My TOI experience

obrien714

obrien714

Pool Video Addict
Silver Member
I have been using the TOI since the video came out. It was easy to pick up for me since i already used a center to edge aiming method. Heres some things that i like about the system.

1. It takes all the mental gymnastics out of play. Pick full ball of center to edge and then your TOI, simple as that. No more wheres my contact point will it throw or skid. Its that simple

2. The balls never rattle anymore. I played 2 hours of ring game and 5.5 hours in a tourney last night and never rattled a ball. The inside lets the ball slide right in with ease.

3. One of the biggest advantages that just add up to a higher percentage of play is the elimination of spin and over run of the ball. A few guys were rolling way past their target when using outside english and had no clue. I would say all that spin caused it to keep going. They couldn't understand.

4. It has cut down on scratching immensely. I think i counted 2 scratches during shooting situations. No scratches. No ball in hand for the opponent and no frustrations of making that tuff shot and having a heart breaker as whitey falls into the pocket.

5. I read a comment on AZb of a guy that had a belief these dvds are a money making scheme. Um HELL YEAH they are. Im making money in all ring games and placing in the cash at all 3 tourneys i have played. He also said OLD guys have no time for new learning. If your older, and your eye sight is failing this System is the next best thing to LASICK you will come across. No easier targets than the TOI points.

6. I play maybe 1 - 2 times a week and the stroke and TOI make it easy enough to play well without putting in all the hours i should. I cant wait to get my Table up in the fall and really get in some battles with the GHOST.

It was funny last night a good friend took me to a pool room i never went to before. I heard the railbirds chirping and asking who i was, wheres this KID from ( Im 43 by the way). I bet its that guy MIKES been baking.( I dont know MIKE). I love being the UNKNOWN factor in a new pool room. I got to know a few guys as the evening went on and the questions never stopped.

So thats my TOI journey so far. MONEY MAKING SCHEME - INDEED.

Thanks CJ for sharing this. Need to get tome TIPS BANKING in my routine.
 
A Question

I'm having a bit of a problem when the actual shot line is very close to the center to edge alignment & there is only about 3 diamond of separation between the balls. Those put doubt in my mind as to whether to hit it with a bit of TOI or to just hit it on the vertical axis. These should be easy shots but have become maybe a bit less than 50/50 for me when shooting them without either outside or inside english as I used to do. I have even hit some with a touch of outside deflection to take a bit of cut off of the shot based on my perception of it missing if hit with TOI.

I was just wondering if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks in Advance,
Rick
 
Not really sure

Its hard to picture what your asking with out seeing it. When i have. A tuff decision i go to my old method of aiming. Part of the system is it isnt for every shot. When uncomfortable use ur old method. Very rarely will i shoot a severe cut with toi. I have practice some but til i lock in on it i have a fail safe. Hope that help.
 
Thanks,

I can tell you that TOI works very well for long thin cuts. Just align CTE, go to TOI & hit it firm enough so that the CB only squirts & does not swerve back.

Give it a try. I think you'll like it.
 
Thanks for the advice

I will try it. Im 50 /50 on those. My prob is i might let up on my stroke and not power through like you are saying. Cheers
 
ENGLISH! said:
Thanks,

I can tell you that TOI works very well for long thin cuts. Just align CTE, go to TOI & hit it firm enough so that the CB only squirts & does not swerve back.

Give it a try. I think you'll like it.
Click to expand...

Rick,

Have you been able to get back cuts to work with TOI? For example, say the CB is half a diamond off the long rail and two diamonds up from the end and the OB is 3 diamonds down and a diamond and a half out (just past the side pocket) and you're cutting into corner pocket on same side of table. I have been having all kinds of trouble making those cuts with TOI. The other one I'm having trouble is thin cuts where CB and OB are closer together. Such as near the second diamond on long rail and cutting length of table to corner. Those two types of shots are driving me nuts. Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Randy
 
back cuts and close shots

Back cuts are no prob cte and half tip too. Make sure you accelerate through the ball. Don't let up on your stroke. You don't need to go way inside on the cue ball. If u r over cutting the ball you are going to far inside with the tip.

Close to cue ball I saw cj say that's more center to edge than center to center. And its true. The more you use it you will just start seeing center to center or center to edge. Set up shots til u get the feel. It won't take long. Key is acceleration through the cue ball when u let up it causes misses.
 
Randy9Ball said:
Rick,

Have you been able to get back cuts to work with TOI? For example, say the CB is half a diamond off the long rail and two diamonds up from the end and the OB is 3 diamonds down and a diamond and a half out (just past the side pocket) and you're cutting into corner pocket on same side of table. I have been having all kinds of trouble making those cuts with TOI. The other one I'm having trouble is thin cuts where CB and OB are closer together. Such as near the second diamond on long rail and cutting length of table to corner. Those two types of shots are driving me nuts. Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Randy
Click to expand...

Yes. In fact I really like shooting those with TOI. That being said I have been shooting those with both inside & outside english for many many years. Are you missing them with any particular tendency? If so, how? Maybe I can help.

