Two views of IPAT (Start & Level 1)
John Biddle’s View
Play Pool Like a Pro was kind enough to provide me a full set of their IPAT training products for review. This consists of four 8 1/2 x 11 spiral bound books (levels Start & 1 – 3), and 3 DVDs (levels 1-3) that are 160 minutes each. The Level 3 DVD also came with a CD containing a half hour audio file on the mental game. The books cost $32.95 each and the videos are $39.95 each.
In this review I’m keeping my remarks to the “Start” and Level 1 products. I’ll have more to say when I talk in a future review about Levels 2 & 3. I think these products, which work very well together as a set, are excellent. They provide a well-rounded set of fair tests, though I have nits to pick.
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| IPAT Start |
Before I get to the review, first let me talk a little about the concept of IPAT. The International Playing Ability Test is just that, a set of 3 tests to establish your skill level. The idea is to provide an objective criterion for skill, and do so in a way that others, even in different countries, can have confidence in. After you have practiced up and believe you are ready, you sign up with a certified Examiner (Asia-3, Europe-75, NA-23, SA-12), pay your fee, and take a proctored test. The examiner then enters your information and score into the official database and arranges for delivery of the appropriate badge (same design, different colors) and certificate if you earn them. You can check out the published IPAT rankings of others who have taken the tests (see any familiar names?) and you can check out who the IPAT Examiners are to arrange a test.
A more basic use for the products, and the predominant use in actual practice, at least in the US, is to use them as training guides to help you improve your game in a well thought out, managed process, even without bothering to take the proctored tests. For both of these purposes the products excel.
Each of the four workbooks is self-contained and does not depend on information in any previous book. From a learning perspective, however, it’s important to start with the right one. My advice would be to start with the “Start” book unless you are an APA SL 6 or equivalent, and then you can start at Level 1. They are designed to be used in conjunction with a coach, though that is not a requirement.
In each book there is a section that explains the scoring, though the poor translations from the original German make this unnecessarily confusing. There are 10 rounds for each test and each round is comprised of a designated series of shots. You typically get a point for each ball made and on some exercises extra points for leaving the cue ball in a particular location. Each exercise is repeated 3 or 4 times and the average points are multiplied by a factor specific to that exercise to give your score for that round. The factors are designed so that a good score gets 100 on each round and 1,000 for a whole test. You earn a badge with a score of 600+; with a passing score of 800+ you earn a higher color badge and the right to go on to the next level. Scores above 1,000 earn an additional certificate.
The selection of shots and difficulty level do a very good job covering the important facets of a well-rounded basic game.
The selection of shots and difficulty level do a very good job covering the important facets of a well-rounded basic game. There is no coverage of banks, kicks, jumping, etc. Instead, the coverage is of stroke straightness & distance control, draw and follow control, shot making and ability to control the cue ball.
There are clear graphics for each shot, as well as clarifications on any special rules for that round, like having to shoot the balls in order, or whether ball in hand is allowed for each shot or only the first shot, etc.
There are multiple score sheets for each exercise, because the expectation is that you will do these over and over until you improve. The scoring is overly complicated which detracts from the product. This is exacerbated by the poor translation. I suggested to Ralph Eckert in an email a greatly simplified method for scoring and he seemed to like it, but I have no idea if it will show up in future editions of the books. The methodology is really the same, I just suggested that they put a table of values on each exercise page so you could just look up your points and read your score, no calculator needed, no methodology to figure out.
In addition to the 10 exercises there are additional practice drills and games to round out and broaden your practice routine.
There was quite a bit of curiosity about these products among our fellow shooters. I’ve been serious about doing practice drills in the pool hall on and off now for a couple years, and I’ve had a few people come up and ask me what that target on the table was, or why I’m hitting an object ball with my cue instead of the cue ball, etc., but the interest generated by these books stands way above that. I don’t know if any of those people actually took up doing any of the drills, or bought any of the products, but I do know that they chatted them up with their friends after talking to us.
The video has very high quality instruction on fundamentals, with some information I haven’t seen elsewhere that was particularly good.
The video has very high quality instruction on fundamentals, with some information I haven’t seen elsewhere that I thought was particularly good. For example, there was an explanation about how to hold the stick to insure that you get the best approach to your shot, and how to determine the approach and stance that are best for you. This was excellent and alone was easily worth the price of the DVD.
The 10 exercises are explained and performed by either Ralph Eckert or Andreas Huber, and then performed again by Thorsten Hohmann. Since Eckert and Huber are more than capable of doing these exercises I thought the inclusion of Thorsten Hohmann doing them again was mostly superfluous, but I guess being able to use his name in advertisements has value.
When you start the video there is a menu to select English or German. The English is done with a voice-over, which is fine, but they didn’t eliminate the German from the audio, they only turned down its volume. I found this distracting, but I was always able to understand the speaker so it is only that, an annoyance.
