So I'll start with some background on me. I started playing pool about 2.5 years ago at the age of 23 by joining my friends APA team. I had pretty much 0 experience but knew that I would love it as I am very competitive, and love physics and geometry. Bowling and drumming are two other things I excelled at previously, which require a lot of repetitive hand eye coordination type practice so I figured pool would be perfect for me.
Here's where I'm at now. I'm a 6 in the APA and i win about 65-70% of my matches each session. I know that APA skill levels are not the best indicator but it's the only way I can describe my "speed" on the internet in a way that most everyone can relate to. I'm proud of the fact that I've gotten to where I am in a relatively short time but know that I am still a VERY small fish.
I'm wondering now what is the best way to improve further. Obviously its practice practice practice, but what KIND of practice. Some people tell me to just "feel" and others preach aiming systems, and TOI, and all that jazz. One of the best players I've ever seen, Shannon Murphy from cinncinnati, said he pretty much just feels what he's doing. I think this is a little unfair though since he started playing at a VERY young age and has had some extremely good instruction throughout his life.
So far in my progression I've tended to try both. I've watched most of Dr. Dave Billiards videos and they have given me an understanding of what is actually going on from a physics standpoint. I then try and see it for myself on the table and put it in my memory banks. I know about cut induced throw/spin, spin induced throw/spin, rail spin reversal, the limits of a miscue, and so on. But is it worth it to actually THINK about all that when playing? I feel like it's much better to let your subconscious do all that.
So basically at this point in my game would it be beneficial for me to look into an aiming system? I'm afraid of "cluttering" my head with things that are best left to the subconscious. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Aiming systems, just like any other part of the game, require conscious thought while learning them. Once ingrained into habit, they become a product of the subconscious mind. You do the steps without thinking about them.
Anyone that thinks aiming systems are a joke, is, well, just plain ignorant about them. Even Shane uses an aiming system on each and every shot. He could only partially describe what he does. Combining what he said, and intensely watching him, I figured out exactly how the system he uses works. It is a good system. Not really one I would recommend to others due to potential problems with it, but he has it down pat. He can't really describe it because it is a part of his subconscious now. He doesn't know just what steps he goes through on each shot, but they are visible when watched closely. He does each shot the same. Just like CTE or 90/90 do. (but, he isn't using either). He has broken the game down to shooting one shot over an over. His initial alingment is either left, right, or center of ferrule. Then he does a pivot. CTE uses A,B,and C then a pivot. The same, yet very different. The same, because they both reduce the variables to one basic shot, with 3 basic initial lineup possibilities.
As CJ stated, the problem with aiming systems, is that they do put you on the correct shot line to make the ball. That means, you have to stay on that shot line. You have to have a very reliable straight stroke. Anything else and it will cause you to go off the shot line and cause a miss.
Are aiming systems beneficial? 100% yes! They break the game down to doing the same thing over and over. Reaching or different stances don't mean a thing as some people want to claim. The systems put the cue on the shot line. If you want english, you adjust for it just like you do on any other way of aiming depending on what cue you are using at the time.
I don't believe there is a single pro not using some kind of system. They have to be doing something repeatable, or they wouldn't be reliably repeatable like they are. They just don't realize just what it is consciously that they are doing the same every time subconsciously. So, they say they have no system. Any time you are doing the same things over and over, you are using a system, whether you think you are or not.
That said, actually learning an aiming system will be of great benefit to one. It provides putting one on the correct shot line, repeatability, confidence, a systematic pre-shot routine, among other benefits. All of which are beneficial to ones game.
If so, you might decide to learn more complex aiming systems. IMHO it is risky to jump right into a complex aiming system because they usually require more practice and dedication before seeing results than simple systems do.
