Another confused CTE soul

T

tonythetiger583

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I’ve been practicing CTE and watching Stan’s New Video every night, and I’m still stumped. I’ll try and describe the steps I’m going through at the moment and try and point out the parts that I’m confused with.

1. Determine which perception to use based on the angle of the cut shot.

2. I then stand directly behind the CB so that it is facing straight at the OB (I know that I haven’t heard any mention of that, but it’s how I find CCB and the side edges (This is probably a mistake)).

3. I draw the appropriate line from CCB to OB edge, and CB edge to OB ball point (A, B, C).

4. I stare until I can imagine both lines. I heard that there is only one place you can see both lines that you are imagining and I have no idea what that means because I thought I could imagine whatever I want.

5. Now that I have my two lines set and having not noticeably moved from where I was standing before except for perhaps a bit more squinting and brow sweating, I try and split second focus my attention from both balls to the CCB, while I swoop in hawk style from the left or right, while wondering what my eyes are supposed to be sweeping to and from. It feels like I’m just looking at the cue ball and hoping my body swoops left or right.

6. I also have problems with the swooping and I think it’s ‘cause I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking at. I had some good results by doing a bit of footwork and shimmy-ing a pre-rehearsed amount to the left or right and trying to keep my eyes on the cue ball as I feel like I’m swaying like a tree in a storm, and re-focusing on CCB once all the swaying was over.

7. Land and make sure I’m in the centre of the cue ball and shoot.

It honestly feels like I’m standing behind the cue ball as a constant. Taking the time to imagine some lines and having no idea how that correlates to finding the direction of CCB. Then I’m trying to attack the cue ball from either left or right like a bird of prey.

My only theory is that the CCB you originally look at is subjective, and by drawing lines to the OB, you find the Objective CCB, but I don’t know how looking at the two lines does that. Do you look in the middle of those two lines? Or does it form a sort of track or runway that you’re supposed to lock onto?
I’m trying my best here, and sometimes the shots go in, and sometimes they don’t. I cannot stress enough how much I don’t understand how to left or right sweet with my eyes, and I’ve watched all of Stan’s video’s on the subject.

I forgot, I've also been picturing the OB as a flat circle with the three points on it. so that it seems more objective from behind the CB
 
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Standing directly behind the CB is where you are going wrong. ProOne is perception based, so you need to position yourself in a way that you can physically see...not imagine but actually see the CTE line and the other line for the desired angle. Whilst you are locked in this position you then focus on CCB. The centre of the CB is from where you are stood and positioned when you have both visuals locked in NOT when the CB and OB overlap 100%.

Once you have the 2 visuals locked in and are focusing on CCB from that position you then perform the desired visual sweep or manual pivot you need.
 
tonythetiger583 said:
So I’ve been practicing CTE and watching Stan’s New Video every night, and I’m still stumped. I’ll try and describe the steps I’m going through at the moment and try and point out the parts that I’m confused with.

1. Determine which perception to use based on the angle of the cut shot.

2. I then stand directly behind the CB so that it is facing straight at the OB (I know that I haven’t heard any mention of that, but it’s how I find CCB and the side edges (This is probably a mistake)).

3. I draw the appropriate line from CCB to OB edge, and CB edge to OB ball point (A, B, C).

4. I stare until I can imagine both lines. I heard that there is only one place you can see both lines that you are imagining and I have no idea what that means because I thought I could imagine whatever I want.

5. Now that I have my two lines set and having not noticeably moved from where I was standing before except for perhaps a bit more squinting and brow sweating, I try and split second focus my attention from both balls to the CCB, while I swoop in hawk style from the left or right, while wondering what my eyes are supposed to be sweeping to and from. It feels like I’m just looking at the cue ball and hoping my body swoops left or right.

6. I also have problems with the swooping and I think it’s ‘cause I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking at. I had some good results by doing a bit of footwork and shimmy-ing a pre-rehearsed amount to the left or right and trying to keep my eyes on the cue ball as I feel like I’m swaying like a tree in a storm, and re-focusing on CCB once all the swaying was over.

