T.O.I by randyg

[One Pocket John]

Well, another hour spent on T.O.I.

Ball pocketing is outstanding.
Speed control will be the next step.

I have alot to learn and I might just as well learn all I can.

Check back in tomorrow.
randyg

Thanks for posting your ventures with TOI.

Yeah, speed control, a different animal all together using TOI.
What sticks in my mind when getting the correct speed control is what CJ posted.

If you have to go one rail for position use the speed to go two rails, if you have to go two rails for position use the speed to go three rails.

This seems to help with how much force is really required to send the QB where you want it to go.

This was a big help to me.

Randy, you said that ball pocketing was outstanding, could you elaborate a little.

Thanks :smile:

John

 

[CJ Wiley]

I treat all shots like they're the same, so if I undercut one, I immediately adjust

I have all of CJ's DVDs. I continually look at them because I find that I usually find something that I missed. I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I have put in a number of hours on this. I would say in excess of 25.

From my experience you are doing one of two things wrong.

1) You are slightly pivoting (backhand english) instead of going to the TOI with a parallel cue movement. It's so slight with me you wouldn't be able to see it. This is because my stroke is very precise, and yours will be too one day, however, now you may need to go over further. Make SURE your tip is flat against the inside of the cue ball telling you visually that your pool cue is perfectly straight, not "slanted" due to an unintentional pivot.

2) You may be following through at the contact point like you used to. This will decrease the natural deflection and you will be erratic. This system allows you to FEEL the cue ball and CREATE the angles....it's not about visual "aiming", I don't aim at anything on the object ball, I'm just aware of it's presence once I'm down.

When I'm getting down on the shot I JUST look at the cue ball until I"m locked in and am confident that the cue tip is square and the CENTER of the tip is flat against the ball. I look at the object ball as I"m hitting the cue ball and follow it into the pocket with my eyes, I want to see what part of the pocket the object ball enters so I know to adjust or not on my next shot.

I treat all shots like they're the same, so if I undercut one, I immediately adjust to slightly over cut the next shot.

I hope this helps, if I saw you hit a couple balls I would know exactly how to work with you, maybe sometime soon I'll have the virtual ability to do this, until then work with these suggestions they'll help for sure.

 

[CJ Wiley]

This completes the ZONE, so my mind gets the information for the entire shot,

Thanks for posting your ventures with TOI.

Yeah, speed control, a different animal all together using TOI.
What sticks in my mind when getting the correct speed control is what CJ posted.

If you have to go one rail for position use the speed to go two rails, if you have to go two rails for position use the speed to go three rails.

This seems to help with how much force is really required to send the QB where you want it to go.

This was a big help to me.

Randy, you said that ball pocketing was outstanding, could you elaborate a little.

Thanks :smile:

John

Using the TOI it will feel like the cue ball is much heavier. To move it around it takes about 20/30% firmer stroke on the average (educated guess). If you notice on my "Beat the 15 Ball Rotation Ghost" video, I"m ALWAYS going towards the upcoming rail and then looking BACK to where I want the cue ball to stop.

This completes the ZONE, so my mind gets the information for the entire shot, so I may see some potential trouble that may not be noticed if I stop looking where the cue ball is "expected" to stop. Many times I will change my zone slightly because of another ball or if it looks like I may stop on the rail or be on the "wrong side" of the next shot.

Continuing this ZONE "R % D" also makes me complete the firmness of the shot so I won't come up short. The more acceleration the better with TOI, this effectively is an "anti dog it" mechanism that comes in handy when the pressure is turned way up. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[randyg]

Thanks for posting your ventures with TOI.

Yeah, speed control, a different animal all together using TOI.
What sticks in my mind when getting the correct speed control is what CJ posted.

If you have to go one rail for position use the speed to go two rails, if you have to go two rails for position use the speed to go three rails.

This seems to help with how much force is really required to send the QB where you want it to go.

This was a big help to me.

Randy, you said that ball pocketing was outstanding, could you elaborate a little.

Thanks :smile:

John

Hi John.

