PAT - Playing Ability Test - I don't get it

A

Amorgos

New member
Hey,

I'm new to this forum, but I was hoping to get some explanation on the PAT (Playing Ability Test) scoring system which I don't really understand.

For reference, I am looking at the PAT1 PDF on the pat-billiard website. Unfortunatelyt I don't have enough posts to post a link, but basically, search for PAT billiard in google, and the PAT1 PDF will become obvious to you.

I understand the drills involved and what to do, but how to score yourself is pretty vague. Have a look at the scoring sheets at the end of the PDF...

Lets take the first drill as an example. What is factor? There is no explanation of the re-testing chart. What is an inning? I'm confused! Is there a better explanation of how to use this system elsewhere?

Please can someone shed some light on how to use this system, as on the surface it looks like a very useful tool to gauge my ability.
 
I may be completely wrong, as I don't know much about the PAT, but it was my impression that you had to buy their books/tests. If that's indeed the case, they will probably have the missing information you seek in the for purchase materials.
 
The PAT tests that can be downloaded off of the PAT website are new revised tests. The drills are different from what was published in the books and dvds. But if you were to take the test officially with a PAT examiner here in the U.S. they would test you based on the drills based in the published books.

To get an understanding of how to calculate your scores from working the drills, visit this link http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=285575 where you can read a breakdown of how to calculate your scores that I had posted awhile back on a previous PAT thread.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks so much for the link. This will really help to give my solo practice sessions a big boost. The Hopkins method really looks like an interesting and fun way to improve.
 
Amorgos said:
What is factor?
What is an inning?
Please can someone shed some light on how to use this system, as on the surface it looks like a very useful tool to gauge my ability.
Click to expand...

The "factor" is a value that weights your score.

For PAT 1-1, you have 3 "innings" to run your 4 shots. This means all together you will have 3 scores of your 4 shots. For the purposes of the test, it is the number of times you attempt to run through the drill as it is presented. In some of the later drills like 1-6a (Large Area Position Drill), you have to pot 6 balls in order. You have 3 innings to do so. If you played the 1 in, then missed the 2, your inning ends. You then start your second inning and begin with the 1 ball again and recording your first score as "1" (as it was the only ball successfully pocketed).

The PAT system is a great gauge of what you are good at, and what you have trouble with. Through the scores it also shows you how you measure up against others. The most important scores are your poor ones, practice those drills more often.

Once you improve a little try a game of Fargo and see what your score is. Then go back and work on the PAT drills. Keep varying back and forth and you will see you scores go up in both. Once you can score more than 800 under test conditions you can move up to PAT2.



.
 
The sense of PAT is to put some *competition* into practice.
I like PAT and the idea- but like every test.....there s no holy gral :-)

But to keep notes about your practice and keeping results it s a good and helpful idea.

lg
Ingo
 
For PAT 1 downloaded from http://www.pat-billiard.com, you score the following way.
1.01 – Speed Control
Shoot the 7 balls, one at each of the listed speeds. Whatever you score is your score. Although the form doesn’t state to complete it more than once, it does ask for your average which makes me think you should perform it several times to obtain an average. The goal is to average 4.66 (100%).

So let’s say I shoot the 7 balls, one at each speed. That is 1 inning. I repeat this 2 more times, for a total of 3 innings. I hit 21 total balls, and let’s say I scored 5,5,4 for a total of 14. 14 divided by 3 (innings), is a 4.66 average. The factor, 21.43, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 99.8638%(4.66*21.43=99.8638) rounded up to 100% for ease of use.

1.02 – Straightness
Shoot the CB between each of the three “gates”. That is 1 inning. The form states to complete this 2 more times for a total of 3 innings. The goal is to average 2 (100%).

So this time I shoot the three innings and score 3,1,2 for a total of 6. 6 divided by 3 (innings) is a 2 average. The factor, 50, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 100% (2*50=100)

1.03 a & b – Shot Efficiency and Control
Shoot the 6 follow shots one time only. Shoot the 6 draw shots two times. These are a total of three innings. The goal is to average 5 (100%).

