How Fractional Aiming Systems Help

Welcome back, PJ. I'm hoping that you can hang around a while before your next "vacation"-- although you're jumping right back in at the deep end of the pool.
 
cookie man:
Or you can just use the center to edge line and not have to imagine anything. No estimating, no guessing, no worrying about the angle
CTE is a "fractional" aiming system like the simple "3-angle" system pictured above, and works basically the same way. The "2-line visuals" and "pivots" added by CTE are actually the estimating and guessing part of the process made into "system steps".

No fractional aiming system defines nearly enough "system cuts" to make all shots, even taking into account "pocket slop". All of them, including CTE, require "estimating and guessing" for most shots. CTE and other "pivot" systems disguise this fact more effectively with their "extra steps". This difference doesn't make some systems objectively better or worse than others, just more or less workable for different audiences.

pj
chgo
 
Last edited:
Welcome back, PJ.
Thanks, although you might be in the minority with that sentiment.

I'm hoping that you can hang around a while before your next "vacation"
Well, my intent is to simply speak my mind as usual, so maybe just another brief visit.

-- although you're jumping right back in at the deep end of the pool.
Deep end? You must be thinking of another pool.

pj
chgo
 
I wish people would quit spouting off how one system is head-and-shoulders better than the others. Maybe to them it is but not so much to others.

The word 'best' is so ubiquitous on the internet that many forums ban it in their search parameters. A google hit for the word will produce almost 1.9 billion hits. Pick any subject that could possibly have one or more selection options and the most popular question on that forum will undoubtedly be 'what is the best'. Some forums that tend to have false dichotomous options instantly ban users for even broaching the subject.

If the internet is to be used as an example then we've become a society where the conditional and relative has been superseded by the absolute and superlative.
 
what Patricks diagram shows is that for THAT aiming system there is some estimation involved. That diagram does not address any other aiming system.
All fractional aiming systems (even those with added steps like "pivots") have the same limitation: not enough defined "system cuts" to cover all shots. This thread is intended to reveal how fractional systems help the "estimating and guessing" part of the aiming process - and how they illustrate an aiming technique (using "reference" angles) that might be useful even to non-system users.

pj
chgo
 
I just went to Super Billiards Expo. I watched several of Stevie Moore's matches. He most definitely did not use CTE at all when I was watching him. That much I can say for sure.
 
You know not what you speak of Patrick. Time to go study before you try and teach others.
I went to some trouble to explain clearly how I see fractional systems working, Neil. I think I and the forum in general deserve more than "is not!" in reply.

pj
chgo
 
Your first sentence is wrong.
My first post explains clearly how I think fractional aiming systems make "estimation" easier. If you can offer a clear explanation of how you think they work without estimation, that would probably be useful information too.

pj
chgo
 
I just went to Super Billiards Expo. I watched several of Stevie Moore's matches. He most definitely did not use CTE at all when I was watching him. That much I can say for sure.

i can use cte/pro1 and ask you to watch me as closely as possible and you would not see it. I also have stated many times on here, cte/pro1 is an evolving system, once you have mastered it completely you will just see the shot without using the lines and it just comes natural to you.
 
I just went to Super Billiards Expo. I watched several of Stevie Moore's matches. He most definitely did not use CTE at all when I was watching him. That much I can say for sure.
Who uses what system is irrelevant to this thread about the mechanics of aiming.

pj
chgo
 
i can use cte/pro1 and ask you to watch me as closely as possible and you would not see it. I also have stated many times on here, cte/pro1 is an evolving system, once you have mastered it completely you will just see the shot without using the lines and it just comes natural to you.

And this also holds true for ALL aiming systems.

Roger
 
No, you went to some trouble to explain clearly how THAT fractional aiming system is working. You can not lump all fractional aiming systems into one neat little diagram and say they are all the same. They aren't. Not by a long shot.
Rather than just putting your fingers in your ears, describe a fractional system that's different in this respect.

pj
chgo
 
I just went to Super Billiards Expo. I watched several of Stevie Moore's matches. He most definitely did not use CTE at all when I was watching him. That much I can say for sure.

Stevie Moore uses what is called CTE/Pro1 and he uses the "automatic" portion of Pro1, because he has already refined the alignments, movements and aiming coordinates to a very high degree and it look like it is instinctive and it looks like there is no manual pivoting (and there isn't, at least none that you can see because the cue stick doesn't move back and forth across the cue ball).

After a while, his aiming and shooting looks just like any other professional's aiming. Pro1 does eventually become VERY AUTOMATIC. There is little or no thinking involved, imo.

Just to be clear, the Hal Houle 3 fractional aiming system is NOT CTE/Pro1.

As to the grids being helpful, I am not so sure. Maybe some people can utilize them to help them visualize the shot. I have never utilized such a thing but I'm not saying someone else couldn't benefit from "memorizing or visualizing" it. Sometimes I line up for a shot and KNOW (from experience)that I didn't line up on the shot correctly and I have to get up off the shot and go through my shooting system ritual again or take my chances....
 
Back
Top