thanks CJ Wiley

Toi dvd

Picked up my mail yesterday, and it was there waiting. I have a tournament today, so I am going to wait till tomorrow to watch it so I can focus. From what I've read, its a winner, and I can hardly wait to watch it. Thanks CJ.
 
53 topics condensed into just over 2 hours is a lot to "digest"

CJ, I just received your Inside and Ultimate DVD's in the mail yesterday. For someone who has not had any help from an instructor, but is still a "fair" player which would you suggest watching first?

I used to play very often years ago, I became a fairly solid player, being able to run racks here and there.. I am now getting back into the game and want to get my fundamentals in order and have a strong basis to improve my game on....

I would start with 'The Ultimate Pool Secrets', they have the pre shot routine broken down into chapters. There is a LOT of information on that DVD (I go over 53 different topics on the 3 videos included), and if you go through them too fast they are difficult to process. I know players that have watched them over 10 times and still pick up new information and ask me questions about them.

53 topics condensed into just over 2 hours is a lot to "digest" so you may want to break it down and practice three chapters at a time to give yourself time to "digest" the information.

Then, the 'Billiards Inside Secrets' is next and has more advanced techniques on getting more feel and connection to the game. The TOI is something I would look at last, it's the most advanced one I have put out and it required good fundamentals to get the most benefit.

I am getting ready to film another DVD starting later today on Banking, and from now on I'm going to focus a complete DVD on one topic. I want to do Banking Tip Technique, PowerStroke, and beating the ghost playing rotation and one pocket with the TOI Techniques next.
 
I would start with 'The Ultimate Pool Secrets', they have the pre shot routine broken down into chapters. There is a LOT of information on that DVD (I go over 53 different topics on the 3 videos included), and if you go through them too fast they are difficult to process. I know players that have watched them over 10 times and still pick up new information and ask me questions about them.

53 topics condensed into just over 2 hours is a lot to "digest" so you may want to break it down and practice three chapters at a time to give yourself time to "digest" the information.

Then, the 'Billiards Inside Secrets' is next and has more advanced techniques on getting more feel and connection to the game. The TOI is something I would look at last, it's the most advanced one I have put out and it required good fundamentals to get the most benefit.

I am getting ready to film another DVD starting later today on Banking, and from now on I'm going to focus a complete DVD on one topic. I want to do Banking Tip Technique, PowerStroke, and beating the ghost playing rotation and one pocket with the TOI Techniques next.

Ha! I happened to have the tv to myself for a little while (wife and kids ya know) so I popped in the ultimate dvd (this is before reading your post). Got up to the banking system portion. I am hitting the pool hall tomorrow with a friend and am definitely going to implement the pre shot routine you use. I've never had real instruction on setting my shots up, I just kinda did what felt right to me and it's worked ok for me but as we all know consistency is key and I never really felt like I got my body position the same all the time.
 
Just to let you all know, I spent 7 hours on the table today and "I Got It".

I sent CJ an email thanking him for all the help he has given me in seeing me through this. The TOI is the "nutz".

We are really fortunate that we have someone like CJ who is sharing and helping us in this game that we all love.

Thanks again CJ,

Dougster
 
Just to let you all know, I spent 7 hours on the table today and "I Got It".

I sent CJ an email thanking him for all the help he has given me in seeing me through this. The TOI is the "nutz".

We are really fortunate that we have someone like CJ who is sharing and helping us in this game that we all love.

Thanks again CJ,

Dougster

I must agree. Got the ppv some time ago and have watched it numerous times. Spend a number of hours, albeit over several weeks working with TOI. Today put in about three straight hours at the pool hall, and yes, it clicked for me as well. Still have a lot to fully dial in, but I am really digging working with the TOI and the angles I can create.

What really amazes me the most is my confidence in potting long shots of the rail. Really, it is almost automatic.

I posted previously about TRUSTING, the stroke, and when I do, and accelerate through the stroke, it all comes together.

Thanks Cj for all you do. Between this and what I have learned about kicking and banking from Tor's videos, I have much more confidence. It is a great feeling! :grin:

Edit - Also should note that I am MUCH more comfortable dropping in on the TOI instead of shifting. I think when I shift, I pivot some. Dropping in 1/2 tip, full tip etc just seems very natural and part of a good PSR.
 
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I'm just aware of the object ball without visually looking at any particular spot.

I must agree. Got the ppv some time ago and have watched it numerous times. Spend a number of hours, albeit over several weeks working with TOI. Today put in about three straight hours at the pool hall, and yes, it clicked for me as well. Still have a lot to fully dial in, but I am really digging working with the TOI and the angles I can create.

What really amazes me the most is my confidence in potting long shots of the rail. Really, it is almost automatic.

I posted previously about TRUSTING, the stroke, and when I do, and accelerate through the stroke, it all comes together.

Thanks Cj for all you do. Between this and what I have learned about kicking and banking from Tor's videos, I have much more confidence. It is a great feeling! :grin:

Edit - Also should note that I am MUCH more comfortable dropping in on the TOI instead of shifting. I think when I shift, I pivot some. Dropping in 1/2 tip, full tip etc just seems very natural and part of a good PSR.

Yes, to teach how to use TOI at the beginning I've found it's better to use center as a reference point, and the outcome is to just drop down to the correct TOI Position and LOCK IN with your eyes, connecting the tip to that specific spot.

