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Interestingly, after conversations with a few pro friends of mine, I've actually reached a point where I don't consciously use a system on my more routine shots. I find that after a year or two of using the systems routinely, my sense of alignment and visualization - what "looks" right - has been enhanced so much that I can tell, system or not, that I'm lined up right. I don't consciously use or not use the system, although on tougher shots I 100% use it. But on easier to medium shots, I don't think about it and let it happen. I may be in the minority, but I've seen no decline in my ball pocketing, perhaps just a sloppy shot here and there. I did this after being told not to lose my "feel" and connection to the pocket by being too robotic with everything. I know that goes counter to most aiming system people, and my friends recommending this were not aiming system users, but I respected their opinion and think there's something to it. I think after a while, less and less conscious thought is needed to get down and come into the shot in a consistent and correct manner. I can still "see" the lines, angles, etc., I just don't need to stand behind the ball for 5 seconds to always consciously visualize them, if that makes sense. However, I always have something more specific to fall back on in pressure situations and on tougher cuts and longer shots.
Anyway, that's my rambling thoughts for the day. Maybe it will help you or someone else, maybe it won't. Maybe no one will read it...
Scott
Scott, no aiming system advocate is going to disagree with you on this part. When learning a system, you must be detail oriented and rather robotic. Such as CTE manual pivot. You then progress to CTE Pro One which is less robotic. Then, over enough time, your subconscious lines up using the system and not your conscious mind. Just like when you walk, you don't think about it, but your mind knows the correct "steps" to take to enable you to walk.
I find it beneficial to at times shoot a few racks off all with the conscious mind, just to reinforce the subconscious mind on just what I want it to do. Played correctly, I feel like I am just looking at the ball, getting down, no or only a few warmup strokes, and shoot the ball in the hole. Most of my conscious thinking while standing is setting in my mind just where I want to hit the cb and at what speed for position play.