Center to Edge Aiming - CTE - Convergence Lines

In this video I have marked out the Center to Edge lines and the Ghost Ball lines to show that the "pivot" which is so confusing is really just a SLIGHT body movement as the shooter moves to center ball. As the lines come back from the object ball they converge in the center of the cue ball and as they pass out the back of the cue ball they are just a millimeter at most and on top of each other at the least. Which basically means that looking at the shot from the back of the cue ball the SHOT line is never more than 1mm away from the Center to Edge line. Thus a TINY shift is all it takes to get to the shot line.
By following the CTE directions you will land on the shot line every time from almost any angle once you learn to accurately see the CTE line and orient yourself based off of it to come into the shot.
I put up all these lines to prove that following the exact same steps results in landing on the ghost ball line no matter the angle. If you choose you can mark your table in the same way and see it for yourself. THEN go to the other half of the table and do the shots without the lines marked and watch what happens.

[@stevemarion9591]

These teacher cannot explain anything simple. The only teacher I know who is very easy to explain peter jio

[@gazman1001]

Hi JB, Man I just love those lines on your table. It's just amazing to look at the whole thing with chalk lines. Please keep them comming. Cheers

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

This guy really has a love for the game and there is no doubt about that. I've watched a few of his videos. For the most part he doesn't understand what ever he is trying to explain and share, at least not yet. His love for the game and determination will eventually allow him to understand.

[@thejohnhughes]

I purchased it and in it he gives a number of reference shots for the student to practice. He also uses both his son and Stevie Moore to demonstrate many shots. By watching and then trying it out I can already tell and quantitate an improvement in pocketing. I still have to make adjustments if I choose to spin the cue ball (not use center ball) and I still have work to do to learn the limits of the system. It does work and this video is worth the $47 that I spent.

[@KrisWhite1982]

Now that's what you call - great endeavor!

[@sahivash_semo]

You are fantastic Appreciate for sharing this videos ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jbideastoo]

Thank you, it's a burl laminate that the factory did custom for me.

[@jbideastoo]

Works for all pockets. If you have a shot which can go into both the side and corner on the same side of the table you will adjust the CTE line slightly by virtue of moving your body to the see the right one. Once you learn the method this is very clear.

[@007kclaw]

wow i have never seen any thing like this. i tried it and it was hurting my game with the shift, but visually i could see how this is going to add more depth to the game. you over simplified the way your mind settles into ghost ball. i don't know if i like this or not it goes against other fundamentals like alignment of stance and body movement.

[@daeganandheidi]

this is fascinating. I often assumed this was all so natural to a good player. Nonetheless, there appears to be science behind even the most natural shots.

[@CocoboloCowboy]

This is simple CTE, and makes simple👍.

[@restiedelfin315]

I have yet to find a video that explains CTE well. And this is no different. There is no explanation as to where exactly you should aim and why. And what is the reason for aiming at the object ball edge in the first place? What is the purpose of the pivot? Why not just drop directly to where you need to aim?

[@setdown2]

Restie Delfin lm with you ...why pivot. ...I can’t understand WTFHTA.....I MUST JUST BE A DUMB ASS....

[@brandonanthony7331]

I know it is so damn frustrating I keep watching them and none make sense because they just say what they are doing but don't show you specifically what to do..

[@jbideastoo]

This video is more for the group i was part of to discuss concepts.... It wasn't intended to instruct as much it was to lay out what i had diagrammed on Corel draw.

[@jbideastoo]

No. The See system also uses physically visible and tangible objects to line up, the shadow of the ball. The SEE system is a bit more to learn and memorize for different angles but it's also very accurate. The essence is the same though, use physical objects to align your body and come into the shot from the side.

[@JK-rv9tp]

This system is simply an indexing method to align the cue with the shot line line by first locating the bridge axis point laterally. With the bridge point located and the cue resting on it, centering the cue tip on the cue ball sets the cue on the ghost ball line, which is the "pivot" part. I think people get confused trying to figure out what the "pivot" action is all about. The pivot is required because you are using the cue itself to find the correct bridge point during the initial step, then pivoting it into alignment with the cue ball; if the bridge point was correctly located, centering the tip on the cue ball completes the shot line alignment for the desired OB shot angle. The geometry is such that the CTE line for a given shot angle crosses the shot line axis roughly 10-12 inches from the cue, hence the need to set the bridge at that point. The ABC points on the OB provide 3 ranges of angle to choose from. Most of the time a given ABC point gives an angle that is close enough to make the pocket since you have a couple of degrees of tolerance with the pocket being about twice the width of the OB. I would imagine that players over time start to instinctively adjust to one side or the other of a given ABC point to fine tune the angles. I've been trying this and it seems to work pretty good but I'm having trouble using it for really thin cuts indexing CTE line to 1/8 OB. Half the time I miss the OB completely or just brush it.

[@jbideastoo]

John K for 1/8th overlap you don't use a CTE line to start. just align 1/8th to 1/8th and swing in to the shooting position from there.

[@jbideastoo]

The goal is simple, find the shot line accurately. No secret, just another technique. And no, no one has said that a player WILL be great if the learn this method. It's simply one way to aim among many. People like myself find it to be a very accurate way to aim and with it we are confident when we get down on the shot. My videos are like a public diary where I explore WHY CTE works. Don't know if I am doing a good job but that's why I do it.