When ever the balls are close together regardless of the cut angle it's best to align the center of the CB to the edge of the OB or maybe even outside of the edge a bit. The reason is that there is not much room, distance, for the CB to squirt out from the inside tip offset before it contacts the OB. Sometimes I will pivot back to use a bit of outside english. Both methods work & it is just a feel thing. I would bet that you are missing these by under cutting them. Also make sure that you move the butt end 1st. like CJ suggests. If you don't understand why, PM me.

Good luck with the ones close together.

Regards,
Rick
 
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I don't know much about TOI. Most shots require the cue ball to go somewhere for the next shot. What if my position requirements won't allow me to use inside english?
 
Dan White said:
I don't know much about TOI. Most shots require the cue ball to go somewhere for the next shot. What if my position requirements won't allow me to use inside english?
Click to expand...

TOI is NOT based on inside english.

It's about getting the cue ball to squirt/deflect in order to add cut to the shot.

There is a method to use outside english from the base TOI positon by merely pivoting the tip to the outside.

Regards,
Rick
 
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TOI is not used to spin the cue ball any more than "Center" English.

There's been many points to why we should or shouldn't try to "move" the cue ball off line slightly using deflection and/or spin.

For me it was the conclusion many years ago that pool (and Life) was full of opposing forces. Putting "left" on the cue ball puts "right" on the object ball, low in the cue ball puts high on the object ball, and hitting the left side of the object ball moves the OB right......these aren't "far out" factors and relatively simple to learn and understand.

The one factor that sky rocketed my game is when I "real eyesed" that when I hit the cue ball to the right, it made the object ball go right too....and the more I hit it to the right, the more the object ball would move to the right (and obviously the same thing happened on the left too). This was something that immediately synchronized in my mind and dynamically influenced my Game.

When I'm teaching the TOI (deflection/spin) technique I relate it to driving a car. We can relax and enjoy the experience if the car turns right when we turn the steering wheel right, HOWEVER, if one day the car moves right when we turn the steering wheel left it will immediately make us uncertain, confused, and we will be gripping that steering wheel in a "death grip," trying to regroup.

Trying to hit the center {cue ball} every time is similar because we won't do it consistently, especially on the more challenging shots. It's VERY important to know which way the cue ball is moving and the way to do this is to favor a side of the cue ball, so if we miss the cue ball target slightly, it either goes straight or slightly more in the direction we're playing it.

To play a game like pool at your highest level your mind, body and the cue ball must be in sync., like in the above example with the car's steering wheel. When steering the car if we turn right and it goes slightly further right, this is not a big deal......it's only when we think we're turning right and we go left that is confusing and we must avoid however possible....to have "peace of mind" and free ourselves to be the best we can be. 'The Game{and the Cue Ball}is the Teacher'
 
I'm back in the good ole USA now, after a 6 year European tour courtesy of the U.S. Army (playing regularly with the few Cypriots that play on the Euro Tour really sharpened me up and made me make TOI my own in a hurry)...placed in the money in two tournaments so far (2 for 2). Was knocking them around with my son and had every strong player in the rooms I've played in so far try and pin me down on where I'm from, where I play, who I know, etc. A strong player (I'd say at least A) actually asked me if I'd played the U.S. Open and how many times...trust me, I'm not that good, but there's something about this "style" of playing, especially when coupled with "pinning" the CB that turns real players heads. I'm drawing spectators when I practice and that hasn't happened to me in over 20 years. I'm coming back to the D.C. area soon, and hopefully will hook up with some AZB'ers there...

Like I've said before, this style/technique of play has been around for a LONG time, I'd been shown it but didn't take it seriously then; but CJ is the first top player that's taken the time to share it with the unwashed masses, and I couldn't be happier that I finally listened.
 
ENGLISH! said:
TOI is NOT based on inside english.

It's about getting the cue ball to squirt/deflect in order to add cut to the shot.

There is a method to use outside english from the base TOI positon by merely pivoting the tip to the outside.

Regards,
Rick
Click to expand...

I understand the idea that you should use a little english on every shot so you aren't surprised by being slightly off-center when you think you are hitting center (vertical axis) on the cue ball. I first heard that back in the 80's. I've also had a couple of HOF players tell me they use a touch of english on every shot in order to keep the object ball from skidding on contact with the cue ball.

I hadn't heard the idea that you WANT the cue ball to squirt in order to help you make a shot. I thought the idea was to use a very small amount of english so that you didn't really see much of any squirt.

Can you use this method with the low deflection shafts?
 
Welcome back to the USA.

West Point 1987 said:
I'm back in the good ole USA now, after a 6 year European tour courtesy of the U.S. Army (playing regularly with the few Cypriots that play on the Euro Tour really sharpened me up and made me make TOI my own in a hurry)...placed in the money in two tournaments so far (2 for 2). Was knocking them around with my son and had every strong player in the rooms I've played in so far try and pin me down on where I'm from, where I play, who I know, etc. A strong player (I'd say at least A) actually asked me if I'd played the U.S. Open and how many times...trust me, I'm not that good, but there's something about this "style" of playing, especially when coupled with "pinning" the CB that turns real players heads. I'm drawing spectators when I practice and that hasn't happened to me in over 20 years. I'm coming back to the D.C. area soon, and hopefully will hook up with some AZB'ers there...

