Quiz

Before completing the playing test you should have achieved 70% or better on the 10-question multiple choice quiz.

Test

Part 1

For the start of each break place the red and white by hand, as you wish, for a cannon near the D. Do not mark the table as it is best to play each shot from a slightly different position. First play five white to red cannons, aiming to leave a score off the red. Continue the break and record your results; you should be able to complete this two-shot pattern on at least two occasions. Then play five red to white cannons, aiming to leave a white loser or a score off the red. Continue the break and record your results; you should be able to complete this two-shot pattern on at least two occasions.

The first part of the playing test begins with the cannon from white to red. Play the the cannon in a way to leave the red near the corner pocket. You will get a variety of positions after the cannon and it is up to you to improvise. For example, you may decide to pot the red in order to leave a cross loser. You may decide to pot the red in order to leave a pot red off the spot. You may decide to pot the red in order to leave a a cannon. Alternatively, you may have the option to play a white loser to leave the white above the pyramid spot, and this would be a good option if the red loser is on from hand. You may even have the option to play one red loser to leave another red loser, perhaps if the white is on from hand. As before, continue the break and assess yourself over 10 attempts and record your average break along with breaks of 12 or more.

Part 2

Begin with a cannon from white to red, the white being on the centre spot and the red level with the pyramid spot and on a line from the centre spot to the corner pocket. Play the cannon in such a way as to leave the red near the corner pocket. You will get a variety of positions after the cannon and it will be up to you to improvise. For example, you may decide to pot the red in order to leave a cross-loser. Another option could be to pot the red in order to leave a pot red off the spot. You may choose to pot the red in order to leave a cannon or you might have the option to play a white loser to leave the white around the pyramid spot (this would be a good option if the red loser is on from hand). You may even have the option to play one red loser to leave another red loser, perhaps if the white loser is on from hand. Continue the break and record your results for five attempts; you should be able to make the cannon and then score off the red at least once.

Now begin with a similar cannon but this time from red to white. Play the cannon so as to leave the red near the corner pocket. Again, you will get a variety of positions after the cannon and it is up to you to improvise. Continue the break and record your results for five attempts; you should be able to make the cannon and then score off the red at least once.

This test has more possibilities and options than in previous tests and for this reason is used to conclude the Basic Billiards Syllabus and give you an insight of what is to come in the Advanced Billiards Syllabus. Billiards is all about improvising from various situations, and this gives you an insight of how a game will develop. In order to improvise, you need to have the skills to play the individual shots first of all. By completing the basic Billiards Syllabus you now have the skills to play a variety of Billiards shots.