Agree, my journey over the last 18 months or so with systems confirms that. Not only my own research and practice but reading and responding to all of the aiming threads here as well.
I think there are pros and cons to even using systems, and they differ based on the skill level of the player. Not to mention the differences between the systems themselves, some more complicated or full-featured than others. Ultimately if they enhance your ability to pocket balls and increase your confidence, regardless of how they are working, I don't think it can be a bad thing, but they are certainly not for everyone.
Scott
I agree with you but I want to make a clarification. I think that not every system is for everyone in the sense that not everyone can gel to every system. But I think that there is not a single player alive who can't find an approach that works for them.
I think that's what you are saying as well but I wanted to clarify that it's not that that systems in general are not for everyone because I think that they are and the fundamental nature of a systematic approach to aiming is that the system is as much of a tool as a hammer is, inert and constant until someone picks it up and uses it.
I am happy when someone says that they didn't get CTE but CJ's method works for them.
The whole point for me since Hal Houle sought me out and clued me in to "aiming systems" is that they not only exist but that they work extremely well. In the intervening years all I have wanted to is to see them gain some legitimacy and for Hal to be vindicated. I believe that this is finally coming to pass due not only to the efforts of cheerleaders like me but moreso because of instructors and pro players validating and advocating them.
I personally believe that ball-to-ball methods of aiming are the nuts. Someday I would like to see them taught as standards right alongside ghost ball.
Lastly I want to make a comment about straight in shots. I too thought that you don't need an aiming system on a straight-in.
But in actual play it seems that straight-in shots are a bit harder to get down on accurately than one would assume. Using an aiming system however works amazingly well for this. But for one aspect of straight-ins I have found using an aiming system to be even more useful and that is when the object ball has to go past other balls on the way to the pocket.
For this shot it is SO EASY to be influenced by the other balls. BUT with an aiming system I get down on the shot and shoot it cleanly past the other balls as if they aren't even there. This is a HUGE weapon for me personally allowing my choices in shots to go up dramatically as I am not afraid of shots that look close anymore.