I Used to Use a System But Now....

In my opinion, the evidence I've seen tells me that CTE is not capable of putting the eyes in the correct spot to make every shot on the table. If I am wrong, then I have yet to find anyone who can explain where I'm wrong. I'd rather not go down this road again. Last time it lead to statements from Stan like, "the balls present themselves on the table" and then quickly things degrade into how I don't know anything about CTE. Well if it works it should be clearly explainable, which it isn't.

CTE surely puts you close to the pocket (but then again so does every other method), but it cannot account for the ball being pocketed at every angle. The logical conclusion is that your brain is subconsciously helping you pocket the ball.

Okay, so I think I might actually have it:

So we know from manual CTE, and manual 90/90, that bridge length is very important, in relation of the distance of the OB to the CB, the shorter the distance, the shorter your bridge has to be in order for the pivot to be by the correct amount. That's why manual is less precise, in that it requires you to adjust your bridge length depending on the shot to get the right adjustment amount.

Yes, you can use rough approximations, and the ball will still go in within reason, but unless you can adjust your bridge by the mm's required per shot, it will never be precise as a visual sweep.

Now with Pro one, you are lining up two lines Edge to (A,B,C) and Center to Edge.

Now the part I can't explain is why lining up Edge to A, and Center to Edge in once situation, versus the same in another will give you slightly different offsets that are related to the table, but it does happen.

The part I am interested in is that by lining up these lines, what you are getting is two lines that are not parallel, and will eventually bisect each other. I think the point that these lines bisect is where your head ends up positioning itself.

Now if different ball situations will give you different variations even while still aligning Edge to A, and Center to edge, it means the lines are bisecting in subtly different places. The lines are converging later or sooner and your head will be slightly closer or farther, or more left or right, depending on where the lines intersect.

I think this variance in farther, closer, left, right etc, accounts for the differences when you visually sweep into center.

I think it's this process that you try and replicate with manual pivoting, by moving straight in with a half tip left or right, and then pivoting to center with a rough approximation of the appropriate bridge length.


It still doesn't answer the question of why lining up Edge to A, and Center to Edge can give you different results. I'll have to mull that one over a bit more.

But yeah, to summarize:

- If we work on the assumption that applying a perception with two lines achieves different results in different situations (just have to leave this bit for now).

-It creates two lines that are not parallel and will eventually meet and cross over each other.

-Depending on how soon or late the lines converge, accounts for the different distances when visually moving across the ball and sweeping into center ball.

-We can try and artificially replicate this variance but moving straight in and pivoting with the appropriate bridge length.

Sorry for the rant.

Edit: Also I think the reason you can acquire the visuals from near the table and farther back is because as you move closer or farther, the balls grow or shrink in size.
 
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Spider - your habit of posting in blue nested inside my comments makes it cumbersome to reply to you. You should really learn how to multi-quote. I mentioned that to you like a year ago.

I guess it never occurred to you that maybe I didn't care if you replied or not.

The bigger problem is stroke mechanics, and I maintain that very few people have perfect mechanics.

If somebody can use an aiming system to help themselves stroke the cue better, than great! Personally, I'd say go buy Mark Wilson's book and that book has everything you need to know to become a great player. Note: there's very little in the book about actually aiming. It's all about the stroke.

The OP started this thread about aiming, not stroke mechanics.
You came waltzing in with a Pat Johnsonism when you claimed aiming is all FEEL which I think is total bullsh!t.

So we went around and around with that issue for a while and more babble from you regarding how it's just like learning to drive a car and I thought it was more like shooting a gun or rifle when aligning the back sight to the front sight to the target.

Now, like another early poster in this thread, you're switching gears and attempting to turn it into a STROKE issue. Start a stroke thread. This isn't where it belongs.

I can't say we've ever been on the same page about anything except comedians but it certainly isn't pool related when discussing aiming.

I think the link below is where we both stand. Btw, you're PN rolling down the hill:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oik6dXm-0l0
 
Chapter 25 of how many? :eek:

I own a very high number of books, dvd's, and older VHS tapes on every subject pool related.