I don't think you can "overdo" this at first. Most players I've seen, struggle because they look at the object ball as they are getting down on the cue ball. This is unnecessary and potentially destructive.

We suggest counting to 5 ONLY looking at the cue ball as you're getting down and AFTER you're locked in to the TOI spot, only then do you look up at the object ball. I'm aware of the object ball without visually looking at any particular spot.

Then look back at that spot, making sure you're still {tip is} connecting precisely, then extend your cue through that spot, immediately looking at the object ball and follow it in the pocket without moving your head. Make sure to see what part of the pocket your object ball contacted so you have information used for the next shot.
 
I seem to do better when I look at the cue ball and see the object ball more in my periphery. When I look at the object ball I notice a tendency to pivot or try to steer the shot.
Also I like to shoot fairly quickly once I am down.
Interesting note: one of the local guys came over to me and said " It looks like your shots are going in but you should be looking at the object ball last and take more practice strokes"
He is a nice guy and I appreciate all who help so I politely told him I was doing a practice exercise recommended from a teacher.

One thing that does happen, on long shots with say a 40 degree cut or more, the cue ball is traveling too much sometimes even scratching. I think that has to do with my alignment and I may be unconsciously pivoting. I say alignment because straight in shots are still a little off so my fundamentals may need a refresher.

TOI has helped me pocket more balls faster so once again , Thanks CJ!
 
Yes, you will understand more after you experience using the TOI and it brings to your awareness what deflection is all about.

The problem with trying to hit center is if you miss you won't know why. The harder you hit the cue ball with center, the more likely you are to deflect it off course. Try setting up the cue ball on the foot spot and it it hard, with center at the opposite rail and make it come straight back.

If you do this and the cue ball comes back a few inches off, it would do the same thing to an object ball. This would produce a miss, and how would you know it was the deflection?

The answer is you wouldn't.....that's why I choose to deflect the cue ball slightly on purpose, then I can control it and get the feedback I need to make the correct adjustments in case I don't make a shot. 'The Game is the Teacher'
Sir, Thanks again for putting up the PPV, very well worth it!!! I did pretty good when I played 8 ball fri, and Sun. I was tempted to getting back on the tournament sunday (9 ball) but I figure I need to get comfortable with TOI before I start. I only had 4-6 hrs playing with TOI (maybe less than that) and I already playing the result that I want. Cant wait to get back at it...
 
this discovery will make a significant difference.

Sir, Thanks again for putting up the PPV, very well worth it!!! I did pretty good when I played 8 ball fri, and Sun. I was tempted to getting back on the tournament sunday (9 ball) but I figure I need to get comfortable with TOI before I start. I only had 4-6 hrs playing with TOI (maybe less than that) and I already playing the result that I want. Cant wait to get back at it...

That's nice to hear, once you start to understand how the TOI cuts the object balls it opens up a new way to play the game. You may not have realized before that the cue ball was deflecting - this discovery will make a significant difference.

Keep using the TOI and work on hitting the exact spot on the cue ball. Stoke through that spot quickly and precisely. Just be concerned with hitting that spot, not with any follow through.

Especially at first I would not follow through any further than you are bringing the cue away from the ball. Keep it compact and your tip will be more accurate, and the key to the game is about accuracy.
 
TOI Safety

Hi CJ,

One area of the game that I think a lot of players would like to get better at is safety. Do you have any suggestions or example of using TOI for safety play. I've find that understanding the tangent and using TOI can allow me to play cue ball safety with a lot more control. I'm sure there going to be a lot of players that will be interested in a DVD that dedicated to Safety. The last one that I watch that I really liked was a video done by Buddy Hall on how to win from here...he has a lot of great safety plays in that video.

BR,
Duc.
 
Practice these games 20 minutes a day for a week and your safety/one pocket game....

Hi CJ,

One area of the game that I think a lot of players would like to get better at is safety. Do you have any suggestions or example of using TOI for safety play. I've find that understanding the tangent and using TOI can allow me to play cue ball safety with a lot more control. I'm sure there going to be a lot of players that will be interested in a DVD that dedicated to Safety. The last one that I watch that I really liked was a video done by Buddy Hall on how to win from here...he has a lot of great safety plays in that video.

BR,
Duc.

This requires a higher degree of Touch, and TOI gives you this because there's the weight of the ball, without the unpredictabilty of spin to calculate. This gives you the same benifit as regular play using the NO SPIN system, AND if still requires practice, this is what I recommend:

Put two object balls by the foot spot (one diamond on either side is fine), and the cue ball on the foot spot to start.

Play a game of caroms where the object is to hit both balls with the cue ball to score a point, I play by myself and just try to beat that night's high run to make it challenging.

After you get the hang of "caroms" you will see how quickly you can improve by concentrating JUST on this aspect of the game.

Now, to get more advanced you still play the same "caroms" game, however, now you try to make the first ball you hit ALSO come around a few rails and either hit the cue ball or object ball AGAIN.

This will start showing you shots that will come up in one pocket and also safety play. Practice these games 20 minutes a day for a week and your safety/one pocket game will go up a couple of levels in knowledge.

No need for a video on safety play, it's more about touch and confidence in controlling the cue ball and object ball at the same time. This "drill" will give you what you are wanting to improve. 'The Game is the Teacher' CJ Wiley
 
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