[dr_dave]

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 - User - Table Size, corner pocket mouth, throat, shelf - Video Links:

183 (91 + D:92) - Side Pocket - 10', 4 7/8", 3 7/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
179 (93 + D:86), 52, 83 - dr_dave - 9', 5", 4 1/8", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV
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 - 9', 4 1/2", 4 1/2", 1 1/2" - Exam I, Exam II
161 (84 + D:77) - Shane Van Boening - 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 - td873 - 9', 4.5", 3.75", 1.625" - Exam I, Exam II, Exam III, Exam IV
141 (70 + D:71) - 12squared - 9', 4 7/8", 4 1/8", 1 1/2"
136 (73 + D:63) - bowiebill - 9', 4 3/4", 4", 1 1/4"
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
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
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* (59 + M:42) - 67tbird - 8', 4 1/4", 4", 1 1/2"
94 (57 + M:37) - BeiberLvr
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.

[Fatboy]

cool thanks dr Dave!!!!

[dr_dave]

FYI, all exam documents, score sheets, and historical log forms for tracking your improvement over time are available on the BU Exam Resources page.

Also, the following videos provide a detailed guide through the entire BU process:
Part 1: Introduction - overview of the BU process for earning a pool diploma
Part 2: Table Setup - preparing to practice and take the BU exams
Part 3: Video Recording - recording official exam runs for on-line submittal
Part 4: Exam-I Overview - demonstrations and scoring of the Fundamentals Exam
Part 5: Exam II Overview - demonstrations and scoring of the Skills Exam
Part 6: Submittal and Wrap Up - applying for a BU diploma on-line

Check them out and give the exams a try. And if you do, please post your scores so I can add them to a list that I will add to the first post of this thread and update as more people participate.

FYI, all official BU graduates are listed, along with video links, on the BU Alumni page.

Regards,
Dave

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

Original post that started the thread:

I am very happy to announce the release of the Billiard University (BU) website:
BilliardUniversity.org

I've been working on this project for about two years, and my efforts have been supported by a "dream team" of top instructors (the "founding professors" of the BU):

Jerry Briesath, Mark Finkelstein, Randy Goettlicher, Bob Jewett, Mike Page, Tom Simpson, and Mark Wilson


Please check out the website and videos and let me know what you think. Also, please let me know if you have any suggestions or recommendations.

The BU is an online organization offering instruction, assessment tools, a rating system, and learning resources to support pool instructors and players. The BU officially acknowledges excellence through the awarding of diplomas (Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate of pool).

[nrhoades]

this is great!

[Blue Hog ridr]

I would say that's a pretty fair deal. I will peruse this site in its entirety later. Have to seriously consider this as I would love to
become more involved in this side of the game in the near future.

Thanks Dave.

[44Runner]

I watched that first video. That actually sounds like fun. When I get some more free time later this summer I might have to check this out more closely. Neat idea.

[grindz]

Originally Posted by dr_dave

I am very happy to announce the release of the Billiard University (BU) website:
BilliardUniversity.org

I've been working on this project for about two years, and my efforts have been supported by a "dream team" of top instructors (the "founding professors" of the BU):

Jerry Briesath, Mark Finkelstein, Randy Goettlicher, Bob Jewett, Mike Page, Tom Simpson, and Mark Wilson

Please check out the website and videos and let me know what you think. Also, please let me know if you have any suggestions or recommendations.

The BU is online organization offering instruction, assessment tools, a rating system, and learning resources to support pool instructors and players. The BU officially acknowledges excellence through the awarding of diplomas (Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate of pool).

I will be posting another thread soon dealing with the BU playing-ability and rating exams. Be sure to check that out also.

Regards,
Dave

Very nice opportunity for anyone looking to jump their games!! Thx for your contribution to the sport! I only had time to glance at it for a few minutes and
for sure will keep coming back for more. Hope this goes where you want it to
go.

td

[dr_dave]

Originally Posted by dr_dave

List of AZB'ers who have taken the BU playing-ability exams (in ranked order):

BU score, Username, BU Rating, Video links (if available):

135, dr_dave, adv-2, Exam I, Exam II

FYI, I've posted my exam results (score and videos) at the top of the first post of the thread. I am hoping other AZB'er will share their results also. To encourage this, I am offering a free diploma ($200 value) to the first three AZB members who post their scores along with videos documenting both exams (assuming the scores are high enough to earn a diploma).

Start practicing the exams and get those cameras ready. Lets see how your game stacks up compared to others AZB'ers.

If you don't have a video camera, share your scores with us anyway. I'll still add them to the list at the top of the thread. Although, if your score is higher than mine, I might need some video evidence.

Best regards,
Dave

[BRussell]

I saw this on my YouTube feed yesterday and ran through the drills (I got a 122). I'm not sure how they chose the particular mix of drills - they seem to have an emphasis on positional drills over pocketing. But I can't think of a better way to spend an hour or two practicing than running through these drills and tracking your progress.

I can't imagine spending the $150-$200 to make my score "official," but the drills are all freely available. Maybe it will catch on and people can post their scores. Maybe leagues could even use scores as handicaps. There's a table with a conversion to other rating systems, but it doesn't look like it's actually been validated. It would be great to see people post their scores on various rating systems to get some empirically-based comparisons.

[Muziq]

Dr. Dave,

Thanks to you and everyone else that contributed in this project! I'm sure this will be great for a lot of us and I look forward to learning from what BU has to offer.

Muziq

[Mooneye]

This looks like great fun, it'll give me a reason to practice!
Thanks, Dr_Dave

[dr_dave]

Originally Posted by BRussell

I saw this on my YouTube feed yesterday and ran through the drills (I got a 122).

Thank you for posting your score. FYI, I've added it to the list in the first post of the thread.

Originally Posted by BRussell

I'm not sure how they chose the particular mix of drills

FYI, "they" are me and the founding professors:

Originally Posted by BRussell

they seem to have an emphasis on positional drills over pocketing.

You still have to pocket all of the shots you leave for yourself. FYI, the rationalle and philosophy for how and why the exams were designed they way they are can be found in the BU Vision and Business Plan document.

Originally Posted by BRussell

But I can't think of a better way to spend an hour or two practicing than running through these drills and tracking your progress.

I can't agree more.

Originally Posted by BRussell

I can't imagine spending the $150-$200 to make my score "official," but the drills are all freely available.

If you are one of the first three AZB'ers to submit online videos, your diploma and "official recognition" will be free.

Originally Posted by BRussell

Maybe it will catch on and people can post their scores.

That is what we are hoping.

Originally Posted by BRussell

Maybe leagues could even use scores as handicaps.

That might be dreaming, but i like the way you dream.

Originally Posted by BRussell

There's a table with a conversion to other rating systems

For those interested, here it is: Pool Player Rating System Comparison Chart

Originally Posted by BRussell

but it doesn't look like it's actually been validated. It would be great to see people post their scores on various rating systems to get some empirically-based comparisons.

The data we collect on the diploma application form will help us better correlate and validate our rating system. We have also tested it fairly thoroughly with players over a wide range of abilities. Anecdotally, the score ranges and labels we use seem appropriate.

Do you think the row corresponding to your score in the rating comparison chart is an accurate measure of your ability?

Thanks again for you input and participation,
Dave

[Houstoer]

Really cool I'll be trying this. thks to all involved !

[AtLarge]

I thought BU was Boston University. But your tuition and fees are better.

[icem3n]

Nice aiming system.

Just curious, would a referee be calling a foul from the slight chalk residual left from the tip?

I do know it is hardly visible and I do know you are doing an unintentionally marking.
You are getting the point of aim. Thanks.