I hesitate to post in such shark-infested waters... but OK, let's try.
Aiming systems are probably the hardest thing to discuss with words because in the end it is a purely visual thing.
If you are talking to yourself while down on the shot telling yourself "almost quarter-ball, touch under..." I consider (based on 30+ past years experience) you likely to miss, because this is the kind of right-brain activity best done standing up, after choosing your pocket, position, speed, english necessary, rail contact points, landing zone, etc.
Once decided, find your line of aim. Here comes the fun. All roads lead to Rome, whatever best helps you visualize the proper spot to deliver the cue ball to. Inarticulable feel. Ghost ball, imaginary rail, base of ball, contact points, fractional-ball aiming, railroad tracks, edge-to-edge, "Goldilocks baby bear of too thick, too thin, just right", "spot on the rail beyond the ball", and meanwhile accounting for English deflection, curve, throw, etc. The artistry thing of blending it all together reliably each time.
Found the line? Good, see it, get down, adjust, practice stroke, all in agreement? Back straight, pause, stroke straight through. Watch for results, ball being delivered where intended, results as desired, stand up, repeat.
If only so easy and repeatable. Some shots are harder to visualize for me. Straight-ins I use ferrule to base of ball aim points, with minor noodges as necessary. 15 degree cuts about I start using a base of ball or "put a rail behind it and adjust for CB-OB throw" idea. Half-ball-ish hits I am back to Ghost-ball visuals, and on thin cuts it is edge-to edge contact points. And I am not above using all of these methods to verify agreement, and if any one method comes up "tilt" it usually means my alignment for seeing the shot is off and my chances of making it are down so getting back up and starting over is the right move.
I think it takes many "aiming systems" to see the shot well, and am glad to have them in my bag of tricks, but they could all be boiled down to "feel" if you insist. I just don't think the one word is nuanced enough to fully describe some of the other helpful ways to visualize certain shots.
Some of you younger "feel" folks may laugh at the notion, but like some around here I've been playing for quite a long time, at different weights, shoe heights, mental attitudes, skill levels (or "layers of the onion" as Flickit put it) confidence levels (more specifically, ups/downs lack thereof), etc. and all these things factor in to becoming more realistic and modest about our accomplishments and overall reliability on every given shot, simply put we no longer fully trust the inside voice insisting we are "good" players and can fully trust our "feel" every time. Adequate. Competent. Reasonably talented. Capable. Infallible, never. Feel will lie to you over the years, so you lose confidence in it as the ultimate and only method.
At best, when all is clicking well, it is "feel", but there are some other ways to cope when your "feel" is not quite grooved in yet for that session or week or month or slump.
Just some thoughts on aiming... and in the end your aiming may be great, it is just final stroke delivery letting you down. Do not move your head and watch that ball!
