For those that don't know me, I've been using CTE since about 2010 when I first heard about it. Before the first DVD was out, I was having discussions with Dave and Stan over the phone immersing myself in several pivot aiming systems known at the time. I was intrigued, I wanted to know more. I had never seen such a thing in pool. And here we are today. You can find a lot of information I've shared about pool in general at https://www.billiardsthegame.com/, you can see I have an interest in the game and share what I find (or devise myself) that is useful to the world.
I think it can stated clearly that CTE is the most controversial topic in the aiming forums. Maybe the most controversial topic *ever* on AZB or pool in general. Now, if you are a person that has already made up your mind that CTE is for the birds, you have to ask yourself a simple question. Why would so many people who claim CTE does exactly what it advertises to be, yet have no incentive, no skin in the game, no reason to fight... why they would do so anyway?
Speaking for myself, if I thought CTE was bogus, I would have stepped away and never came back. And to be honest, I almost did just that early on. After I read everything I could find, it didn't make much sense. I would take the information to the table, try a few things for a few minutes, and give up. And then I got the first DVD from Stan. I thought for sure this would clear things up. I watched the whole thing. All I had was question marks. This was an instructional video on pool???
However, that said, I decided to just throw caution to the wind. I took the information from the DVD, shot for shot, and practiced it. Left shots. Right shots. 15 degree perceptions, 30 degree perceptions. Over and over and over. Probably 30-60 minutes a day for a couple weeks. Then something clicked. It's like my subconscious mind started taking over on my shots. It was talking to me inside: "wait a minute! I think I see what I'm looking for here! aha! yes that worked! and again! ok, we're getting somewhere!" And from there, it just got easier and easier.
So now, the nay sayers might be thinking: why would I have to go practice a couple weeks on the table to "get it"? I have the information here, why wouldn't it just work? Truth is, CTE is a completely different way of aiming a pool ball than we have ever been taught with traditional aiming. When the instructions say "align CTEL and the 15/30 aim line, then pivot to CCB", there is a whole lot more that isn't put directly into words. As in, which eye picks up which line, left? right? one? both? Do we stand behind CCB, or Aim Line, or not? Or what? That's just it. You basically have to figure this stuff out, and the ONLY way is through repetition. That's what makes the system HARD at very first, but quickly gets EASY as your mind/perception/eyes figure out what needs to happen. You are basically retraining your brain, which is simply not possible to accomplish instantly. You have to fight off a lot of habits too, basically throw out what you think you know about aiming and trust it. Some get it faster than others, some take more time. It reminds me of the youtube video where a guy made a bicycle that turned left when you turn right. No one could ride it more than two feet! But after some determination and practice he could ride it.
Now that said, the system has also grown quite a bit over the years. Stan has added a lot of great details, better ways to understand, and more clarity. You will definitely see this in the next, and likely final, installation of CTE. I'm pretty excited that it's close to becoming a reality! I'm sure Stan is too.
THIS is what makes CTE so controversial. Those that chose the (short) gauntlet of practice understand it. They know it works because they have figured out how to connect the physical and visual elements of CTE. This is why they stick around and argue with the pundits, because they know the truth. They know that "CTE does not work because science" is just another way to say "I don't get it, and I refuse to try." CTE won't die because it really does work if you give it an honest try. I have a feeling after the book and truth series comes out, the road to victory will be much shorter for everyone anyways. Kudos to Stan for sticking it out.
I think it can stated clearly that CTE is the most controversial topic in the aiming forums. Maybe the most controversial topic *ever* on AZB or pool in general. Now, if you are a person that has already made up your mind that CTE is for the birds, you have to ask yourself a simple question. Why would so many people who claim CTE does exactly what it advertises to be, yet have no incentive, no skin in the game, no reason to fight... why they would do so anyway?
Speaking for myself, if I thought CTE was bogus, I would have stepped away and never came back. And to be honest, I almost did just that early on. After I read everything I could find, it didn't make much sense. I would take the information to the table, try a few things for a few minutes, and give up. And then I got the first DVD from Stan. I thought for sure this would clear things up. I watched the whole thing. All I had was question marks. This was an instructional video on pool???
However, that said, I decided to just throw caution to the wind. I took the information from the DVD, shot for shot, and practiced it. Left shots. Right shots. 15 degree perceptions, 30 degree perceptions. Over and over and over. Probably 30-60 minutes a day for a couple weeks. Then something clicked. It's like my subconscious mind started taking over on my shots. It was talking to me inside: "wait a minute! I think I see what I'm looking for here! aha! yes that worked! and again! ok, we're getting somewhere!" And from there, it just got easier and easier.
So now, the nay sayers might be thinking: why would I have to go practice a couple weeks on the table to "get it"? I have the information here, why wouldn't it just work? Truth is, CTE is a completely different way of aiming a pool ball than we have ever been taught with traditional aiming. When the instructions say "align CTEL and the 15/30 aim line, then pivot to CCB", there is a whole lot more that isn't put directly into words. As in, which eye picks up which line, left? right? one? both? Do we stand behind CCB, or Aim Line, or not? Or what? That's just it. You basically have to figure this stuff out, and the ONLY way is through repetition. That's what makes the system HARD at very first, but quickly gets EASY as your mind/perception/eyes figure out what needs to happen. You are basically retraining your brain, which is simply not possible to accomplish instantly. You have to fight off a lot of habits too, basically throw out what you think you know about aiming and trust it. Some get it faster than others, some take more time. It reminds me of the youtube video where a guy made a bicycle that turned left when you turn right. No one could ride it more than two feet! But after some determination and practice he could ride it.
Now that said, the system has also grown quite a bit over the years. Stan has added a lot of great details, better ways to understand, and more clarity. You will definitely see this in the next, and likely final, installation of CTE. I'm pretty excited that it's close to becoming a reality! I'm sure Stan is too.
THIS is what makes CTE so controversial. Those that chose the (short) gauntlet of practice understand it. They know it works because they have figured out how to connect the physical and visual elements of CTE. This is why they stick around and argue with the pundits, because they know the truth. They know that "CTE does not work because science" is just another way to say "I don't get it, and I refuse to try." CTE won't die because it really does work if you give it an honest try. I have a feeling after the book and truth series comes out, the road to victory will be much shorter for everyone anyways. Kudos to Stan for sticking it out.