Fractional aiming & systems like it

This can be done only if cb-ob distance is up to 2 diamonds. After that, you are aiming a significantly bigger cue ball to a significantly smaller object ball. The truth is that it's really tough to "fight" our visual intelligence.....

My opinion .

The visual size of the 2 balls makes absolutely no difference.... If you aim with the center of the CB.

The CB center will never change... Aim the CB center past the pocketing contact point on the OB.
Aim past the same distance that equals the distance that's between OB center and OB contact point.

If the distance between the OB center and the contact point is 1/4" you would aim the CB center to a
point on the OB that is 1/2" from OB center. Equal distances. 1/4" To and 1/4" Past the contact point.
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FRACTIONAL AIMING

WHAT IT IS
Fractional Aiming is simple, straightforward and easy to understand. It simply means becoming familiar with three “fractional cut angles” that are easily created by aligning major fractions of the cue ball and object ball, and using those three fractional cut angles as “reference” cut angles to compare with and help estimate, memorize and recall aim alignments for the great majority of actual cut angles that fall between them.

WHAT IT ISN’T
Fractional Aiming can’t “show you” exactly where to aim unless the target just (rarely) happens to be on one of the three fractional cut angles – it simply gives you three familiar cut angles for comparison with actual cut angles to help estimate, memorize and recall them “by feel”. Aiming by feel skills are needed with any aiming method, and like any aiming method they’re learned by repetitive trial and error. An aiming method or system like Fractional Aiming can make learning to aim by repetitive trial and error quicker, easier and more effective.

HOW IT’S DONE
Fractional Cut Angles - Between a full (straight) shot and a thin cut there are three common fractional cut angles in each direction (for left and right cuts):
- ¾ BALL (14° Cut): Aim CB center at OB outside quarter (or CB inside edge at OB inside quarter)
- ½ BALL (30° Cut): Aim CB center at OB outside edge (or CB inside edge at OB center)
- ¼ BALL (49° Cut): Aim CB inside edge at OB outside quarter

Starting Alignment - For consistent visualization and alignment, start each shot by aligning CB center to OB edge (1/2 ball) – this is the easiest to see alignment and is also in the middle of the range of cut angles.

Practice and Repetition - Through repetitive trial and error (practice), learn to visualize the three fractional cut angles on each side of the object ball, where actual cut angles (target pockets) are located compared with them, and how much to adjust for the great majority of cuts that fall between them.

View attachment 76250

Is the above statements true say the OB moves closer to the rail or if the CB moves over two squares to the right?

Why did you just post one shot and not a variety of shots to truely explain fractional.

How bout a nice pic showing all the useless angles for a rail first shot?

Yep all those angles are useless. There is only one angle that matters, angle into the pocket, why even concern yourself with angles that dont matter? Seem just over complicated to me.
 
Is the above statements true say the OB moves closer to the rail or if the CB moves over two squares to the right?
What "statements"?

Why did you just post one shot and not a variety of shots to truely explain fractional.
In English that's known as an "example".

How bout a nice pic showing all the useless angles for a rail first shot?
Sounds delightful - have at it.

Yep all those angles are useless. There is only one angle that matters, angle into the pocket, why even concern yourself with angles that dont matter? Seem just over complicated to me.
It only sounds complicated if you don't understand it.

pj
chgo
 
I think you hit it on the nail! A dozen different methods of doing ONE simple task...put the ball in the pocket!

Except, aiming isn't as simple as some would make it out to be. Look at what most amateurs end their run on- a missed shot. Look at how often they play a tough safe when the shot is makeable.

For those that think aiming is so easy, next time out, have either you or a friend try a little quick experiment. Set up a number of different shots of varying difficulty. Then, you tell your friend where to place the ghost ball while you are down behind the cb. See how many times you get it right, and how many you get it wrong. You just might be surprised by the results.;)
 
Except, aiming isn't as simple as some would make it out to be. Look at what most amateurs end their run on- a missed shot. Look at how often they play a tough safe when the shot is makeable.

For those that think aiming is so easy, next time out, have either you or a friend try a little quick experiment. Set up a number of different shots of varying difficulty. Then, you tell your friend where to place the ghost ball while you are down behind the cb. See how many times you get it right, and how many you get it wrong. You just might be surprised by the results.;)
So I tried this...
It proved aiming isn't that hard. I got the ghost ball right in a position to make the ball every shot.

Aiming isn't done when down so this is rather pointless to say the least. Aiming is done in the upright position and everyone after a little experience can see where the cue ball needs to go to make the ball. The PSR and alignment is the issue if they don't have the cue pointing to the ghost ball in your experiment.
 
Except, aiming isn't as simple as some would make it out to be. Look at what most amateurs end their run on- a missed shot. Look at how often they play a tough safe when the shot is makeable.

For those that think aiming is so easy, next time out, have either you or a friend try a little quick experiment. Set up a number of different shots of varying difficulty. Then, you tell your friend where to place the ghost ball while you are down behind the cb. See how many times you get it right, and how many you get it wrong. You just might be surprised by the results.;)

Few people can focus on many things...then execute just one perfectly. Our mind allows us to "focus" on just one thing and everything else is a distraction. Fact is, most amateurs end their run BECAUSE they focus too intently on aiming, and their position play sucks. Imagine if an amateur's EVERY shot was a shot he could easily make...could he run the table? Of course he could, but he rarely leaves himself an easy shot (especially if there are clusters on the table)! Aiming for all good players is something that is done almost unconsciously. This allows one to focus on more important aspects of running the table. No matter how good your aim is, if you are left with an unmakeable shot, you won't make it! How many times have you played against someone with "a good eye" but couldn't run the table to save his life?
In that article from 1995 when pros were asked how they aim, most of them said it is something they don't really think about! Yes, some tried to explain but then said it comes down to "feel". Regardless of how you learned to aim, when practiced enough you will develop a "feel" for the shot. Probably because you made the same shot a thousand times!
 