The video has better training value than the book, and you can see all of the exercises in the appropriate test, but the scoring information is only available in the books, so you need to buy both. I think these are a tad expensive, especially since I couldn’t find a package deal for the book & video combination. However, if you follow the prescribed exercises and work your way to a passing score you will be improving the most fundamental parts of your game and that’s what you’re after, right? I give the IPAT Start and Level 1 a 7 out of 10.
Canadian Dave’s View
Recently I was asked to review a new billiards skills learning program. I will try to be objective in this write-up of the IPAT (International Playing Ability Test). It is a comprehensive, multi-layered study course regarding pool/billiard skills. It was conceived and produced by 3 heavy hitters in the European billiard world, Ralph G. Eckert, Jorgen Sandman and Andreas Huber are accredited pros and coaches with close to 80 years combined achievements.
The program consists of 4 parts; “Start”, IPAT1, IPAT2 and IPAT3, the final level. The basics of stroke, accurate potting and position control are dealt with in great detail, building a solid knowledge foundation for a student to build their game on. These principles are stressed throughout the entire program reinforcing their importance in the skills learning process.
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| IPAT Level 1 DVD |
“Start” is for beginners to advanced beginner. It deals primarily with a set of tests/drills that will show the student their degree of proficiency in stroke accuracy [straightness], angle shots, follow and draw shots, as well as their current abilities in small and large area cue ball position. The system is set up so the player/student and coach can use the actual test section combined with the training drills to improve at a steady pace over time. The goal is to practice carefully and deliberately, since result scores are always recorded on a graph, showing strong and weak areas of skill. When a student can score a minimum of 80% passing grade 3 times, they are deemed capable to advance to the next level by the skills shown during the test.
I undertook the task of reviewing “Start” with another player [Carl], of equal playing ability. We both passed with ease taking the test seriously. During the test we found that the printed directions need to be thoroughly understood with regards to scoring and the actual rules for each drill. The book is translated from German. Since people who speak German speak English in a certain style, we found some parts needed to be read very carefully to gain a full understanding of each drill. For such an excellent tool as the IPAT, I thought this was a minor problem, once understood.
The level 1 study course is for advanced beginners or any player wishing to begin to improve their current skills. It is supported by a DVD that is essential to use during the process. By using the DVD with the workbook, the student will ingrain a solid mental image of how to perform each portion of the work book. This mental aspect of the game is dealt with in great detail since it is the most important playing skill in pool/billiard excellence.
The basics of stroke, accurate potting and position control are dealt with in great detail, building a solid knowledge foundation for a student to build their game on.
John and I attempted this section first. To me it felt like a discovery of the system itself, rather than actually doing the level 1 test. I found there were many things to clarify in each of the 10 drills/tests, making the test slightly uncomfortable and hard to focus. John passed and I missed the mark by a small margin. Overall I was very impressed with the type of shots selected for the test. I also learned that shots that looked routine can not be missed, or your overall score suffers greatly. Most of all I discovered weaknesses of mine in some skills that were easily corrected by using the information I learned from the DVD. All the test drills are related to the IPAT “Start” with an increasing degree of difficulty and much more emphasis in true cueing skills. For me, doing level 1 first before doing “Start” was a mistake, however after completing the “start” level, I really appreciated the way the course is designed to mentor the student with precision.
On DVD, world pool champion Thorsten Hohmann is shown in each section of the program, demonstrating each drill, with his exceptional ability. The outstanding feature is that all demonstrations are not shown completed absolutely perfect, as no one is in billiards. Although Thorsten has superior skills, while watching him the astute viewer can observe very slight deviations from perfect execution. Thorsten, while machine-like and very precise, shows a minute level of dissatisfaction during some of his demonstrations. A keen observer can see this in his reactions and body language during some situations recorded. Most notable is the result of certain drills performed on the “bad” side of the table for a right-handed player. Since most drills are to be done from each side of the table, a player can make note during the drills, identify the weakness and find its cause, further honing their skills and consistency or play.
I discovered weaknesses of mine in some skills that were easily corrected by using the information I learned from the DVD.
Using the IPAT system, if the player is honest with themselves, with patience they can develop real playing skills at a steady pace. By concentrating on weaknesses they can improve their skills vastly.
Here’s how this, or any other learning program may appear to fail. Early on, when trying to improve their game in too little time, many players pay little or no attention to basics and fundamentals when learning. Everyone has seen a player trying to practice drills they have neither the skill nor knowledge to execute properly. This approach often leads to frustration, denial and a hesitation in the learning process.
This stems from lack of self-confidence, self honesty, or failure to accept the fact they need to improve basics and fundamentals to improve their level of skill. When this situation happens, many beginners and intermediate players would then agree with themselves that a program is not effective, or not a good one. They have not been honest with themselves or realized that the skills are only improved by an investment of time and patience.
Personally I feel the IPAT system is an excellent tool. Thank you to John for including, and valuing my input in this discovery. The designers of the IPAT have shown their tremendous knowledge and understanding of how to advance any student in the sport of billiards.
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