And not just ghostball. My "system" is to aim (by feel) to hit the OB contact point, which I visualize at its "corrected" location.
I think this is fairly common, but I'm philosophically opposed to the idea. I prefer aiming at the actual path and getting a feel for everything that goes into that path. Always visualize the OB going along the path you want.
Which is where the contact geometry I opened with when I started posting, comes in. PJ even VPd it.
It can (will) hurt if it's counterproductive. Meaningful anything; pool, guitar, quantum theory... doesn't happen overnight. You may pickup useful snippets from the method but if you seek to be race machine, You have to iron that out by your own reason.
Maybe try some of the other aiming systems if aiming is something you want to work on.
In my opinion, there has never been a CTE Student that was as "slow in the brain" as me. However I learned to use Basic CTE with the manual pivot, CTE Pro One, and am now studying Disguised Pivoting. Please don't sell yourself short in the "smarts" department. You can do it also. If I can do it, ANYBODY can.
This is where I stalled when trying to grasp CTE. I got to a point where I needed to make a decision on either crippling my current game for sake of the experiment, or retain my perfectly acceptable level of play (decades of doing). Like all things pool, decisions should be based on risk/reward. While I have zero doubt CTE has helped many people. I just didn't want to toss endless years of refinement in the bin on the off chance it might make me <5% stronger at potting a ball
This has been my point for a long time. I have mentioned this dozens of times but I did a diagram which showed that the center to edge line and the actual ghost ball line are less than half a millimeter away from each as they exit the cueball. Actually in for most shots even closer at least than quarter of a millimeter.
Not a blessed thing wrong with your decision.
How would you have crippled your game? Because of changing your approach?
Except you don't use the tip/CB contact point to aim - you aim by looking at where the CB needs to go. Your 1/2 mm range on the CB = 1/4" per diamond distance from CB to OB (1" over 4 diamonds) - that's what aiming deals with.
Using the center-to-edge line along with the fractions line is the one thing about CTE that intrigues me. If I was a fractions aimer I might try incorporating it. I agree it's a good "anchor" alignment for any aiming method, but I think CTE overcomplicates its use.
My post was from 6 months ago so I don't know why you and JB are dragging it out now. My post was almost 100% TIC which was probably understood by everyone of average intelligence other than you two. The only part I was serious about was the videos are confusing and the system is poorly presented, not to mention, boring. The guys like a broken record.In my opinion, there has never been a CTE Student that was as "slow in the brain" as me. However I learned to use Basic CTE with the manual pivot, CTE Pro One, and am now studying Disguised Pivoting. Please don't sell yourself short in the "smarts" department. You can do it also. If I can do it, ANYBODY can.
CTE is very odd in the beginning because it requires a "reprogramming" of the eyes and the way we view spheres on a pool table surface. Some guys grasp it right away....I was not one of those. It took me some time because I had decades of un-learning to do.
You mentioned you like to spin the ball. CTE in no way requires you to give up using english (spin). Mr. Shuffett has free videos available on YouTube dealing with that exact subject of how to use spin. Just because CTE is taught as a center axis playing method does not prevent you from using inside english, outside english, high, low left, low right, etc. etc.
I'm just offering you some encouragement here. The method does work though and I hope you can work it out. The satisfaction shoots your confidence through the roof because you will KNOW you're at least aiming at the shot in the right way. NO Guesswork and no imagining invisible ghosty balls down there somewhere.
That's "one less bell to answer" when playing the game...especially under pressure
But if you feel, after maybe 30-40 hours of work at the table, you're still spinning your wheels and not improving...then by all means just let it go and try another aiming method. Brian Crist's Poolology works like a charm in his hands.
Frustration can be an annoying thing and pool should be FUN. (although it's a lot more fun when you pick off some cash and hear the railbirds collapse over there when they're shouting and pulling against you)
Good wishes to you.
Pete Lowenstein
(Low500)
Can you please share the research that indicates what the subconscious does as pertains to pool?
Is there a time limit? Don't use what you don't like.
Well, looks like I offended you in some way.
I changed it to "you" so you don't get the heeby jeebies.
Fixed that for you too. Thanks for the editorial advice.
I'm smarter 'cause I got this directly from the description.
CTE requires "rhetorical" re-methodizing to somehow accomplish what seems like less than accomplished players' ingrained ability. CTE does interfere with shooting technique though - to the degree that one may have to rebuild their already refined technique.Any time you attempt to alter what you have grown accustomed to, you will experience a drop in original performance until the change has been integrated fully and hopefully allows you to regain at least your former level of success. This isn't a CTE thing. It's an adopting something different thing. I also experienced a drop in performance for a short period when I forced myself to hold focus on the OB last, rather than darting back and forth.
Yes, lets not dwell on the value of '5'. However, no I don't. If I miss a ball then shape doesn't matter. If I make the ball, I would expect the same type of shape I would have normally achieved.
If someone said to me that I would not have to change anything regarding any aspect of how I shoot and still gain 5%, then yes it would be worth it. However that's not the case. I would have to deviate from my engrained approach to aim/stroke (pivots) to develop my CTE skills. A 5% gain is not enough for me to break out of my comfort zone.
Good question
You're more than entitled to your opinion but you don't know the nuances of my game and the level of play that I expect from myself, so your thoughts really hold no water in this regard. "Concern" is a strong word honestly. I really just wanted to give CTE an equal shake to my minimal effort with Poolology. Once I realized I'd have to revamp my process to do so, then my indifference simply took over.