Few people can focus on many things...then execute just one perfectly. Our mind allows us to "focus" on just one thing and everything else is a distraction. Fact is, most amateurs end their run BECAUSE they focus too intently on aiming, and their position play sucks. Imagine if an amateur's EVERY shot was a shot he could easily make...could he run the table? Of course he could, but he rarely leaves himself an easy shot (especially if there are clusters on the table)! Aiming for all good players is something that is done almost unconsciously. This allows one to focus on more important aspects of running the table. No matter how good your aim is, if you are left with an unmakeable shot, you won't make it! How many times have you played against someone with "a good eye" but couldn't run the table to save his life?
In that article from 1995 when pros were asked how they aim, most of them said it is something they don't really think about! Yes, some tried to explain but then said it comes down to "feel". Regardless of how you learned to aim, when practiced enough you will develop a "feel" for the shot. Probably because you made the same shot a thousand times!

You skipped over the entire point I was making. What's a tough shot? If the shot is makeable, it's makeable. If they are missing the tough shots, why are they missing them? Could easily be the simple fact that they can't aim it properly. Could also be because their stroke isn't accurate enough for those shots that require high accuracy. One way to tell is by the test I proposed.

As far as aiming subconsciously, yes, that is the goal. Do you really think that aiming system users don't do the same thing? The goal is to teach the subconscious what you want it to do. Then let it just do it's thing.

Some of you guys make is sound like any system user is consciously going through each step to get their aim. That isn't how the game is played. That routine is for the practice table where one teaches the subconscious what to do.
 
You skipped over the entire point I was making. What's a tough shot? If the shot is makeable, it's makeable. If they are missing the tough shots, why are they missing them? Could easily be the simple fact that they can't aim it properly. Could also be because their stroke isn't accurate enough for those shots that require high accuracy. One way to tell is by the test I proposed.

As far as aiming subconsciously, yes, that is the goal. Do you really think that aiming system users don't do the same thing? The goal is to teach the subconscious what you want it to do. Then let it just do it's thing.

Some of you guys make is sound like any system user is consciously going through each step to get their aim. That isn't how the game is played. That routine is for the practice table where one teaches the subconscious what to do.

Great post! Neil!

Double like on your last paragraph!!

Stan Shuffett
 
I think that describes all aiming. Our systems are aids in that process, not substitutes for it.

pj
chgo

In CTE, though, the system takes the player to the shot line. Plus , the real CTE system connects with 90 degree angles on a 2x1.
But in time, CTE becomes very subconscious, not to mean that one loses sight of what is occurring.

Stan Shuffett
 
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I'm pretty sure we disagree on the definition of "demonstrate".

pj <- socks still on
chgo

I would not expect that you'd agree that demonstrating anything CTE-wise would satisfy you. Why? Because you are well aware that I can go to a table and demonstrate real CTE. Your mindset is if it can't be demonstrated on paper then you'd ain't buying what the eyes and body can intelligently do on a table.

As I have said before the eyes represent the surface of a superior pool playing intelligence when compared to the intelligences that can draw lines and circles on a sheet of paper.

And there is the problem....you do not recognize VISUAL INTELLIGENCE. You likely think the eyes are only a window from which to view the world.

Stan Shuffett
 
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...you are well aware that I can go to a table and demonstrate real CTE.
I don't think anything so subtle as how we actually aim can be demonstrated by video. If I make a straight-in shot on video but say I'm aligning strictly CB center to OB edge, is that a demonstration that I'm doing what I say? Maybe I just think that's what I'm doing. Lots of players have thought that's what they were doing with only the three fractional alignments, when that's clearly impossible.

...you do not recognize VISUAL INTELLIGENCE.
I don't believe it's anything new - it's just "you know it when you see it", better known as the "f" word.

pj
chgo
 
I don't think anything so subtle as how we actually aim can be demonstrated by video. If I make a straight-in shot on video but say I'm aligning strictly CB center to OB edge, is that a demonstration that I'm doing what I say? Maybe I just think that's what I'm doing. Lots of players have thought that's what they were doing with only the three fractional alignments, when that's clearly impossible.


I don't believe it's anything new - it's just "you know it when you see it", better known as the "f" word.

pj
chgo

No, when I teach and demo in person there can be no doubt that CTE is being used as described.

You know it when you see it lol. Could not be further from the truth.

I doubt that you will ever experience the joy of REAL CTE. You simply are not going to learn CTE and that means you will never experience it and that is where true knowledge emerges....I do not think anyone believes you understand CTE much less can use it.

Stan Shuffett
 
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I don't believe it's anything new - it's just "you know it when you see it", better known as the "f" word.

pj
chgo

Of course we all know what the "f" word is and you'd know it immediately when you saw it posted to you which would be well warranted because of your actions and ongoing harassing posts.

Unfortunately, we'd get BANNED and it should be the other way around.
 
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