This fascinates me.
I've read in sports psychology literature that the subconscious uses 'feel' more effectively than words. That this is inherent to the subconscious (at least as a broad generalization).
(I use this in my own game using feel cues to 'warm up' the pool subconscious. I find it very effective.)
But does this oppose the idea that the subconscious can have one of three 'learning style' preferences. (If not outright contradiction, it's pulling in the opposite direction.)
I suppose the 'subconscious feel' theory is contrasting feel with linguistic information. Which isn't quite the same as contrasting kinesthetic preference with visual/auditory preference.
But 'feel' and 'kinesthetic' seem very close.
[Edit to add: There is also a left-brain right-brain thing involved here. The right brain functioning better with 'feel' than linguistics. Another model to throw into the mix!]
The ideas are not really at odds.
The “feel” often acts as a trigger accessing fully developed skills.
When the stroke is a single act, not a conscious mishmash of pieces hoping coordination is in the mix this time, the subconscious was in charge.
In Lee Brett’s case his subconscious and the trigger would likely be in the same sense.
In my case, my subconscious is visual.
Looking at the shot from distance, my sight line decision is a felt sense on my body center.
If it looks/feels right I’m ready to go. (hand/eye task)
Stepping up to the shot I have the cue angled vertically, over that line.
My bridge holds the cue at about the joint so I see the shaft as I drop into the shot.
The process involves my elbow hinge aligning to pull the cue back along the shot line while the bridge finds its place on the line.
This is deliberate, holding onto the look/feel, linked directly to retaining the aim line.
Since the grip is pulling back into set position it only needs to return on the retracted path to move back through the ball.
It’s a bit like pulling back a bow, but the extension needs to be to the vertically dropped right arm, hinging at the dropped forearm, from the elbow.
Once that hinge feels physically and visually aligned everything become vision centric.
The cue moving straight, then stopping to fixate on the target and future landing place/ path of the cue ball.
Execution in my case is now more a mindless act, with the height of contact being the exception on certain precision shots.
Even pace is often based on visuals.
I imagine the cue ball path, with or without spin, reacting with balls and rails in specific ways, based on the envisioned contact point and pace.
If there is a feel element it is at my unconscious level.
This is why I say that it’s literally, “different strokes for different folks”.
Maybe your “warm ups“ might better be termed as “waking up” subconscious resources.
Pulling automated skills into consciousness lets your subconscious “tweak” or “tune into” slight variations, based on observed differences vs situational needs.
The resultant adjustment can still be subconsciously executed, with the adjusted contact criteria in mind.
Kinesthetic and feel are in the same domain, including the physiological effects we call emotions.