Once I got the hang of TOI the balls just slide into the pockets just like they do with CTE. Ball pocketing is effortless!

One must remember that I am a very good player. With CTE, my ball pocketing is outstanding. I'm just trying something new (TOI).

The one thing I do not have to worry about is my stroke. My stroke is Reliable, Dependable and Repeatable without me thinking about it. All I have to do is open my mind.

Between the DVD and the time spent with CJ I have accelerated my learning curve....I wanted to learn TOI!

My biggest decision will be:

Will I replace CTE with TOI and why?
What ever my choice, it will come from the practice table.

More to follow
randyg

 

[West Point 1987]

Hi John.

Once I got the hang of TOI the balls just slide into the pockets just like they do with CTE. Ball pocketing is effortless!

One must remember that I am a very good player. With CTE my ball pocketing is outstanding. I'm just trying something new (TOI).

The one thing I do not have to worry about is my stroke. My stroke is Reliable, Dependable and Repeatable without me thinking about it. All I have to do is open my mind.

Between the DVD and the time spent with CJ I have accelerated my learning curve....I wanted to learn TOI!

My biggest decision will be:

Will I replace CTE with TOI and why?
What ever my choice, it will come from the practice table.

More to follow
randyg

Okay...now I'm intrigued. Subscribing......

 

[Str8 Shooter]

I just picked up the TOi PPV this afternoon. I am guessing it has the exact same info as the dvd?

 

[CJ Wiley]

An Aiming System is like the "sights" on a gun, TOI is the Gun.

I just picked up the TOi PPV this afternoon. I am guessing it has the exact same info as the dvd?

Yes, it is, and I was just ask how the TOI compared to my 'Ultimate Aiming System'......I think it's good to clarify the difference to everyone so it's perfectly clear:

TOI is an alignment/total playing system, not an aiming system, of course this can be argued, however the ones now that are using TOI will all know the difference.

An Aiming System is like the "sights" on a gun, TOI is the Gun. (metaphorically speaking of course)

My Aiming System is showcased in 1997 in my DVD 'Ultimate Pool Secrets', it teaches to align the a spot on the cue ball to either the Center or Edge of the object ball. This "Aiming System" can by used as a check and balance to the TOI, however, it's not a total playing system like the TOI Technique is.

The TOI shifts from visual aiming to "Creating Angles" using your tip as a reference. The TOI blends ALL aspects of pool playing into one. With TOI you MUST treat every shot the same, in terms of SHOT SPEED - CREATING SHOT ANGLE - and CUE BALL TARGET. When you master the TOI SHOT, you will, in effect be able to play the complete game at a championship level. Have I "mastered" the TOI Technique? The answer is quite simply "yes".....however just recently have I become advanced at teaching it, in 1997 (when those videos were made) I didn't want to get into teaching the world a different way of playing. Besides, I was using it myself and was the #1 Player in the World (96 Player of the Year voted by Pool and Billiard Magazine), so I really didn't want to devulge my biggest secret at that time.

Times have changed, I know longer want to gamble for money, it's better for me overall to help players improve and enable them to reach my level if they choose to put the time and dedication into it. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[Str8 Shooter]

ok, I will give a look and report back and I do understand its not an aiming system and its more of a "system of playing the game." I also already aim pretty good lol

 

[CJ Wiley]

Mastering pool is about cutting down calculations, not adding to them.

ok, I will give a look and report back and I do understand its not an aiming system and its more of a "system of playing the game." I also already aim pretty good lol

I know people that use other "aiming systems" with TOI, however, when you start hitting the cue ball pure without any "pivot or backhand english" you won't need one except for a "check and balance" (like in any business it's wise to have a check and balance).

There are 3 main themes of playing styles, I'm not saying TOI is the best, I'm saying it's the most effective. I say that because of the total blend of the three playing calculations, so you don't have to "think about each shot". Mastering pool is about cutting down calculations, not adding to them.... such is life. 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[Str8 Shooter]

I prefer to try and keep things as simple as possible. I like to pattern as much of the game as I can. I think that is the best way to keep breakdowns to a minimum and keep a stress free mind while I am playing.