Like I've said before, this style/technique of play has been around for a LONG time, I'd been shown it but didn't take it seriously then; but CJ is the first top player that's taken the time to share it with the unwashed masses, and I couldn't be happier that I finally listened.
Click to expand...

Welcome back to the USA....maybe I'll see you at the US OPEN. I'm glad you're enjoying the "TOI STYLE" Game, it's given me a LOT over the years, I'm glad to have the opportunity to give it back to those that are searching.

Play Well my friend, the game is the teacher. ;)
 
even on the thinnest shot possible I'll align Center / Center,

ENGLISH! said:
Thanks,

I can tell you that TOI works very well for long thin cuts. Just align CTE, go to TOI & hit it firm enough so that the CB only squirts & does not swerve back.

Give it a try. I think you'll like it.
Click to expand...

On long shots I DO NOT advise aligning Center to Edgy, but Center to Center.....I know it may not make sense, but try it anyway, even on the thinnest shot possible I'll align Center / Center, and likewise on CLOSE shots I'll almost always align Center/Edge. 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
CJ Wiley said:
On long shots I DO NOT advise aligning Center to Edgy, but Center to Center.....I know it may not make sense, but try it anyway, even on the thinnest shot possible I'll align Center / Center, and likewise on CLOSE shots I'll almost always align Center/Edge. 'The Game is the Teacher'
Click to expand...

Hi CJ,

I'm using two low squirt shafts, one with a medium tip & one with a super soft tip & the CTE alignment is working fine with only a touch of inside. If I go with a CTC alignment, I have to go more than just a touch inside & hit very hard to keep the additional spin swerve from bringing the ball back & hitting the OB too full. Id rather not shoot that hard if I do not have to do so.

I am certainly using CTE when the balls are 'closer' as there is not enough room to get the ball to squirt enough with a CTC alignment, again unless using much much more than just the touch of inside.

I guess I should have clarified, CTE with a low squirt shaft.

Thanks for making me clarify that & for all that you're doing.

Best Regards & Wishes,
Rick
 
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You won't "think" yourself into a better player

ENGLISH! said:
Hi CJ,

I'm using two low squirt shafts, one with a medium tip & one with a super soft tip & the CTE alignment is working fine with only a touch of inside. If I go with a CTC alignment, I have to go more than just a touch inside & hit very hard to keep the additional spin swerve from bringing the ball back & hitting the OB too full. Id rather not shoot that hard if I do not have to do so.

I am certainly using CTE when the balls are 'closer' as there is not enough room to get the ball to squirt enough with a CTC alignment, again unless using much much more than just the touch of inside.

I guess I should have clarified, CTE with a low squirt shaft.

Thanks for making me clarify that & for all that you're doing.

Best Regards & Wishes,
Rick
Click to expand...

The Center/Center and Center/Edge are just reference points for our "mega computer" between our ears. If the unconscious doesn't have a starting or reference point it can't perform magic.....it must have solid, factualy information.

When your technique gets better and you can hit the cue ball precisely, then just moving slightly to the inside opens up the TOI Technique to your mind. Then it's more about trust, however, before we can "trust," we must be willing to believe, then believe.

I've made many phenomenal shots in my career through Faith, and if you're thinking about "squirt, swerve, spin" you may be consciously getting in your own way of reaching your next level. Most of the players that are having trouble with the TOI are not moving their cue inside while still focusing on the center/edge of the object ball. This takes some experimenting, and you know you're' doing it right when the object ball finds the center of the pocket. To do this you must experience the hit rather than trying to analyze it. You will only "figure it out" AFTER you can do it, not before.

You won't "think" yourself into a better player, you must free yourself from having to make unnecessary adjustments first - then the key unlocks the door and it opens.....until then it's a constant struggle. That's why in my developing stages I was only concerned with "becoming the cue ball"....this allowed me to tap into my unconscious, and the power to do virtually anything at a very high level.

"Easier said than done?"

Actually it's easier done than explained, and every great champion is living proof of this statement. I do my best to explain what needs to be done to play championship speed, however, it's entirely up to the individual to be willing to do what it takes, and "it" will not be what you "think" it is... such is life. 'The Game is the Ultimate Teacher'
 
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Hi CJ,

Just out of curiousity, if you had a shot into a corner pocket with the balls about 3 to 4 diamonds apart with the actual line very close to the CTE alignment but you perceived that to be a very slight over cut, what would you do?

I've actually gone a touch of outside to squirt the ball to take the bit of over cut off of the shot (not spin). I can not go CTC & squirt the ball far enough to get enough cut on that type of shot.

I was just wondering what you would do.

Best Regards & Wishes,
Rick
 
Hey Rick,

If you want to see something pretty wild watch this YT of Joe Tucker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-prVQMEHgg

Pay real close attention to where he is putting his cue tip on the cue ball while aiming (the out side of the cue shaft) and where he puts his cue tip when he shoots the shot.

He is using extreme TOI to aim.

This works very well. Give it a try, I think you will like it.

John :smile:
 
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