I want to add, yes I know curtains are not used in pool games. They are only to demonstrate that the system (CTE) does not use contact points. With a curtain, contact points are much more difficult without the pocket in view. Not a trick, just using our perception coupled with centers and edges to proficiently pocket balls. If you think THAT is a trick, well heck that's an awesome trick, one I will use to pocket balls!
mohrt I'm beginning to wonder if what Lou and 8 pack and I and others mean by "trick" is not what you think it means. Nobody is saying that Stan is doing something underhanded or sleight of hand while banking shots with a curtain. We're just saying that is a trick in the sense that performing those shots is a developed skill. I have a video from another forum member where he shoots about 15 balls under a curtain to the corner pocket. They aren't table length shots, but he does them at rapid fire speed. No aiming system, just experience.
I don't think the presence of a curtain changes much for bank shots. Those kinds of shots are done mostly by feel, knowing where the pocket is. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think the curtain makes the shot any more difficult.
If any of the CTE users in this forum that are NOT professional level players can shoot 10 banks with the curtain the way Stan does then that would impress me more than watching Stan do it.
I'm reminded of a video that Willie Mosconi did where he shows some fundamentals. He goes on to demonstrate how to pocket bank shots. He gives a hard to understand brief lesson on how to make bank shots and then proceeds to fire in banks like nothing. He wasn't able to bank those shots because he did it the way he described it. He was able to do it because he's Willie Mosconi and he just knew what looked right. His method would only get you close to the pocket. Experience makes the shot go in.
The same thing struck me about Stan's video. Why is he using english on some shots and not on others? Stan gave an answer but I have no idea what he was trying to say. If you use CTE to get you close on the bank shot and then use your experience to make the ball go in then CTE is no different in that respect from any other aiming method.
Can you perform Stan's bank shot video? If not, then is it because Stan is more capable of seeing the "simple," "objective" visuals than you are? I'm not being a wisea**. I really would like to know.