Coming in late to the party, as usual. I rarely check this on the weekends, only at work...
Just to address a few things I read, a little long but hopefully informative:
- I don't believe CTE is a fractional system, not in the traditional sense. The only thing it has in common is that it makes use of fractional points on the object ball (1/4, 1/2, 1/8) for secondary aim lines, but there is no similar matching being done on the cueball or interpolation needed between those lines in order to pocket balls
- We all fidget or make slight adjustments when lining up a shot or while down on a shot, that doesn't change with CTE/Pro1 or any other method, although I've found that the more I fidget with CTE/Pro1, assuming I was lined up correctly, the more likely I am to miss the shot
- I keep seeing questions about how things are undefined in Stan's method. While I admit that some of the information might not be apparent to everyone who watches the DVD, as it wasn't to me initially, with study, asking questions, etc. it is all there. I think the steps are pretty simple, and there is no guess work involved, only the use of your eyes which you would be doing anyway when performing any other sort of aiming method. What I do is pretty simply described:
-----> I approach the shot from behind, roughly using the CTE line as a reference point. This may not be necessary, but it's how I approach the shots consistently and align my body to the shot to get into my stance
-----> While in my stance and looking at the shot, I make sure I still have a strong visual of the center to edge line - from the center of the cue ball to the outside edge of the object ball. This is quickly learned since it's the same line on almost every shot regardless of distance, angle, etc.
-----> Once I have that line in my sight, I look to also pick up or see the secondary aim line based on the shot at hand. I might already be in the right alignment, or it might require a slight shifting of my eyes or leaning of my head, but my goal is to be able to pick up this line in my sight
-----> Once I have that sight picture, I bend down and move into the shot along that line, plane, tunnel, etc., however you want to look at it. Your eyes gave you a sight picture based on a reference line and a secondary line to further narrow your aim, once you have that visual that becomes your line of approach into the shot. You aren't aiming at any specific point, which is what confuses some people (and me initially), you just move into the shot along that visual the same as if you were moving into the shot toward the contact point or ghost ball or whatever, your eyes just lead the way
-----> As you approach, you pivot the correct way into the shot if using Pro1 pivot, which is a simple slight movement of your body on the way down to the shot, or you approach the cueball with your stick lined up 1/2 tip left or right as needed and then manually pivot to center. As explained before you can really use any size pivot, but the 1/2 tip pivot seems more forgiving and leads to a much smaller and repeatable movement than 1/2 ball pivot
That's it. I don't see how there is anymore feel in that approach than in any other. I'm looking at a discrete line, then moving slightly as needed to pick up another line. No different than trying to aim at a contact point, ghost ball, etc., it's all done with the eyes. Once you have that spot, you approach the shot the same way, by trying to align your body and bridge hand to be able to shoot along that line. The only difference here is you make a slight pivot to center ball instead of trying to end up directly at center ball, but again that's a defined, measured amount, not something you would want to change at all.
The nice thing with this approach, for me at least, is all shots are the same. Straight in, 10 degree cut, 30 degree cut 6 diamonds away, thin cut up the rail, bank, etc., I follow the same routine everytime and rarely have to give a "tougher" shot any more attention than I give the easier shots. All that is needed is knowledge of what category of shot you are dealing with and what resulting aim line and pivot are necessary for the intended pocket, and that is easily acquired with just a short amount of practice.
The more precise you are with your visualization of the lines and execution of the pivot, the more accurate your shot making will become. Trying to outguess the system or fidgeting because something doesn't look right is often a good way to miss the shot. If you execute these steps and something doesn't look right, then just like with any other method you made a mistake in your standing up visualization or in the mechanics of getting down on the shot and should get back up and re-execute your routine. The toughest part initially is to trust the steps and sort of undo years of doing whatever you did prior.
Patrick and others, is there something about this that to you seems like it introduces any more feel than any other aiming method? I'm seriously asking. To me, the lines equate to looking at a ghost ball, but to me and others who like this approach it seems more discrete than looking at something in space. The move into the ball is almost exactly the same, you still have to get down on the shot along the aim line you chose. Making a small pivot at the end, or during the approach, could be an area where feel would come in, but I can tell you 100% that once I have the visual line I don't look up at all, I look at the cueball on the way down and my entire focus is on getting to center ball. Then I take a few warmup strokes and THEN look up at the object ball, and I very rarely have to adjust from there, I'm just on the correct shot line and ready to shoot.
I can also tell you that no one would ever know I'm pivoting into the shot, the movement is so subtle. I was just helping someone the other night, CTE came up in discussion after he told me what I good shotmaker I was. He said he was trying to play with it but didn't think he could deal with pivoting on every shot. I asked him if he ever saw me pivot on my shots and he said no, then I told him I pivoted on every single shot I took for 2 hours. Then he wanted to know more...
Hoping to further the discussion somewhat...
Scott
