Work on areas of your game that need improvement, as identified by the BU Exam assessments. The BU Instructional Video series, the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS) and the Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP) provide focused and specific learning resources to help you develop skills in each of the exam areas. These video series (by founding BU professors David Alciatore, Bob Jewett, and Randy Russell, also with Tom Ross) include detailed and well-illustrated instruction, countless game-situation examples, and collections of drills to help you improve your game.
The following tables identify the skills important to each BU Exam drill. They also list BU-DVD, VEPS, and VEPP disc and section numbers to help you locate relevant learning resources. You should spend time studying and practicing the techniques, shots, and drills in all of the sections, especially those corresponding to the Exam drills in which you received low scores.
Exam I – Fundamentals
drill number | drill topic | required skills | BU Video Section | VEPS Sections | VEPP Sections |
F1 | cut | aiming, stroke | I-4,5,6,7; II-F1 | I-1 | I-2 |
F2 | stop | stop shot control | II-F2 | I-2 | I-4 |
F3 | follow | follow control | II-F3 | I-3 | I-5 |
F4 | draw | draw control | II-F4 | I-4 | I-6 |
F5 | stun | stun control, speed control | II-F5 | I-2, II-14 | II-8 |
F6 | potting | aiming, stroke | I-4,5,6,7, II-F6 | I-1 | I-2 |
F7 | wagon | CB direction control | II-F7 | II-14 | II-9 |
F8 | target | position control | II-F8 | II-15, II-16, II-17 | II-13 |
Exam II – Skills
drill number | drill topic | required skills | BU Video Section | VEPS Sections | VEPP Sections |
S1 | line of balls | aiming, position control | I-4,5,6,7; III-S1 | II-14, II-15 | II-16 |
S2 | rail cuts | aiming, position control | I-4,5,6,7; III-S2 | II-13 | II-16 |
S3 | 9-ball patterns | position control and strategy | II-F7,F8; III-S3 | II-15-17, III-27 | III-18 |
S4 | 8-ball patterns | position control and strategy | II-F7,F8; III-S4 | II-15-17, III-26 | III-19 |
S5 | safeties | safety strategy, position control | II-F7,F8; III-S5 | III-21 | III-20 |
S6 | kicks | kick shots | III-S6 | IV-31 | IV-21 |
S7 | banks | bank shots | III-S7 | IV-33 | IV-24 |
S8 | elevated cue | elevated cue shots | III-S8 | I-4, V-42 | IV-25 |
S9 | jumps, masse | jump, swerve, and masse shots | III-S9 | V-42, 43 | IV-26, 27 |
S10 | break | break shot | III-S10 | V-44 | V-28 |
For more information about other BU instructional products, see the product information and purchasing guide. They are all available for purchase on the BU ordering page and at DrDaveBilliards.com.
Additional Resources
The video demonstrations page contains useful advice specifically for the BU Exam drills.
The following links offer a wealth of free online information, instructional articles, and video demonstrations dealing with various important fundamental areas of pool:
- grip technique advice
- bridge technique advice
- stance technique advice
- stroke technique advice
- pre-shot routine advice
- “vision center” resource page
And here are some additional useful online resources:
- billiards.colostate.edu – extensive collection of videos, instructional articles, and additional resources
- online pool tutorial
- pool “tips” and “secrets” resource page
- online pool glossary of pool and billiards terms and phrases
- answers to FAQs dealing with a wide range of categorized pool and billiards topics
Where to Go for More Help
If you need help with specific areas of your game, or if you have trouble with consistency, you might consider visiting a BU instructor or attending one of our annual BU Boot Camps.