My View of CTE

[TomInFaribo]

After reading as much as I could about Hal. I have always wondered if he learned the system from Ralph Greenleaf. Did Hal then refine CTE just as Stan refined it?
I'm not trying to take anything away from Hal. No doubts he brought this system out to the public. But it would really be nice to know just what type of aiming system Greanleaf used.

 

[JoeyA]

After reading as much as I could about Hal. I have always wondered if he learned the system from Ralph Greenleaf. Did Hal then refine CTE just as Stan refined it?
I'm not trying to take anything away from Hal. No doubts he brought this system out to the public. But it would really be nice to know just what type of aiming system Greanleaf used.

Tom,
I don't believe Hal learned his systems from Ralph Greenleaf. Hal had many different aiming systems. Hal cared for Ralph Greenleaf for about a two year period and I'm sure he learned some things from Ralph. Somewhere there is an article, I believe by J.D. Dolan if I am not mistaken which details a lot of information about Ralph Greenleaf.

JoeyA

 

[mantis99]

I started watching the DVD last night for the first time... and I haven't tried anything yet on the table.

I believe that Stan could have done a better job of explaining the system on the DVD by simply adjusting the perspective of the viewer.

For each shot wherein he shows the two lines connecting the CB to the OB, he should be showing those from the perspective of the shooter... instead of in plan view and reversed from what I am suggesting. The perspective of the viewer should be at the elevation of the balls... NOT from a plan (overhead looking down) view.

I totally agree. I think this is the one thing that lacked on the DVD. Champ did put up some great pictures of how it should look though, so maybe a PM to him would help.

 

[mantis99]

I don't normally post the same thing in 2 different threads, but my last post in the "CTE test" thread really fits here. I apologize if you already read it over there. If so, just skip this one.

So here's my take on this whole thing so far. The math regarding the system makes no sense to me. Logically it should not work. For example: any sighting that aligns me to make a straight in shot, should always align me straight at the OB, thus only work for straight in shots. None the less, I am making shots with the system that would normally cause some uneasiness with much greater ease. I am making shots where I can't see the pocket when down on the ball, and hitting them center pocket after an alignment, 1/2 tip, then pivot. I am also making banks with more frequency that I would not normally attempt, and easier banks with regularity.

The hardest part about the system so far, is knowing what alignment and pivot to use with each shot. The system becomes cumbersome when you have to try a few different alignments and pivots to get what looks correct. None the less, for each shot, as long as I try all of the alignments, I end up with one that works. I also need to become more accurate and repeatable with the system itself.

In conclusion, while I don't see how this system can possibly work, I am shooting better with it, so I am going to continue to experiment with it. I certainly need to improve my stroke, speed control, pattern play etc., etc., etc., so it has not made me a world champion or anything even remotely close, but it seems to have improved my ball pocketing skills.

For now, that's all I have to say about that.

 

[scottjen26]

If you embrace CTE, then you must have problems with aiming at the ghost ball (GB) method of aiming or double distance aiming that is very accurate when the cue ball (CB) and object ball (OB) are more that 2 feet apart?

I don't know that I actively visualized the GB in my previous way of aiming. I would say it was definitely visual and really more of a visual look at the object ball and pocket and seeing that a certain thickness of hit would send the object ball into the hole, then if anything I calibrated or "visualized" a track that would send the CB to hit the OB at that thickness. Basically GB aiming, and certainly how I learned in the beginning through various books etc., but without a super strong visual of an invisible ball, more of a thickness visualization.

As I've mentioned in previous threads, I'm a decent player, so it's not like I didn't make shots before of a wide variety and difficultly level, especially when playing well. It's just that now I feel more locked in and feel less uncertainty over shots, to me a 2 foot almost straight in shot is no different than a 30 degree backcut or a 70 degree thin cut down the rail. Also, and I don't know if this is system related or not, but I feel like I'm hitting the ball cleaner and more to the open part of the pocket, where on those same shots before I would have a tendency when missing to miss fat and bobble the ball in the pocket, especially on tough tables. Now it seems when I go through the alignment I end up hitting the ball more cleanly down the rail. Again, don't know why, but it's working...

Scott

 

[scottjen26]

The math regarding the system makes no sense to me. Logically it should not work.

None the less, I am making shots with the system that would normally cause some uneasiness with much greater ease.

In conclusion, while I don't see how this system can possibly work, I am shooting better with it, so I am going to continue to experiment with it.

...but it seems to have improved my ball pocketing skills.

Mantis,

I replied offering to help/discuss this further, may have been buried among the other very large threads on this topic. Also sent a PM.

In any event, I'm new to the system as well, and can relate to some of the comments you made (which I parsed out above). I too don't understand how it can possibly work, or why it does, but for me as well it does. I've never been a pure shotmaker, but I feel like that part of my game has increased 20% - 30% in the last few weeks, and even though my position play and rhythm suffered while learning already after a few weeks I'm back on track and better than before.

As you mentioned, I'm not only making tougher shots more often but also just feel more solid and "locked in" on relatively routine shots, and have been able to get this to work for a lot of banks as well.

I too am continuing to experiment with it, I'm trying to spend at least half of my weekly 8 - 10 hours of play by myself practicing and experimenting and doing drills etc. I've spent a lot of time working with various shots trying to get this straight in my head and I have a pretty good handle on when to use the various sight lines and pivots, I no longer have to keep guessing until one looks right which has helped me integrate this into my game at this point. So if you want to discuss further, check your PM, I think I left my email and phone number there, if not let me know and I can resend if you are interested.
Scott

 

[Dave Nelson]

IMOAO:

Take all known aiming systems, toss them in a pot and boil the mess down to almost nothing and what remains will be the ghost ball:IMOAO.

Dave Nelson