I posted this on the Aiming Forum but it doesn't seem to be getting any attention. I thought it might be more visible hear on the main forum.
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I assume this has been asked and talked about before on here. But I really couldn't find a thread that answered this question for me. So here goes.
Is CTE nothing more than aiming the center of the CB to the edge of the OB? Is that all there is to it? Or is it much more detailed than that?
The reason I am asking is I might consider taking a lesson if I can determine if CTE aiming would be of benefit to me.
r/DCP
It's likely that most members do not stray outside the Main Forum, and CTE has been beaten to death in the Aiming section. Since later in this thread you show that you have already web-searched on the topic, I'd think you would have a fair idea of the system, but maybe this will help....
The 1/2-ball alignment allows for the baseline direction of the shot (the basic "shot line"). Then, the tip offset is determined for the left/right direction, and degree of cut that is needed. The cue is then aligned as necessary, but then a pivot is used to bring the cue onto the final stroke line.
The "voodoo" in it is that no one has ever (to my knowledge) actually explained how the pivot works *specifically*. It does bring the cue into the correct(-ish?) alignment, although I think this is where detractors of the system think that it simply reinforces a player's prior experience with aiming. Also, every description of the pivoting seems to be a little different, which is where the term "subjective" gets thrown about in CTE discussions. Examples also seem to vary regarding the pivot, although I think the Lil Chris (google it) video demonstrates it working pretty well.
I've fooled around with CTE and pivoting a few times, and it kind of makes me giggle when it works. However, I definitely think that seeing the contact points on the target ball (C, B, A) help to trick/train the brain into actually seeing (and sort of "feeling") the *desired* contact point. For example/comparison, a fractionally aimied 1/2-ball hit is aimed with the same center-to-edge line (CB to OB), and then the CB is hit down that line--there is no consideration for the contact point. But, with CTE, the aim is started with the center-to-edge line, and then the cue is placed on a pre-pivot line, *with* consideration of the contact point(s). Of course, you could argue that no pivot should be needed for the 1/2-ball hit, but I think it's noted on the Dr. Dave page for CTE, that a pivot was completed on ALL shots--credite to Hal Houle, I think? (too lazy to confirm)
Overall, I don't think it's a bad idea to dabble with different aiming styles, but as for determining if it would benefit you relies on you trying it first--regardless of whether some think it's a great system or not.