 

[CJ Wiley]

For me it's an "art form," a way of "self expression," and without the TOI .......

I prefer to try and keep things as simple as possible. I like to pattern as much of the game as I can. I think that is the best way to keep breakdowns to a minimum and keep a stress free mind while I am playing.

I do too, when I came back after not playing I tried to seperate the game into "what speed?"...."what spin?" and "what angle?"....and I just didn't enjoy the game, even though I got 9th in the US OPEN. Shortly after this tournament I gave up playing again, it just seemed frustrating.

When I came back again I worked on a variety of things....they improved a bit, just not my enjoyment of the game. Then I started to work on TOI, mainly to describe it to other people in writing for the first time. When this happened I had to learn EXACTLY what I did and that was the birth of the TOUCH OF INSIDE Technique/System of play.

Now I really like to play again and understand how I found so much enjoyment in the game. For me it's an "art form," a way of "self expression," and without the TOI I just go through the motions, with it I "feel the music and the art manifests through me." 'The Game is the Teacher'

 

[One Pocket John]

From my experience you are doing one of two things wrong.

1) You are slightly pivoting (backhand english) instead of going to the TOI with a parallel cue movement. It's so slight with me you wouldn't be able to see it. This is because my stroke is very precise, and yours will be too one day, however, now you may need to go over further. Make SURE your tip is flat against the inside of the cue ball telling you visually that your pool cue is perfectly straight, not "slanted" due to an unintentional pivot.

2) You may be following through at the contact point like you used to. This will decrease the natural deflection and you will be erratic. This system allows you to FEEL the cue ball and CREATE the angles....it's not about visual "aiming", I don't aim at anything on the object ball, I'm just aware of it's presence once I'm down.

When I'm getting down on the shot I JUST look at the cue ball until I"m locked in and am confident that the cue tip is square and the CENTER of the tip is flat against the ball. I look at the object ball as I"m hitting the cue ball and follow it into the pocket with my eyes, I want to see what part of the pocket the object ball enters so I know to adjust or not on my next shot.

I treat all shots like they're the same, so if I undercut one, I immediately adjust to slightly over cut the next shot.

I hope this helps, if I saw you hit a couple balls I would know exactly how to work with you, maybe sometime soon I'll have the virtual ability to do this, until then work with these suggestions they'll help for sure.

Yup, this is exactly what I was doing.

It has been corrected and I have noticed much better QB control.

When playing the game spinning the ball, your always finessing the QB around the table which at times would require a soft stroke and follow thru. With TOI there is no finessing.

Position play using TOI is different in that, as CJ has mentioned, more of a zone type position play rather than an exact spot position play.

Thanks for posting this little tidbit.

John

 

[jackpot]

beat 10 ball ghost

I hit balls with TOI for about an hour. Then played 10 ball ghost race
to 9. Jack 9 ghost 6. Should have been 9 to 3 but missed a couple of
real easy shots that I kind of babied. The table is a 9 foot diamond,
was recovered about 3 weeks ago so it was playing a little easier.
I played every shot with TOI even straight in's so position was kind
of tough sometimes. Biggiest problem is sometimes I get going forget
to hit it firm. After the whoppin I put on old 10 ball ghost am going
to give 12 ball a try after I work on a few things.
jack

 

[Gerry Williams]

Perhaps you could record it and post it for other's to learn from.

Cheers,
Gerry

I hit balls with TOI for about an hour. Then played 10 ball ghost race
to 9. Jack 9 ghost 6. Should have been 9 to 3 but missed a couple of
real easy shots that I kind of babied. The table is a 9 foot diamond,
was recovered about 3 weeks ago so it was playing a little easier.
I played every shot with TOI even straight in's so position was kind
of tough sometimes. Biggiest problem is sometimes I get going forget
to hit it firm. After the whoppin I put on old 10 ball ghost am going
to give 12 ball a try after I work on a few things.
jack

 

[One Pocket John]

I would like to hear what RandyG has to say.

