Skill tests???

[Pete]

Hi all,

I wanted know if anyone has any good tests to see where your games at. For instance "The Ghost", how do you use this to determine your offensive level? Are there any other tests one can use, and what do they equate to?

I am presently an APA SL5 (8 ball), but was a SL6 for a short while (I got beaten too often, I couldn't beat the races). But I do realize that a SL5 here is far different from a SL5 there. So I want to know where I really stand in the world, not just a league.

So if you have any ideas or tests, please let me know. Thanks

Pete

 

[Bob Jewett]

I wanted know if anyone has any good tests to see where your games at. For instance "The Ghost", how do you use this to determine your offensive level? Are there any other tests one can use, and what do they equate to? ...

Equal Offense. Smash the 15 balls open, take ball in hand behind the line, and see if you can run 20 with 14.1 rules. Shoot 10 tries. 140 is a good score.

Fargo. It's like EO, but it's only one rack and you decide when to switch to rotation. One point for each ball in the first part, two for the rotation part. You get ball in hand anywhere after the break. 160 is a good score.

Progressive Practice Drills. There are five levels of drills in the handout at http://www.sfbilliards.com/basics.pdf Averaging 4 or better on the 5th level is good.

The Ghost. There are several variations on this. Usually, break nine ball, take cue ball in hand and try to run out. The table can be a large factor in what your run out percentage is. 50% on an average table is good.

But if you want to find out where you stand in the world, try entering some open tournaments. Practice or tests alone won't tell you too much.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Playing Ability Test for Pool-Billiards...
http://www.pat-billiard.com/index1.aspx

Q - Skill Rating Scorecard...
http://infohost.nmt.edu/~billiard/qskills_scorecard.html

Artistic...
http://www.artisticpoolplayers.com/shot_program/shot_program_current.php

 

[I rack balls]

I was wondering the same thing Pete. Thanks guys for the links, I will have to test my might in the next few days.

 

[Harvywallbanger]

I started a thread similar to this one today, "personal records". I'll have to give a few of these a try.

 

[woody_968]

I didnt have time to read through Bob's document, so this may have already been mentioned.

One good way to practice nineball is to do a progressive drill. It can be done in a race to nine format. Start by tossing one ball onto the table, take ball in hand and see if you can get out. Yea, one ball is easy but you have to start somewhere . If you get out, you get a point, if you dont get out mark a point on the other side.

If you get out, you then throw two balls on the table, then three, and so on. You must run the balls in rotation. You will soon find how many balls you run consistently and will spend most of your time practicing at a level that you CAN reach but you have to push yourself a little to do so.

Once you get to where you win the majority of the time going to nine, start the session by throwing two balls on the table, this means towards the end you will have to run two complete racks to win. When you can beat this consistently start with 3 balls. You get the idea.

Once again, this is a great drill because you spend most of your time playing at or just above your current level. And you will notice when you start getting through more balls before having trouble so you will notice improvements. It also gives you confidence when playing. If you know your "threshold" is 6 balls and there are only 4 on the table when your opponent misses you know you are capable of getting out. You just have to focus and get the job done.

Woody

 

[Bob Jewett]

...
One good way to practice nineball is to do a progressive drill. It can be done in a race to nine format. Start by tossing one ball onto the table, take ball in hand and see if you can get out. ...

Sounds like a good drill that I hadn't heard of before.

Another progressive nine ball drill is to add one ball for each time you run out, and subtract one ball from the number on the table for each time you fail. This fairly quickly tells you what your current average runout ability is. One problem with this as a progressive drill is that the steps are a little large, since you can only go up or down one ball at a time. One way to effectively make the steps smaller is to try for 2 out of 3 at each level.