This workout is written by Ralph Eckert, Jorgen Sandman, and Andreas Huber and is used and recommended by the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) as well as the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). It includes the official WPA Playing Ability Test (PAT) for beginners to intermediate players. Ever wonder how you really rank in playing ability? The PAT section of this book will clear that up. It is a system to assess your skills on the basis of exercises evaluated. The rest of this 65 page workbook contains exercises and training games to record your personal performances and help prepare you to take the Playing Ability Test for LEVEL 1.

Autorentext

Ralph G. EckertProfessional Class Pocket Billiard Player- How it began...-In 1982 Ralph started playing in a newly opened Billiard CafeA in Ludwigshafen on the Rhein, Germany. At that time, Ralph was 17 yrs old. Actually, he was waiting at the Bus stop across the street from the A"now openingA" invitation, for a bus that wasn't on time. His curiosity got the better of him and so he decided to look into this brand new billiard parlor instead. The proprietor and owner of this establishment - to which incidentally, now belongs among the finest Billiard parlours in Germany - understood quickly the diligence Ralph showed during play, to include his lack of talent at the time. A"The diligence, together with his bit of intelligence will be enough to turn him into a Top Player soon!A" was how the proprietor formulated the A"BetA" back then! Which was the reason why the one (Tobias Kim) and later another (Bernd Woitanowski) troubled themselves increasingly more towards the advancement of Ralph's personal skills.- His Training -One must realize that both Proprietors at that time, belong to the best players in the country and Tobias Kim was an academic in Heidelberg (studied Physics, Mathematics and Anglo Saxon in England, USA and Heidelberg) and could convey knowledge to him that no other could have given. Consequently, Ralph not only practiced very diligently but also trained consolidated and wise, which not only provided him with sound technique and a good feel for the game but also the knowledge about the finer points of Tactics which would reveal itself and help him greatly as time went on. After only three years of intensive training A"4 - 8 hrs a dayA" and not uncommonly 12 hrs and more at a time! Ralph reached, with his Team (BF Ludwigshafen 1982) in 1985, placement in the Major National League.- First Trick shot show -1985 was the year he introduced his first Trick shot show. This took place in the Officers Club at Ft Westerburg, German Army Barracks, where Ralph was assigned until March of 1996. For Ralph, it became a question whether or not the Officers Club had enough room for a pool table so he could practice daily (off Duty!). The Trick shot presentation would give him a chance to demonstrate his ability. As it had to happen, the presentation was a complete success! This moved the Brass to allow this regular Army Private, be allowed to come in the Officers Club as an exception to the rule! A recreation center of Today's Army would still take a long time in coming.- First big Milestone -The following year showed much signs of further practice. Whereas Ralph, in 1986/87 because of a small quarrel with his Mentor, a one year switch to another Club (PBV Schwetzingen) was met and mastered and he invariably helped the Team to reach the National League level. However, after returning to his home Team in Ludwigshafen, the real breakthroughs were accomplished. By 1988, Ralph was 2 time Baden Wuertemburg State Champion and in this Season moved on to become German Vice Champion in 9-Ball. He began playing in Tournaments in foreign countries that had International Top Players at the start. In Sweden and in Switzerland, where Ralph won more experience. Through a switch in the ranks of the Presidio DPBB (German Pool Billiard Federation; restructured in 1990), in 1988 Ralph was nominated as a possible choice for the German National Team, for the first time.- Drawbacks -Ralph's Mentor Tobias Kim was the reason for this chance, but being the highly qualified, innovative and progress oriented person that he was, he made the functionary officials already on the board, begin to squirm in their seats. This developed further into mistrust and discomfort between certain board members. Which eventually led to Kim's Billiard business, where they would trip him up as well as they could, when ever they could. It got to the point where any proposal or suggestion Kim made, be put off as dream Fantasies. His proteges (next to Ralph another up comer, Norbert Lang) and their careers, were also thwarted as much as possible.Some of these drawbacks

Inhalt
Preface ...0031. Playing Ability Test Frontpage ...0051.1 Conditions and Procedure ...0061.2 The PAT Principle ...0071.3 The Playing Ability Test (PAT 1) ...0091.4 PAT: Speed Drill ...0101.5 PAT: Stroke Straightness ...0111.6 PAT: Follow Drill ...0141.7 PAT: Draw Drill ...0151.8 PAT: Small Area Position Drill ...0181.9 PAT: Large Area Position Drill ...0221.10 PAT: Frozen Rail Drill ...0261.11 PAT: Endless Drill ...0301.12 PAT: Standard Shots ...0321.13 PAT: 9-Ball Situation Drill ...0352. Technique Training Frontpage ...0372.1 Speed ...0382.2 Basic Strokes I (Stop & Replacement Shots)...0392.3 Basic Strokes II (Draw & Follow Shots) ...0412.4 Standard position Workout for Beginners ...0432.5 Shooting Accuracy for Beginners ...0452.6 6-Ball and continuous Position Game ...0472.7 Blank Copies ...0493. Training Games Frontpage ...0523.1 Equal Offence...0533.2 Bowlliard...0563.3 Progressive X-Ball ...0593.4 4 Table Blanks ...062