So I shoot the 1 set follow and 2 sets draw, three innings, and score 6,4,4 for a total of 14. 14 divided by 3 (innings) is a 4.66 average. The factor, 20, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 93.2% (4.66*20=93.2)

1.04 – Shot Making
Set all 15 balls as shown. Shoot balls 1-5 from position A, balls 6-10 from position B, and balls 11-15 from position(s) C. Each set of 5 balls is 1 inning, for a total of 3 innings. The goal is to average 3.33 (100%).

So I shoot each set of 5 balls and score 5,3,4 for a total of 12. 12 divided by 3 is a 4 average. The factor, 30, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 120% (4*30=120)

1.05 a & b – Small Area Position Play
Again, this specific portion does not specifically state to shoot more than once however it still asks for an average. I again recommend staying with 3 innings, 3 on A and 3 on B, for 6 total innings. The goal is to average 3.33.

So I shoot section A 3 times, 2,3,4 and section B three times, 2,2,3 for a total of 16. 16 divided by 6 is a 2.66 average. The factor, 30, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 79.8% (2.66*30=79.8) rounded to 80% for ease of use.

1.06 a & b – Large Area Position Play
Set up as shown and shoot innings just like previous small area position (3 innings each, for 6 total). The goal is to average 4.

So I shoot section A 3 times, 3,5,6 and section B 3 times, 2,4,3 for a total of 23. 23 divided by 6 is a 3.83 average. The factor, 25, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 95.75% (3.83*25=95.75), rounded to 96% for ease of use.

1.07 a & b – Frozen Rail Position Play
Set up as shown and again shoot like previous small and large area positions (3 innings each for 6 total). The goal is to average 4.

So I shoot section A 3 times, 2,3,3 and section B 3 times 6,5,6 for a total of 25. 25 divided by 6 is a 4.16 average. The factor, 25, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 104% (4.16*25=104)

1.08 – Large Area Position Play Continuous
Shoot balls 1-3, if all made, then 4-6, if all made, then 7-9. Repeat this 2 more times for 3 total innings. The goal is to average 4.5.

So I shoot my first set and make it to the 6, my second set and make it to the 7, my third set and make it to the 3, for a total of 13. 13 divided by 3 is a 4.33 average. The factor, 22.22, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 96.21% (4.33*22.22=96.21) rounded to 96% for ease of use.

1.09 – Kick Shots
Set up and shoot as shown. Shoot at all 6 balls, then re-set balls and shoot, re-set balls and shoot for 3 total innings. The goal is to average 4.

So I shoot and make 4 of the first 6, re-set and make 6 of the second set, re-set and make 4 of the third set, for a total of 14. 14 divided by 3 is a 4.66 average. The factor, 25, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 116.5% (4.66*25=116.5) rounded to 117% for ease of use.

1.10 – 8-Ball Game Situation
Set up balls as shown and try to run out. Repeat this two more times for 3 total innings. The goal is to average 5.

So I shoot all 8 the first set, 6 the second try, and all 8 the last try for a total of 22. 22 divided by 3 is a 7.33 average. The factor, 20, is listed on the re-test sheet.

So my score is: 146.66% (7.33*20=146.66) rounded to 147% for ease of use.

Overall Scoring
The max total score is 1530. All sections max score is 150, except sections, 1.03 max is 120, 1.08 max is 200, and 1.10 max is 160. For the above listed examples my overall score was 1053. If you score over 800 you are supposed to be ready to go to PAT 2, where you should see a drop in score from 300-500 points. I’m not going up until I am consistently over 1000 and I’m not quite there yet. I plan on doing this once every three months.

I started a spreadsheet to auto calculate but haven't finished it yet. Probably will next month when I do the test again.
 
Last edited:
Scott Lee said:
PAT tests are okay, but imo a better "gauge" of your real ability is Hopkins Q-Skill test, or playing Fargo...both of which are available for free on the internet.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Q skills is an excellent assessment tool. The really cool thing is if you keep track of it you can see the trend line on what your game is doing, peaks slumps, and inconsistency become visible over time. I've been using this tool for a couple years and 5000 + racks worth of data tells a pretty good story.

what it can't do is gauge how you will play when the pressure is on.

:cool:
 
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