Fear of Feel

What makes you think anybody who uses a visual aiming system (any aiming system) to set themselves up to shoot a shot uses tiny components to analyze it if they miss?

If I knew then what I now know about women and my supernatural ability to BS at 16, I wouldn't be wasting my time in a pool room like I really did in my misspent youth. :cool:

The reductionist aspect of pool that I was originally speaking of has much more to do with the learning (or teaching) process, not the actual playing process. You can learn by using an aiming system (and miss out on most of the fun IMO) and still be a feel player, but you first have to get to the point where you can actually make the shots. That could take years for some, or happen within a short time for others, depending on how much natural ability you have (I happen to think I had a lot when I was young) and how much time you are willing to spend learning to shoot (unlike yourself I was in the bars to BS the ladies, so I only played pool to fill in the times they weren't there). Lol

There is nothing wrong with learning the science, the moves, the strokes, the patterns, etc. That doesn't define you as a reductionist. The guy who has to break down every minute angle of his arm from shoulder to fingertips, using an accelerometer to measure cue speed, calculating within 1/32" of where he should hit the CB and trying to estimate the result... these are the type of things a reductionist does, and many more.

That doesn't mean they don't play by feel most of the time, though (I think all good players ultimately play by feel), it's just that they approach learning to shoot from an entirely different way than a holist (HAMB) chooses to learn.

Anyway, two new entries:

Reductionist - Colin Colenso
Holist - Earl Strickland
 
Your implication of what you deem to be my implication is dead wrong. There is no analysis by paralysis, ever!

Only some little "tweaks" and more attention to be paid in the visual process to home in on clarity for cue and ball alignment. That's why it's called aiming.

See my post below yours. We are obviously speaking about two entirely separate things. I am speaking about which path you choose to determine the solution to the problem, not what you do to implement that solution. If you can't see the difference, there is no hope of us communicating on this matter.
 
There is nothing wrong with learning the science, the moves, the strokes, the patterns, etc. That doesn't define you as a reductionist. The guy who has to break down every minute angle of his arm from shoulder to fingertips, using an accelerometer to measure cue speed, calculating within 1/32" of where he should hit the CB and trying to estimate the result... these are the type of things a reductionist does, and many more.

That doesn't mean they don't play by feel most of the time, though (I think all good players ultimately play by feel), it's just that they approach learning to shoot from an entirely different way than a holist (HAMB) chooses to learn.

Anyway, two new entries:

Reductionist - Colin Colenso
Holist - Earl Strickland

Colin, good choice. Earl Strickland and Jayson Shaw didn't post in this thread.

HAMB guarantees nothing in the way of true success. It could lend itself more to mediocrity if poor fundamentals were ingrained instead of proper fundamentals while hitting those million balls.

I agree that all good players play by feel, but where we don't agree is all good players aim visually with specific ways to tie the tip of the cue to the CB and OB.

Shane uses the ferrule to various parts of the OB and CB, others use contact point aiming, some use fractions or overlaps, centers and edges, and believe it or not there are those now using CTE. Can you imagine?!
 
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See my post below yours. We are obviously speaking about two entirely separate things. I am speaking about which path you choose to determine the solution to the problem, not what you do to implement that solution. If you can't see the difference, there is no hope of us communicating on this matter.

Why did you assume I was looking for any hope to communicate on this matter or agree?
 
A Visual System

I use the science but once I approach a shot I let the science go. For me, it's all about my PSR and relying on it to get all my body parts in the right place. If I'm deploying the right PSR (and believe me, it has morphed dozens and dozens of times over the years), once I get down on the shot I'm already lined up to pocket the ball. I'm just looking at my tip, the CB, OB, and perhaps the pocket if its in my line of sight. In fact, when my PSR is working, I not only see the shot to pocket the ball, I can easily visualize the path the CB is going to take after contact with the OB. Then there is perhaps a minute last moment adjustment -- maybe a little bit of this or a little bit of that or a little less or more speed. That's often just to adjust for playing conditions, like the cloth or how much the balls are throwing.

All of this is the result of thousands of hours of play, successes and failures. If you've been playing and paying attention, you build up a memory bank of shots, strokes, and effects. If you haven't been paying attention you will always be guessing... maybe a system would help :-)

Lou Figueroa

Nice Post,
In learning shots this way a completely visual system gives out markers that you learn by rote in a very short time and all that is left is for you to perfectly deliver. If you can deliver your clue system should be there for you.
 