7. Land and make sure I’m in the centre of the cue ball and shoot.

It honestly feels like I’m standing behind the cue ball as a constant. Taking the time to imagine some lines and having no idea how that correlates to finding the direction of CCB. Then I’m trying to attack the cue ball from either left or right like a bird of prey.

My only theory is that the CCB you originally look at is subjective, and by drawing lines to the OB, you find the Objective CCB, but I don’t know how looking at the two lines does that. Do you look in the middle of those two lines? Or does it form a sort of track or runway that you’re supposed to lock onto?
I’m trying my best here, and sometimes the shots go in, and sometimes they don’t. I cannot stress enough how much I don’t understand how to left or right sweet with my eyes, and I’ve watched all of Stan’s video’s on the subject.

I forgot, I've also been picturing the OB as a flat circle with the three points on it. so that it seems more objective from behind the CB
Click to expand...

You can start at CB/OB center-to-center if you like. Then you need to rotate your entire body around the CB until you have a strong visual on CTEL and A/B/C. See these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAKAP8iR3Lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Psy5hOJT0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGFOHUceNpA
 
I think the key, if you're a right hander, is you need to be offset slightly to the left when obtaining the visuals. It is tough to comprehend at first but once you start to see them, it gets easier and easier to the point it becomes rather automatic. Watch the videos mohrt suggested, they should be very beneficial.
 
I'm a left actually, but I think I get what you're saying, I will spend today staring until I can see it. Thanks everyone.
 
For the visuals, do you pretend the A, B, C points are facing directly at the CB. I'm thinking about how all his centenial balls are pointed at the cue balls.
 
Watch the YouTube videos mohrt posted links to several times. Those specifically address things that should help you.

With you being left handed, that means you're looking to be offset slightly to the right. Try bending over slightly at the waist. Position yourself where you're looking down the line where the CB and OB are perfectly in line. That means right edge of CB aligned to right edge of OB, Center to Center, left edge to left edge. Now let's say you are going to have a thick cut to the right. Start shuffling slightly to your right. So you'll first see the right portion of the object ball is appearing and the center of the CB shifted to the left of center of the OB. If you keep shuffling to your right, you should reach a point where you can see both the center of the CB pointing to the left edge of the OB and the right edge of the CB pointing to C. When you see those, you aren't looking straight down a line at either, you are looking down at the visual perception line. You are now a 1/2 tip pivot away from the aim line. I'm not sure whether you're trying CTE or Pro One.

Set up some really easy shots first where you're around 2 diamonds apart between OB and CB with the OB fairly close to a pocket.

Here's a little trick I use if I'm struggling with a certain shot. I set up a ghost ball with the object ball. Now go through the process I described, then either use CTE with a 1/2 tip pivot or Pro One to sweep into the aim line. Is your aim line pointing the CB at the ghost ball? If so, you did it right. You can also kind of do it in reverse to get a feel for it. Just stand up offset slightly to the right and then just bend over and move in as if you're shooting directly at the ghost ball. Whenever you reverse it and resume that original position, if you've moved with a bit of precision, you should be seeing the visual perception line. Again, set up a variety of easy cut shots that are less than a 30 degree cut. Keep repeating this little exercise. After you feel like you have it, remove the ghost ball and try taking the shot. I think you'll be surprised how quickly you'll pick up on it. Progressively make the shots a little more difficult but at first, keep the cut angles less than 30 degrees. Once you think you have a decent feel for that, repeat process with CTE, ETB .

I think the absolute toughest thing with CTE/Pro One is initially understanding these perceptions. Since it is visual, it is a bit hard to explain although I think Stan did an excellent job of it in DVD2 and in those YouTube videos. It was a struggle for me at first but at one point, it just started to click. I can tell you though I'm still refining it and getting better at it on a week to week basis.

I hope this helps. Keep posting questions and letting everyone know about your progress.
 