I'd like to make a suggestion to you since I've never seen anything published or available regarding FEEL AIMING. Do you think it would benefit players of all levels from beginner to pro if you put in the effort to author or even co-author a book on FEEL AIMING?

It would be great and help to complete my library with the "missing link".

You, PJ, Lou, SJD, and a few others could put together your collective knowledge on the subject since each of you has much to say about in in numerous posts and threads. And all of you are well written and well spoken.

I think it would be a literary masterpiece and catapult every pool player's game to incredible heights in no time flat.

How many chapters and pages do you think it would require?

My guess would be 1 chapter and I'll place the over/under of pages at 5. I'll be more of a "pocket book" that can be easily fit into a case and taken to the pool room.

I think the most pages in the book will be in the FORWARD with Lou bragging about himself as a great player and life long conquests and trashing of all other aiming systems in existence. His primary input will be one sentence, "Just See The Shot" and develop a PSR.

I hope I can get a signed copy with each of your signatures and maybe "To a great guy and pal for life"

Would you be so kind to consider it?
 
So we went around and around with that issue for a while and more babble from you regarding how it's just like learning to drive a car and I thought it was more like shooting a gun or rifle when aligning the back sight to the front sight to the target.

Yes, I thought it was odd that you thought the rifle was a better analogy. It indicates that you don't understand the point I am making about what feel is. The analogy has nothing to do with any activity like shooting a rifle that mimics billiards. I could have used landing an airplane, or learning how tight to tie your shoes, or, a classic example of a feedback loop, adjusting the water temperature while in the shower.

How about this: forget the word "feel." Go back to my prior posts and everywhere I said "feel" you should insert the words "visual intelligence." That'll make you "feel" better.
 
Now the part I can't explain is why lining up Edge to A, and Center to Edge in once situation, versus the same in another will give you slightly different offsets that are related to the table, but it does happen.

Tony, I think you've taken a good stab at it and made some good observations. If I get what you are saying, it is that although you can find ETA and CTE, which are parallel lines, in reality to see them both at the same time your head has to be in between the two lines so if you draw new lines from the original OB A and E lines they will intersect at your eyes, right?

This COULD explain why you get different shot angles at different distances between the CB and OB for the same ETA and CTE. However, this could be tested easily by drawing the lines on a scale drawing to see if the angles change the appropriate amount. I have a pretty strong suspicion that it doesn't work out, though.

And of course the big enchilada is your quote above. If Stan could explain how you get two different shot angles out of the same visual with the CB and OB at the same distance away in each case, then I might become a believer. Until someone can explain it, I have to assume "feel" (oh, sorry, I meant visual intelligence) fudges the shot to make the system work. It is also easier to add this fudge without realizing it when doing a sweep, rather than the more methodical and precise manual pivot.

I don't understand why it is so hard for Stan to explain this one point in a few sentences, rather than telling people to go visit him (which he knows will never happen) or buy his book.

Thanks.
 
I don't get why it's an issue if CTE utilizes the subconscious.

Why is that such a problem if you are a CTE user? It shouldn't matter one bit as long as using CTE helps you pocket more balls.

Also, this stuff about focusing on a specific spot (like center cue ball) just isn't possible. You can think you are, but your eyes are picking up everything else, it's just the way they work.

For example, trying focusing on the letter A in the line of text below




zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz A zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz



You can look at the A, but your eyes will still pick up all the z's around it.
 
Yes, I thought it was odd that you thought the rifle was a better analogy.

There is a very strong similarity to how a gun or rifle is aimed compared to driving a car.

If you were to use a pistol analogy it would be with nothing more than a fast draw and no aim. And btw, there are some incredible shooters who can do just that with a pistol. THAT IS FEEL!! But they WON'T beat a highly skilled competition shooter who has deadly aim with the sights.
Of the fast draw experts skilled enough, they wouldn't fill all the fingers of one hand in a count.