Hamb

Colin, good choice. Earl Strickland and Jayson Shaw didn't post in this thread.

HAMB guarantees nothing in the way of true success. It could lend itself more to mediocrity if poor fundamentals were ingrained instead of proper fundamentals while hitting those million balls.

I agree that all good players play by feel, but where we don't agree is all good players aim visually with specific ways to tie the tip of the cue to the CB and OB.

Shane uses the ferrule to various parts of the OB and CB, others use contact point aiming, some use fractions or overlaps, centers and edges, and believe it or not there are those now using CTE. Can you imagine?!

I've followed this conversation.

I find it interesting in Politics and many other areas that in the end we are trying to get to the same place but the disagreements are as of how its going to be done.

Hamb is certainly how things were done years back and clues, systems were things you came with yourself.

The world changed and became a busier place and people had a lot less Me Time.

Hamb ceased to be working for people with less time. I know that I've personally witnessed a lot of people that would come to Pool Room and get frustrated because they couldnt produce success in their games so they quit and do something else.

I have seen that happen a lot, and Hamb while it is perfectly Holistic in the sense of nothing has been introduced as a Reductionist mechanism, it does not find favor with a great number of busy people or people who otherwise would not get it.

I am a Feel Player. My reductionist system for me is fairly pure in that I try to maintain some of accepted principles of lining up for the shot, getting down for shot and being in position to play the shot from a visual standpoint.

I know the end result is the same as other systems except that I have an absolute clear picture of what to deliver to based on my reductionist system.

This allows me to apply feel to it in the delivery. What I have not done in my system is dictate delivery points as this is to be done in my system based on what you see and feel by visual clue systems that are there to use for that.

I do not know the system that Dave uses I have a hard time with such for a neurological reason, if I were someone that had trouble learning to play pool I would have no problem with my system. If I were that same person, who got better and wanted more for delivery point application, I might learn the system Dave uses. In that way the rising tide raises all ships.

We all might be trying to get to the same place. One with an apt description to the finest detail and less feel involved and one with a little more feel.

If in the life cycle of pool one does get better at the art the end result is that we do so and learn to spin the ball.

I think in the end the virtuoso hits the dramatic high E crescendo and the player fires in and go 3 rails around to get himself in shape to run out and both get to the end.

If you want to see something done totally by feel. Look up Holland has Talent and see the 9 year old opera singer. I would bet she is a feel singer. What kind of unearthly skill this little girl has is truly a gift. If we all played pool like she can sing we wouldn't argue on how to get there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDqTBlKU4CE

I would guess that what I am trying to say is that reductionist theory and practice is not necessarily a bad thing if it enables people to learn to do something. Especially if the target is Holistic in focus for the person using it. The point is better made when we get there. Everything that I have done and will do I try to remain holistic in my result but I certainly want you to get there.
 
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Colin, good choice. Earl Strickland and Jayson Shaw didn't post in this thread.

HAMB guarantees nothing in the way of true success. It could lend itself more to mediocrity if poor fundamentals were ingrained instead of proper fundamentals while hitting those million balls.

I agree that all good players play by feel, but where we don't agree is all good players aim visually with specific ways to tie the tip of the cue to the CB and OB.

Shane uses the ferrule to various parts of the OB and CB, others use contact point aiming, some use fractions or overlaps, centers and edges, and believe it or not there are those now using CTE. Can you imagine?!

Well, I asked for your permission to include them. When you didn't reply I just assumed it was OK. Lol!

Of course HAMB doesn't waive the development of solid fundamentals. You are acting like I'm saying just get up there and whack the ball any old way and good old HAMB will create the requisite feel that will make you invincible. I work on my fundamentals constantly, more than any other aspect of the game. I just don't break them down and analyze them to the extent that many of the players here seem to.

BTW I'd say the majority of the most vocal players on this forum fall into the reductionist mentality. The holists comprise a very short list.

So...

Reductionist - Dave Alciatore... just by default alone
Holist - Schloppy Pockets
 
I do not know the system that Dave uses I have a hard time with such for a neurological reason, if I were someone that had trouble learning to play pool I would have no problem with my system. If I were that same person, who got better and wanted more for delivery point application, I might learn the system Dave uses. In that way the rising tide raises all ships.

I use CTE. The system I presented here is one of Hal Houle's 20 other aiming systems which he taught called Shiskebob. I stay proficient with it also and just threw it out to everyone.

Hal was able to think way "outside the box" when it came to figuring out new ways to aim which had amazingly accurate results. It was hard to comprehend how balls were being pocketed when he first started working with me on such a different visualization method. Now Stan has the job of extending it to those who have an open mind to learning something new and valuable.

The problems on the forum seem to be based on linear thinking inside the box vs. lateral thinking outside the box. It if doesn't pass the test of math, geometry, physics and can't be explained by 2D graphics or the ways taught since the inception of pool, then it must be bunk and destroyed.

What would the world record be now in the high jump if it wasn't for an outside the box lateral thinker named Dick Fosbury? He was also ridiculed and criticized in the beginning.

And that is a crying shame!
 
It if doesn't pass the test of math, geometry, physics and can't be explained by 2D graphics
Then it isn't what's happening. Pool isn't quantum mechanics, it's balls rolling around on a table.

...then it must be bunk and destroyed.
Then the way it's explained is bunk and that should be corrected.

What would the world record be now in the high jump if it wasn't for an outside the box lateral thinker named Dick Fosbury? He was also ridiculed and criticized in the beginning.
Yeah, and how about that guy who could bend spoons with his mind? How would we get our bent spoons today if he hadn't persevered?

pj
chgo
 
Then it isn't what's happening. Pool isn't quantum mechanics, it's balls rolling around on a table.


Then the way it's explained is bunk and that should be corrected.


Yeah, and how about that guy who could bend spoons with his mind? How would we get our bent spoons today if he hadn't persevered?

pj
chgo


All of this from the man who knows everything about everything but can't get CTE to work as described and taught. What would you do in the explanation to get it corrected?

But wait, it doesn't need to be corrected because others do it as explained and it works for them.

Yeah, and how about that guy who can spout off everything about pool on AZ with the initials of PJ? How would we get the best and ONLY ways to play if he hadn't persevered?

My recollection and take on it was "a lot better off" when you were banned for a long length of time>
 
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As I've mentioned before, we might think we aim "by feel" but our brain is using a very disciplined system to determine the shot line. Our brain is making hundreds of split-second Yes/No calculations that tell us when something is right or wrong.

It all happens so fast that we can't pick out the individual calculations...so we group them all together and call it "feel", or in other cases, a "hunch" or "intuition." Our brain also creates pathways for frequently used calculations; it's simply trying to conserve energy so we can get more done in a day (think about the first time you drove a car compared to how much thinking you put into driving now). The more we use that pathway, the more it becomes "feel."

However, some people (like me) need to put down "markers" along the path of those hundreds of calculations. The markers help us get from the beginning to the end with relative certainty.

To the OP's original question: Yes, I have a fear of feel because everytime I think I can aim/shoot without "markers", it works for a while but then I begin to miss shots. I go back to using my markers and start making the shots again. Rinse and repeat. (another related problem/fear is that when I play by feel alone I speed up my pace too much, which results in errors).

So, yes I fear feel, but I keep doing it anyway. I guess I'm a fear-a-holic.
 
Laying down markers yes

As I've mentioned before, we might think we aim "by feel" but our brain is using a very disciplined system to determine the shot line. Our brain is making hundreds of split-second Yes/No calculations that tell us when something is right or wrong.

It all happens so fast that we can't pick out the individual calculations...so we group them all together and call it "feel", or in other cases, a "hunch" or "intuition." Our brain also creates pathways for frequently used calculations; it's simply trying to conserve energy so we can get more done in a day (think about the first time you drove a car compared to how much thinking you put into driving now). The more we use that pathway, the more it becomes "feel."

However, some people (like me) need to put down "markers" along the path of those hundreds of calculations. The markers help us get from the beginning to the end with relative certainty.

To the OP's original question: Yes, I have a fear of feel because everytime I think I can aim/shoot without "markers", it works for a while but then I begin to miss shots. I go back to using my markers and start making the shots again. Rinse and repeat. (another related problem/fear is that when I play by feel alone I speed up my pace too much, which results in errors).

So, yes I fear feel, but I keep doing it anyway. I guess I'm a fear-a-holic.