John

 

[nobcitypool]

Will I replace CTE with TOI and why?
What ever my choice, it will come from the practice table.

More to follow
randyg

Randy or CJ, if I'm understanding it correctly,TOI is a VERY slight adjustment. With Pro One, the pivot is made with the eyes, not manually. Why then would you say one or the other? With some slight adjustment, why couldn't the two be combined?

 

[CJ Wiley]

I align with TOI either CTE or CTC and then use my tip to create the specific angle.

Randy or CJ, if I'm understanding it correctly,TOI is a VERY slight adjustment. With Pro One, the pivot is made with the eyes, not manually. Why then would you say one or the other? With some slight adjustment, why couldn't the two be combined?

CTE is part of the overall TOI make up so I'm confused by that too. I align with TOI either CTE or CTC and then use my tip to create the specific angle. For this to work I MUST consistently connect the cue ball to the object ball, not to "aim" with, to align with so I can have the ability to create the given angle with my tip (target on the cue ball).

I don't claim to be knowledgeable about Stan's system, as a matter of fact he just showed it to me once in Tunica. I thought it was kind of an "inverted" variation of my Ultimate Aiming System from me 97 Video set, however, the PRO 1 seems to be something else. I really don't know enough about the straight CTE to comment, I use CTE on my cut shots and "Center to Center" on my other shots, and CTC on almost all my long shots, even if they're "thin".

I don't think there's a "one or the other" choice there, however, I'm only an authority on TOI, not PRO 1, Stan may be better to answer that question.

 

[CJ Wiley]

TOI and Accelerate!!!

I hit balls with TOI for about an hour. Then played 10 ball ghost race
to 9. Jack 9 ghost 6. Should have been 9 to 3 but missed a couple of
real easy shots that I kind of babied. The table is a 9 foot diamond,
was recovered about 3 weeks ago so it was playing a little easier.
I played every shot with TOI even straight in's so position was kind
of tough sometimes. Biggiest problem is sometimes I get going forget
to hit it firm. After the whoppin I put on old 10 ball ghost am going
to give 12 ball a try after I work on a few things.
jack

You're getting it now, Jack....when you start playing the TOI Style of Pool, you will only need to think of two things.....TOI and Accelerate!!! I think you understand why now. If you need to think "TOI and FIRM, that's ok too, it's basically the same thing. ALL shots must be treated the same for the TOI technique to be as devastating as it's potential. 'The TOI is the Teacher'

 

[ribdoner]

CTE is part of the overall TOI make up so I'm confused by that too. I align with TOI either CTE or CTC and then use my tip to create the specific angle. For this to work I MUST consistently connect the cue ball to the object ball, not to "aim" with, to align with so I can have the ability to create the given angle with my tip (target on the cue ball).

I don't claim to be knowledgeable about Stan's system, as a matter of fact he just showed it to me once in Tunica. I thought it was kind of an "inverted" variation of my Ultimate Aiming System from me 97 Video set, however, the PRO 1 seems to be something else. I really don't know enough about the straight CTE to comment, I use CTE on my cut shots and "Center to Center" on my other shots, and CTC on almost all my long shots, even if they're "thin".

I don't think there's a "one or the other" choice there, however, I'm only an authority on TOI, not PRO 1, Stan may be better to answer that question.

THANKS for making this perfectly clear.

 

[ribdoner]

I hit balls with TOI for about an hour. Then played 10 ball ghost race
to 9. Jack 9 ghost 6. Should have been 9 to 3 but missed a couple of
real easy shots that I kind of babied. The table is a 9 foot diamond,
was recovered about 3 weeks ago so it was playing a little easier.
I played every shot with TOI even straight in's so position was kind
of tough sometimes. Biggiest problem is sometimes I get going forget
to hit it firm. After the whoppin I put on old 10 ball ghost am going
to give 12 ball a try after I work on a few things.
jack

Glad your still playing at a high level. Are you still playing with a meucci or have you switched to one of your own creation?

Heard several different rumors with regards to John, plse advise his status....PM if you like.

Take care, adam