It indicates that you don't understand the point I am making about what feel is.

I don't think you understand the point about what feel is or anyone else. That's why you should write the book.

The analogy has nothing to do with any activity like shooting a rifle that mimics billiards. I could have used landing an airplane, or learning how tight to tie your shoes, or, a classic example of a feedback loop, adjusting the water temperature while in the shower.

Wiping your butt after the morning constitution and not even smearing it but making sure you got it all. Yeh, I get it now. Oh wait, visual intelligence isn't required because it's all feel that your aim is correct.

How about this: forget the word "feel." Go back to my prior posts and everywhere I said "feel" you should insert the words "visual intelligence." That'll make you "feel" better.

How about this to make each of us "feel" better, we do as much as possible to both stay out of the aiming forum and even if it occurs, we don't post to each other?
 
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spider you just flinched!!!!!!!

Naah. that wasn't a flinch. I haven't been in the aiming forum for quite a while and found it productive and relaxing on the outside. I planned to keep it that way...until DB, I mean DW came twinkle toeing back in here with his inane posts about feel and now back trying to instigate something with Stan and CTE.

If PJ, Lou, Dan White and a couple of others all happened to be in a bar together and I walked in, I certainly wouldn't join them to talk, drink, or debate. If so, it would soon turn into a barroom brawl. I can't stand any of them and the feeling is mutual all the way around.
 
I don't have a low opinion of anybody in this forum, really (even if you did flinch). It's just a small slice of life here.

You're a Saint. If not, I'll nominate you for Sainthood. I just need to find the Pope's address or phone # and get right on it. I know I have it here somewhere.

So what do you say Danny Boy, are you ready to cut the crap and leave Stan or anything CTE out of the picture and at least post something positive about any other aiming system or how to implement feel in it's entirety? I really, and I mean really would like to see how it's verbalized to instruct players at all levels from beginner to pro.

You might want to call or email PJ and get the full description of the "Lizard Head Bob" that he uses to acquire his feel. Seems like it would be very valuable to get the visual intelligence and adjustments down precisely.
 
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Yep. I don't have a personal problem with Lou I think he's a bit of a dick at times, but so am I, so I'm sure we could enjoy a drink together.

However, that post is 100% trolling.

There are numerous ways he could've worded it differently, but instead chose to go with "Aiming systems are for suckers". Knowing full well that the majority of people that visit this 'side of town' are aiming system users.


It's not trolling, just cutting to the chase.

Lou Figueroa
 
I have thought for awhile now that the benefit of an aiming system is that it forces the shooter to be more methodical in their shotmaking. Forget the 1,2,3 of any system. Everybody shoots by feel in the end but having that structured way of approaching each shot may make the difference for a lot of people who would otherwise just get up there and shoot any old way... that's my theory this week, anyway.


Sure. Dr. Dave says as much when he lists the possible reasons some might benefit from using a system. It just gives some guys the structure they need to be more consistent.

Lou Figueroa
 
I figured this post would get a lot of flack, but it actually got less than I would have anticipated. I've allready suggested many times that the problem with pool isn't aiming (as in the mental process of determining the point you need to strike and then spotting it) at all, it's "pointing" the cue and body in the right direction and then moving the cue straight in the intended direction. The general categories for these actions are alignment and stroking respectively and must necessarily be a little bit different for players of different builds and eye dominances etc...

Some aiming systems score points by acknowledging this fact, and creating psrs that actually lead you to a somewhat decent alignment (for the average person). Sadly these systems are complicating the process and defeating any natural tendencies a player might allready have in place for getting "there". Like others have allready pointed out, the hugely mechanical approach may actually take you out of the zone, and lead you to distrusting your subconscious.

Speaking primarily as a snooker player, there is just no way that I can get consistently and perfectly aligned on all long pots, swiping the cue into position from the side (for reasons which I will explain below). Believe me, I've tried. Even if the foot is on the correct spot, placing the arms and moving them individually into position introduces another source of error for me. It greatly simplifies the alignment process to step in from behind the shot, and then drop down onto the shotline. But hey, if people can do all that pivoting and get super accurate on these shots, that's great. On shorter shots, and easy tables, this may not be that big of a problem, but I need all the help I can get on those "long green" shots.