This is what I do. I make it easy and visual to lay down some markers that give you something to go by. The rest is holistic but now the information becomes more use able in a visual sense. My goal was to use the markers to enable feel control and it surely works for me.
 
As I've mentioned before, we might think we aim "by feel" but our brain is using a very disciplined system to determine the shot line. Our brain is making hundreds of split-second Yes/No calculations that tell us when something is right or wrong. It all happens so fast that we can't pick out the individual calculations...so we group them all together and call it "feel", or in other cases, a "hunch" or "intuition."
Yes, that's what we call feel in aiming - and we do it every time we aim, no matter how we think we're doing it or what "system" we use to make it easier on our subconscious. However, the word "hunch" can be misleading - aiming (of all kinds) becomes more and more sure with fewer and fewer "hunches" as we practice and become better at it.

Our brain also creates pathways for frequently used calculations; it's simply trying to conserve energy so we can get more done in a day (think about the first time you drove a car compared to how much thinking you put into driving now). The more we use that pathway, the more it becomes "feel."
Our brain/computer actually "rewires" our neural pathways so it can perform our most common tasks more efficiently. This isn't just a concept; it's actual physical reality.

To the OP's original question: Yes, I have a fear of feel because everytime I think I can aim/shoot without "markers", it works for a while but then I begin to miss shots. I go back to using my markers and start making the shots again.
Using "markers" doesn't mean aiming without feel. It means using feel with the assistance of markers.

pj
chgo
 
Ask him directly. Best place to go is to the source itself. https://twitter.com/dickfosbury1

Is reductionist thinking being used on Hal or Stan's CTE system here on the forum?

No, not at all. Never said it was.

Again, you seem to miss the point. That's never been the argument, whether or not to use it, or whether it works for some people. It's the refusal to accept what the reductionists like Patrick Johnson (sorry, Pat, you're outed) have to say about the objectivity of the system that has been the source of 99% of the hostility here. But at least you don't fit into that way of thinking:

...Although I believe every player on earth uses subconscious adjustment to some degree...


Does that sound familiar to you? It should. You wrote it back in 2010.


I can't see any possible way that someone can use a system that inherently leaves geometric gaps between it's alignment lines without using some sort of subconscious adjustment. Some call it "feel", (I didn't start that ball rolling), which is as good a form of shorthand as any AFAIC. Call it "visual intelligence". Cool. I'm fine with that. But I also use visual intelligence in my own aiming method - Real Ghostball. And not only does it align perfectly with the pockets of a table with a 2:1 ratio, it will align perfectly with any point on any table, and all the points inside the rails as well.

I can set up two balls on the rail just a smidgin more than a ball's width apart, and aim directly into the gap between them using Real Ghostball. And I do... often. Maybe you can do that with a pivot-based aiming system, but I never got that far with any of them because of all the derogatory remarks aimed at (using CTE perhaps?) folks using other aiming methods. It's just not worth wading through all the BS for me. Too bad, seems like a fine arrow to have in one's quiver.
 
...reductionists like Patrick Johnson
I was actually raised Lutheran, but who's counting?

If reductionist means picking everything apart while playing, that's not me. In fact, I'm an advocate of simplifying your thinking about pool, even away from the table - it's just common sense stuff, not that complicated. I think aiming systems, especially the "pivoting" kind, way overcomplicate things (while, ironically, obscuring the simple facts that exist).

I can't see any possible way that someone can use a system that inherently leaves geometric gaps between it's alignment lines without using some sort of subconscious adjustment. Some call it "feel", (I didn't start that ball rolling), which is as good a form of shorthand as any AFAIC. Call it "visual intelligence". Cool. I'm fine with that. But I also use visual intelligence in my own aiming method - Real Ghostball. And not only does it align perfectly with the pockets of a table with a 2:1 ratio, it will align perfectly with any point on any table, and all the points inside the rails as well.

Nicely said - deserves repeating.

pj
chgo
 
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My recollection and take on it was "a lot better off" when you were banned for a long length of time>

I disagree. This place got boring in his absence. Pat is an excellent debater, and you really have to put on your thinking cap if you intend to joust with him. You better know your stuff, say what you mean, and mean what you say, or he will nail you. He is an huge asset to this board IMO. The only ones I've ever seen calling for his ouster have been the ardent supporters of pivot-based aiming systems. Even CJ seems to like having him onboard.
 
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