Figured it out, spent about an hour on a stool in a pool hall just sitting and staring at a CB and OB. I realized that it's easier to see if I crouch down a bit instead of standing my full 6ft 2. For the first little while I also swayed back and forth like a hippie on each shot until I finally started seeing the visual. I think the biggest problem I was having was understanding that there is a difference between imagining two lines and actually seeing two lines. It's like trying to look for a disturbance in an invisible force field.

Now if I could just get my swoops down. Swooping from right to left is easy (I'm a lefty), but I always chicken out and under-swoop from left to right.

Now I'm having the problem of always pocketing balls, but not in the pocket I was thinking off. I must of unintentionally three rail banked the 8 ball at least 3 times today.
 
tonythetiger583 said:
Now if I could just get my swoops down. Swooping from right to left is easy (I'm a lefty), but I always chicken out and under-swoop from left to right.
Click to expand...

They are sweeps not swoops. You are not a bird.

Try this.

Acquire your visuals. Then focus your eyes on center cue ball.

So for a left handed outside sweep (outside to inside) just move into centre cue ball with your cue.

Gerry's video demonstrates this perfectly. Works for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fosUvnt8AXU
 
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Nobcitypool & Mohrt I thank for your suggestions and to the links. I have DVD 2 and in some parts Stan says on the manual pivot it is OK to be straight on to the lines. Later in chapter 6 he says multiple times that he is not behind either of the lines. I'm old fashion, real old and I really like a starting point. I really see the shots best when I line up with the OB in the middle of my body and then get down on the shot focusing only on the OB this seems to put my head in the right place to really see the shot. After having watched Stan start in a similar manner and then move his body to acquire the visual he wants I can see a different horizon. Also initially according to DVD 2 I can use my usual set up as long as I use the Manual Pivot which I think it would be good for me to master before going on to Pro One along with all of the shots shown on the first DVD.

Nobcitypool using a ghost ball template which JoeyI]nCali provided me many moons ago is another great training tool. And haven't forgotten that you were the only person who responded when I posted that I was confused by suggesting I start at 40 degree offset. All other systems begin with a starting position with this one you are armed with what you need to find, 2 things are necessary and you just have to learn the "tick, tick" dance that gets you there to your visuals and then shoot CCB.

With your permission I would like to PM you on areas that I stumble over
Thanks.
G. 'Charlie" Brown
Anyway thanks.
 
GaryB said:
Nobcitypool & Mohrt I thank for your suggestions and to the links. I have DVD 2 and in some parts Stan says on the manual pivot it is OK to be straight on to the lines. Later in chapter 6 he says multiple times that he is not behind either of the lines. I'm old fashion, real old and I really like a starting point. I really see the shots best when I line up with the OB in the middle of my body and then get down on the shot focusing only on the OB this seems to put my head in the right place to really see the shot. After having watched Stan start in a similar manner and then move his body to acquire the visual he wants I can see a different horizon. Also initially according to DVD 2 I can use my usual set up as long as I use the Manual Pivot which I think it would be good for me to master before going on to Pro One along with all of the shots shown on the first DVD.

Nobcitypool using a ghost ball template which JoeyI]nCali provided me many moons ago is another great training tool. And haven't forgotten that you were the only person who responded when I posted that I was confused by suggesting I start at 40 degree offset. All other systems begin with a starting position with this one you are armed with what you need to find, 2 things are necessary and you just have to learn the "tick, tick" dance that gets you there to your visuals and then shoot CCB.

With your permission I would like to PM you on areas that I stumble over
Thanks.
G. 'Charlie" Brown
Anyway thanks.
Click to expand...

It is impossible to be directly in a 2D kind of way visually behind an aim line or a CTE line and properly perceive the other line. This is a basic principle and I do not indicate that on DVD2 in any place.

Stan Shuffett
 
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GaryB, PM anytime you wish, I'll do the best I can. I'd recommend touching base with Stan when possible. 99% of the things I could pass along came from Stan, he's the creator of this system.
 
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