Please help with aiming system choices

R

real57vetteguy

Registered
Hi all,

I'm pretty new here but have learned quite a bit in a short period of time. I am 39 and have some severe arthritis that limits some movement in my neck and back, looking upwards can be a challange sometimes. I played from 15 to 24 years old, and played better than avg. I stopped playing due to the arthritis at 24-25 years old. I have been back at it for about 5 months, playing and practicing 12-15 hours a week.
I feel now is the time to try and develop an aiming system or consistant method of play. I am looking at the TOI and CTE systems. I do realize they are not the same thing, TOI is about feel, and CTE is an aiming system and much more.
With the above being explained I am confused about where to begin, should I start with the CTE that is out right now, wait for the new one, start with TOI and then go to CTE? Am I capable of using the system with my limitations?
To give you a better understanding I'm 6'4, its hard for me to get down to table level and bring my head to parallel level with the table/OB, I usually have to aim from above the OB, not totally standing up but I can only go as low as my neck will allow.

Thanks
 
I think CTE/Pro One would be an excellent choice for you if you're willing to put in the practice time to learn the system. With this system, you don't have to get down low on the shot to try and line up your cue tip to a spot on the CB or OB. Once you've gotten your visual, you then move appropriately to CCB essentially forgetting about the OB.

As CJ states in another thread near the top of this forum, TOI is not an aiming system.
 
nobcitypool said:
I think CTE/Pro One would be an excellent choice for you if you're willing to put in the practice time to learn the system. With this system, you don't have to get down low on the shot to try and line up your cue tip to a spot on the CB or OB. Once you've gotten your visual, you then move appropriately to CCB essentially forgetting about the OB.

As CJ states in another thread near the top of this forum, TOI is not an aiming system.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same but wanted to hear from some one using it! Thank you
 
How do you aim now? How did you aim 20 years ago when you played "better than avg."?

Perhaps your method of aiming is fine and you just need to develop a more consistent pre-shot routine. At least that's one possibility to consider.
 
AtLarge said:
How do you aim now? How did you aim 20 years ago when you played "better than avg."?

Perhaps your method of aiming is fine and you just need to develop a more consistent pre-shot routine. At least that's one possibility to consider.
Click to expand...

Your correct, I aim straight down the cue ball to the OB, I have never had any training, i really struggle with long shots. I miss balls sitting in the hole, but i do really well with close shots, (for a poor to avg player)
 
I would NOT advise TOI if you just want an "aiming system"

real57vetteguy said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty new here but have learned quite a bit in a short period of time. I am 39 and have some severe arthritis that limits some movement in my neck and back, looking upwards can be a challange sometimes. I played from 15 to 24 years old, and played better than avg. I stopped playing due to the arthritis at 24-25 years old. I have been back at it for about 5 months, playing and practicing 12-15 hours a week.
I feel now is the time to try and develop an aiming system or consistant method of play. I am looking at the TOI and CTE systems. I do realize they are not the same thing, TOI is about feel, and CTE is an aiming system and much more.
With the above being explained I am confused about where to begin, should I start with the CTE that is out right now, wait for the new one, start with TOI and then go to CTE? Am I capable of using the system with my limitations?
To give you a better understanding I'm 6'4, its hard for me to get down to table level and bring my head to parallel level with the table/OB, I usually have to aim from above the OB, not totally standing up but I can only go as low as my neck will allow.

Thanks
Click to expand...


I do have an aiming system that is a CTE/CTC visual alighnment system that came out in 1997 on 'Ultimate Pool Secrets'.

We have three videos on one DVD for 20% of the cost in 97 and it goes over 53 things including 20 minutes on the aiming system.

In the next week I may put the Aiming System on a PPV download for $7 as well, it's very detailed and has visual examples, as well as my own explanation. I use this system as a "check and balance" with my TOI.

I would NOT advise TOI if you just want an "aiming system" it's an overall playing system with a built in way to align to create the angles necessary in playing pool.....it's pretty advanced.

Play Well, and Best Regards for Rapid Improvement.....CJ
 
90/90 by Ron Vitello; CTE and CTE/Pro 1 by Stan Shuffett; and equal/opposite by Jimmy Reid are the best that I have seen. However, just remember that no aiming system will work worth a lick if you don't have a straight, repeatable stroke. Height off the cue doesn't matter with any of those three systems.
 
Neil said:
90/90 by Ron Vitello; CTE and CTE/Pro 1 by Stan Shuffett; and equal/opposite by Jimmy Reid are the best that I have seen. However, just remember that no aiming system will work worth a lick if you don't have a straight, repeatable stroke. Height off the cue doesn't matter with any of those three systems.
Click to expand...

What type of practice/excercises do you suggest for developing a straight, repeatable stroke?
 
follow your instincts and you'll be fine.

real57vetteguy said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty new here but have learned quite a bit in a short period of time. I am 39 and have some severe arthritis that limits some movement in my neck and back, looking upwards can be a challange sometimes. I played from 15 to 24 years old, and played better than avg. I stopped playing due to the arthritis at 24-25 years old. I have been back at it for about 5 months, playing and practicing 12-15 hours a week.
I feel now is the time to try and develop an aiming system or consistant method of play. I am looking at the TOI and CTE systems. I do realize they are not the same thing, TOI is about feel, and CTE is an aiming system and much more.
With the above being explained I am confused about where to begin, should I start with the CTE that is out right now, wait for the new one, start with TOI and then go to CTE? Am I capable of using the system with my limitations?
To give you a better understanding I'm 6'4, its hard for me to get down to table level and bring my head to parallel level with the table/OB, I usually have to aim from above the OB, not totally standing up but I can only go as low as my neck will allow.

Thanks
Click to expand...

We believer the "aiming" is done above the ball anyway, so you can still play very well without getting down low. I do practice drills where I stand up as high as I can, it actually develops a higher level of feel. imo

You'll find what you need, just follow your instincts and you'll be fine.
 
CJ Wiley said:
We believer the "aiming" is done above the ball anyway, so you can still play very well without getting down low. I do practice drills where I stand up as high as I can, it actually develops a higher level of feel. imo

You'll find what you need, just follow your instincts and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you, you have been very helpful!
 
real57vetteguy said:
What type of practice/excercises do you suggest for developing a straight, repeatable stroke?
Click to expand...

Find a good instructor (notice I didn't just say a good player) if you financially can. If you just can't find a way to afford to get better with an instructor, research all you can on here about it. Then, draw a line on a table (doesn't have to be a pool table, but a table close to the same height) and practice stroking down that line perfectly straight a couple hundred times a day for a month. Video yourself if you can.
 
CJ Wiley said:
We believer the "aiming" is done above the ball anyway, so you can still play very well without getting down low. I do practice drills where I stand up as high as I can, it actually develops a higher level of feel. imo

You'll find what you need, just follow your instincts and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I concur sir.
 
real57vetteguy said:
Your correct, I aim straight down the cue ball to the OB, I have never had any training, i really struggle with long shots. I miss balls sitting in the hole, but i do really well with close shots, (for a poor to avg player)
Click to expand...

Maybe your aim is OK but the CB is't going where you think.

Set up straight in shots hitting center ball to pocket the OB.

Try using the same OB aim point, cueing the CB off center.
 
real57vetteguy said:
What type of practice/excercises do you suggest for developing a straight, repeatable stroke?
Click to expand...

I read the entire thread now and what would you consider to be a long shot? If your ball pocketing is average or above average while at short distances, maybe you would benefit more from working on positioning and cue ball control at those short distances while developing some confidence.

One of my favorite quotes is
"Shoot all the easy shots and there won't be any hard ones left."

Everyone should have a default mode or "system" to fall back on when the pressure is on. However, you still have to practice "systems" the same way you would standard shot making. There is no secret pill beyond watching videos, 1-on-1 instruction, or practice.
 
It sounds like our conditions are pretty similar. Mine is spondeylosis where the neck vertebrae have actually fused together, but the outcome is the same.

Here's a video of my stroke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydYr6mKyVQM

As a result I have to do all my aiming before I get down on the ball. I tried a bunch of things but this one has worked the best for me:

equaldistanceaimingdiag.jpg


One advantage is that you become very rigorous about your pre-shot routine and alignment when getting down on the ball.
 
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