Hi Tim,
Perhaps 'advanced' may not have been the most precise & totally accurate word to use. But for lack of a better one, that I could not think of, I would think that 'advanced' describes both playing with english & TOI, given the numbers to numbers comparison who actually play with either method as their main shot vs just using a bit of english or TOI here & there for an occasional shot..
Do I think that either one is really that difficult that only an 'advanced' player could use them? Certainly not. That was not I how meant it at all.
However, I was not referring to anyone shooting an occasional shot here or there with a bit of english or TOI. I was referring to playing with it as the basic method & means of playing such as CJ does & I did with english for so long.
What would you call 'advanced' technique or method? I'm not sure I want to know if using TOI or english as a base method is not on the advanced side.
When doing a numbers to numbers comparison I think you would find that most do not use either one as their base shot. I see your point that one can be more accomplished & experienced & hence a more 'advanced' player than someone that has just started using TOI or engllish as base method. That is applying the word 'advanced' to two different nouns. A technique or method & then to a player.
This communication in a text format only, certainly seems to be an advanced method of communication to me at times, or perhaps it is actually a regression from plain old in person talking to one another.
I thinks your regression at times when using TOI before you knew want it actually was may have been due to your not really understanding the underlying principles & hence perhaps not knowing how to make any adjustments.
I think playing with a different cue a few weeks ago may have been the reason that I started looking at the cue ball during the stroke. I think it was because that the TOI was not working as well due to the different squirt deflection. Normally I can adjust to such things rather quickly but I would guess that on that day I did not. So I started looking at the CB to make sure that I was not putting TOO much inside on the ball.
Anyway that's gone & I'm glad.
So...what word, level wise, would you put on TOI or english as a method of play & not just for a shot here & a shot there?
Regards & Best Wishes,
Rick
Rick,
First of all; in the second paragraph, second line, last word: I originally said "corner." before I edited it. I meant to say "diamond." That originally couldn't have made any sense. When I started doing T.O.I 17 years ago I would put a small amount of deflection on the cue ball and when I would cut to the left I would aim so if it was a center ball hit it would hit on the short rail about 2 inches from the corner point.
When I saw the video I started aiming for the direct center of the ball as instructed. I've been doing that for awhile and been frankly, fascinated with it. Lately, I've been moving the cue tip closer and closer to the center and I'm realizing that this is now advanced T.O.I. and realized I started doing things this way in the beginning without learning the fundamentals. So this could definitely have been cause for my
lapses. After doing it for seventeen years, It didn't take me long to learn the fundamentals.
However, although there are some posters who are completely closed minded to T.O.I, (I think you know their names) there are some posters who say they can't get it. They sound like intermediate players. There are other intermediate players who embrace it. The thing is; there are some posters who sound like they are advanced and who don't sound hostile to T.O.I., but who are politely skeptical. I think ,maybe they've tried it and can't get it. I might be wrong, It's just my perception.
When I would lose my perception of T.O. I. I would feel some what like a baseball pitcher who loses the perception , not of how to make the ball break, but how to make the ball break right as it approaches the plate. The ball would break way to soon, or the ball would still be going straight as it approaches the plate.
You can't excel with T.O.I. unless you're real good with the center ball hit. I don't think anyone excels with a center ball hit. I might be wrong. So what I'm saying is that while I was a player who, at one time, was just alright with center ball, T.O.I allowed me to play better than I could with center ball. At that stage I still was no where near as good with T.O.I as those who had no T.O.I but a real good center ball hit. As I said, I might be wrong, but I think it's possible some players with a real good center ball hit, just can't perceive T.O.I.
Anyhow, I don't want to take up Fran's thread talking about another instructors schtick. I just saw your name here. I haven't read much of Fran but from what I've read on this thread It reads like she's an instructor who is very open minded about new ideas herself and if you like to read her, I'll take that as a recommendation and I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future.
