me/beta testing and can commit to giving me feedback that I need to take the next step in the development of this project (and then release)...

Please request to become a memebr of the GAUNTLET GROUP under social groups, the entire test has been uploaded as images to that group.

if you want to help, and you want a free training program/drills/and free scoring evaulation for your individual skill subsets you can also reply here I will send you an invite...

In doing so, you agree to help me with detailed feedback & completed scoresheets for my evaluation (to be given back to you) when you are a member of the social group you will see what the basic scoring eval looks like, they are posted there.

I know alot of people are busy and doing this will be a commitment of time (test takes hours) but Im getting limited feedback so far and Im itching to move forward.

Help me, Help you!! Help Me, HELp YOU!

lol.


I am working on it but I don't have it all finished yet. I'm doing it in parts as I have time.
 
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