I had an epiphany the other night thinking about how I can improve my CTE accuracy. Let me first say up front that I do not use the full-circle version as manual pivoting of any kind is appalling. I may move to that at some point but I have a long ways to go.
For over a year and a half I've been pocketing balls using the wrong CTE line. I've been lining up the top center of the cue ball with the side of the object ball. Thinking of the manual pivot process (I admit I bypassed that) made me realize the center of the cue ball to be aligned to the edge of the object ball should be the literal center where the tip goes. There is a slight difference in the alignment that puts you slightly off. I pocketed a lot of balls that way but it was very difficult to align and many times did not align perfectly. I feel like an idiot but am glad I figured it out now. Once I started lining up using center cue ball (cue tip area) and not center top (horizon point) it became so much easier to align the visuals. My pocketing percentage went up immediately. A nice feature of CTE is that once you are in full stance (down on the table) you can look at the tip of the cue. It is actually pointing slightly past the contact point. I use that visual to check my alignment. Cue ball control - angle of reflection, speed, and ball sequence (during 8-ball games) etc. is what I am focusing more on since that has clearly become my weak spot - not pocketing balls.
Good that it's working out for you. It's an interesting journey.
Not sure I understand all that you mention here, but it does
not matter what I understand.....what matters is that
YOU understand and are getting success.
You mention the study of 'ball sequence'....I'm assuming you mean patterns of which ball is next to go, then to the next, and the next, and then get out clean and smooth.
In your training sessions, something that will
REALLY help in recognizing those patterns is playing straight pool (14.1). Devote about an hour a day to that game, by yourself, and watch how the visualizing of the outs starts improving.
To me, the game of straight pool is boring as the dickens, but there is no doubt that it will improve your entire visualizing and procedures at the table.
Keep on punchin'..........:thumbup: