I like to extend the sides of the ferrule to include the entire side of the cue stick, right out to the contact point on the OB. See the line and approach your stance seeing that line, then stroke your cue so that the side of your cue runs along that line. Left side for cuts to the left, and right side for cuts to the right.
One of the most important aspects of this system is to remember to apply any english when you align and not afterwords.
I'm not sure what you mean by include the entire side of the cue stick, right out to the contact point on the object ball.......What portion of the cue stick?