In the masters of art in Pocket Billiards program I ask my students to do the mid-term exam from time to
time to measure their skill level. I invite you to give this wonderful exercise a try. It is designed to help
you master all aspects of this great game.
You will play five innings.
Break open a rack and if you don't make a ball, take the one and two ball off the table and with ball in hand
run out. You will be trying this with seven balls or less on the table.
IF YOU SUCCEED you can then attempt a second try. The first rack gives you one point. If you complete
the second rack you get four points in that inning.
You can only attempt a second rack if you succeed with the first one.
If, on the first rack in any inning you get a good shot at the one ball and feel like you can run out, then you
are free to DECLARE. You must say those words out loud. "I Declare." If you are successful in running this
rack from the break, you will be awarded five points.
YOU CAN ONLY DECLARE ONE TIME DURING A SESSION AND IT MUST BE ON THE FIRST INNING. You will be
awarded five points for a DECLARE.
You get one point for a Nine on the Break. You are allowed only one per session.
After five innings tally up your score.
A real good score is 12
A great score is 16
A perfect score is 22. (This will include a declare and a nine ball break.)
At some point in your experience you will realize how destructive it is to get caught up in the score. When
you reach that level, you will become the player you desire to be.
In this exercise it is best to break from the center of the table and to use a stun stroke. You most often
don't make a ball but you spread them apart very well. I have some very good information about the Mid
Term Exam in my book Focus on Winning. I work with my 'student from hell' Sarah on the Mid Term and we
reveal some great information on the inner game patterns associated with this exercise.
THE MID-TERM EXAM