My own experiments with pivot systems showed me that even if the system got my cue pointed in the right direction, it was very difficult to keep it pointing there, because I was not properly "locked in". I do most of my locking in before I get down on the shot, holding the cue out in front of my body at "port arms" as Jimmy Reid would put it. Holding the cue out in front of me like that, I determine the geometry of the cue and bridgehand (distances and angles of my hands/shoulder/forerams). This feels perfectly natural and doesn't take any time or thought at all, it's instant.

When these are all perfect (for my body) there is a sensation of "locking in", which greatly adds to the precision of the shot. It feels a bit like shooting a rifle with a sling. While there is a a sideways movement involved in getting down on the line, the final part consists of dropping straight down. It's quite tricky to combine this with anything other than a 90/90 style "hip pivot", and even that takes a bit of practice (at least for me it did). Could you perform this "locking in" while down over the ball? Maybe, but this tends to disturb the alignment achieved by the pivoting, for me.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.


I would add to your first paragraph that a player needs to be able to achieve harmony between what they see, what they want to do, and what their stroke will accomplish. Different setups produce different views. They also produce different results. Getting them in sync is tough and failure to do so is often why players struggle from day-to-day.

Shoot. It can be tough just to produce the same setup day-to-day.

Lou Figueroa
 
To me, this means that your mechanics aren't quite right, and/or that the placement of your eyes is inconsistent. You may be making compensating errors that result in a straight cue delivery. However, if you don't have everything timed just right, you will be off. If you have good, solid mechanics like the pro's have, then taking time off shouldn't matter.


I think it might mean that his setup wanders from day-to-day or after a break.

Lou Figueroa
 
You're a Saint. If not, I'll nominate you for Sainthood. I just need to find the Pope's address or phone # and get right on it.

So what do you say Danny Boy, are you ready to cut the crap and leave Stan or anything CTE out of the picture and at least post something positive about any other aiming system or how to implement feel in it's entirety? I really, and I mean really would like to see how it's verbalized to instruct players at all levels from beginner to pro.

I know you are being sarcastic, but sure I don't care to talk about CTE any more. I stated my opinion, which was based on the original topic (even though you don't think it was). I didn't even post anything until something over 30 posts before me. If somebody like Tony wants to talk about it then I will as long as it is constructive, but again, it isn't my mission to go on about all this.

As far as implementing feel, it isn't that difficult. You seem to be hung up on a different definition of feel from mine, so I don't know what to say about that. Feel, gained from observing what happens, is something the brain learns naturally. Buy Mark Wilson's book and do what it says. (Doesn't Stan's son play for Mark's team?) Anybody who does so and works at it will become a much better player. Playing well is about mastering the consistent alignment and muscle movements needed to deliver the cue straight. That doesn't have anything to do with aiming. Of course english and strategy are different subjects.

Like I said before, IMO, you can learn everything you need to know about aim by setting up any cut shot with hole reinforcers and shooting the same shot maybe 25 times a day for a week or two. Do this with several different kinds of shots and you will be on your way to establishing a memory bank of how to pocket balls ("feel" if you will).

FYI:
His Holiness, Pope Francis
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
 
I never said my game falls apart.

3, 4, or 5 days? I don't know how many days exactly. I do know you're reading way too much into my post. I can tell you that I wouldn't be matching up with anyone a day after being on a family vacation. Maybe you and Duckie are much better than I thought since you aren't familiar with feeling uncomfortable at the table. Or maybe you are taking the "It's just like riding a bike" too literally. I play or practice just about every day. If I take a break for a few days, it will take a while to get locked back in. I'm pretty confident that this is VERY normal.


I believe that for amateur players it is very common. After a break? For some it happens going from one match to another :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
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