Free to enter. Open to everyone, worldwide. Win money!

Post videos of yourself taking the Draw and Follow Matrix Drills (BU Exams VII and VIII).

All entrants get a 25% discount on Dr. Dave Merch (T-shirts, polos, mugs, posters) just for participating.

Everything you need is available for free here:
BU Playing-Ability Exams

The Challenge is open through the end of September, 2026 (the month of the next BU Boot Camps)

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This Challenge is sponsored by BU Professors: Dr. Dave and Randy Russell.

Cash Prizes and Results to Date with Current Standings

How to Enter

1. Video record yourself taking BU Exam VII or BU Exam VIII.
2. Post your video(s) online.
3. Send your name, score (please check it carefully), table size, and video link(s) to Dr. Dave.

Detailed Rules and Instructions

1. You must follow all of the instructions on the BU Exam documents page for taking and scoring the Exams. Here are the main documents you need to begin: Exam VII – Draw Matrix Drill (B&W version), Exam VII score sheet (spreadsheet, PDF file), Exam VIII – Follow Matrix Drill (B&W version), Exam VIII score sheet (spreadsheet, PDF file), diamond ruler for 9′ table. It might also help to watch the Exam VII and VIII videos on the BU Exam resources page.
2. Your submitted video must be a continuous, uninterrupted, and unedited run at the entire Exam, and it must be obvious there is no trickery or cheating involved. During the entire video, stay in the frame of the camera (unless you absolutely need to take a bathroom break), keep balls on the table during each drill (e.g., pulling them out in groups of 3), and keep your cue on or against the table when spotting balls and between drills. You are not allowed to practice shots in between each of the required drills or shots. If you need to break up your video into multiple parts to store or upload them separately, make sure it is totally obvious that the run is being continued without interruption (e.g., by pausing in the middle of a drill with all of the balls and your cue remaining on the table).  If you are having trouble with your video file sizes being too large, you can dramatically compress them using a free software tool called HandBrake.
3. Please use a rectangle of paper cut to the length of the diamond distance to mark the current target distance on the table.
4. If the CB ends up very close to the edge of the 1/2-diamond range for the target draw or follow distance, or close to one diamond off the side rail, please hold your cue with the tip on the table close to and below the center of the CB, with the cue perpendicular to and touching the rail to show where the CB lies relative to the diamonds.
5. Show your completed score sheet to the camera at the end of the recording.
6. Please be very careful with the score you report. The videos will not be reviewed carefully until the end of the competition; and if there are any errors in your scoring, the entry might be disqualified.
7. If there is a tie, the prizes will be awarded based on who posts the score first.
8. You can submit as many entries as you want to continue to improve your score, but only the highest score for an individual counts.
9. You are allowed to participate in both challenges (Exam I and Exam III), but you can receive only one money prize (whichever is the largest dollar amount).
10. An 8′ or larger pool table must be used to qualify for all awards.
11. Your video must be online for public viewing (e.g., on YouTube, Facebook, or Vimeo) by midnight (MDT) on September 30, 2026 (the month of the BU Boot Camps), and you must e-mail the video link to Dr. Dave along with your full name and accurate Exam score, also by September 30, 2026.
12. Any fees required to transfer prize funds internationally will be deducted from the cash awards.
13. A coupon code for a 25% discount at Dr. Dave Merch (T-shirts, polos, mugs, posters) will be awarded to everybody who participates. The codes will be sent at the completion of the Challenge.