[@moakbik94]

ur table wood looks so fine

[@jbideastoo]

The CTE line is the initial reference line to align the body to. The pivot settles you into the shot line.

[@allgood6760]

Cool!... different coloured lines would be great..(blue looks like white) 👍

[@sj460162]

This is very helpful and has improved my game so much..but I have one big question that im confused about..when shooting into a right hand pocket and using left edge of object ball and right edge of cueball i find myself pivoting away from the shot..but when i watched your first video you always use the left edge of cueball to pivot for ANY shot..which i find more comfortable..can you help me on this point please

[@milvolts1]

John I'm confused. is there a stable way to know which side of the cb to pivot? i know there is a right half and a left hal. left cb hits right ob and vice versa . at 5:01, your pivot was one way and at 7:02,, another, on the same ball. sorry if i missed something. i really enjoy your videos. Thanks for all you do,, i know you do this on your own free will

[@jbideastoo]

Sorry, these are not meant to be instructional as much as part of an ongoing discussion on AZ Billiards about the aiming method and why it works. But I will do a short video on the steps and hope that it helps anyone who wants to learn it.

[@shark0505]

I think this video is very good, but I've been using the system for years. Another system that uses the same math but is easier to learn is 90/90. If cutting the ball left, aim left edge of cue ball to left edge of object ball and have cue stick on that line. Then pivot with body to the right till the cue is in middle of cue ball...shoot! Aim left edge cue ball to center object ball then pivot for steep cuts. CTE and 90/90 are helpful to those of us who cant "feel" balls in consistently.

[@Guitarded4life1]

Okay, I see. Point taken. After I commented, I considered that maybe it was reasonable to start with a half ball aim and fine tune once you get down simply because it's a definite starting reference and the farthest you have to pivot is a half a ball either way. It's not much different from what I naturally do. The only difference is that I tend to get down on the ghostball aim from the start, then fine tune from there with feel.

[@wags407]

The pivot is actually does the aiming for you. It "auto corrects" to get the exact angle from the CTE line reference point. Remember to be looking at the object balls edge only when your getting your alignment for you body.

[@wags407]

Here are some tips that helped me get this to work. 1. Line your body up like a straight shot through center of the CB and edge of OB. 2. Think about vision only, keep your EYES on the edge of the OB 3. Pivot IN MID AIR & slide your bridge into the shot using your eyes only. ( IF YOUR BRIDGE IS DOWN AND YOUR NOT PIVOTED ALREADY IT WON'T WORK). 4. Pivot back to center of CB and shoot 5. Don't think, trust it! 6. If still not working, don't look at the CB when you pivot, look at OB entirely.

[@jbideastoo]

The pivot, or as I say the settling into the shot, is simply what takes you from the sighting and body position that the use of the CTE line puts you on to the actual Ghost Ball shot line. I will do a short video that I think explains it better.

[@truezealwebsite]

This is the 3rd video I have seen about CTE. I think someone needs to explain from the start what you are trying to do. For some reason Pool, Golf, and Karate always has some secret move that if you knew, you would be great. The truth is they don't.

[@Koyoo11]

Is this a variation of cte. Just wondering because in the cte pro one video you have to lines to aim off of the center to edge line and the edge to a, b, or c lines. My question is which line do you aim for

[@jbideastoo]

This video is only to illustrate my own ideas regarding how tightly the visuals bring the shooter towards the actual shot line. I used CTE to align without actually calling out the ABC visuals for each shot. Putting the cue tip at the edge is known as a half-ball pivot. It resolves to the same place that a half tip pivot does.

[@LeonFleisherFan]

@jbideastoo It is a simplification finding the shot line, we never disagreed on that part. It is not an overall simplification in terms of taking one's stance and swing naturally. Know the concept of "chin lock" as BCA head instructor Jerry Briesath explains it. What it means is that one stands upright, shoulders up, with one's chin on the shot line, takes a ballet style side step forward (used to do ballet as a kid: a "lunge"), leading to perfectly balanced stance. A pivot is a complication.

[@bryancroes]

@jbideastoo , is this CTE system the same as the SEE-System???

[@jbideastoo]

Actually it's really easy. If you are not part of the overall conversation about CTE then this video will probably not make much sense to you. And actually when you take driver's education they do in fact make diagrams about backing up to help the student driver visualize how it will go. This one though is simply my own way of working through the method that I put up to help others who are also working through it.

[@RobertSpiller]

I have a cheap cue that's about 5 years old, and I think it cost me about $35. I want to upgrade to one about $130 or less....do you have any recommendations for a pool cue that's could be a possible upgrade. BTW I did stop shooting for about 2 years or so.

[@sj460162]

I have the same question please...before the pivot when you point the cue at cueball edge..what are you aiming at up the table? Is it cueball edge to object ball edge??

[@jbideastoo]

nothing. Your body and head have gotten into position through the visual alignment. When you then go to the table and place your bridge hand so that the cue tip is facing the edge of the cue ball you are only aiming at the edge of the cue ball pre-pivot. When you pivot you are now aiming at the center of the cue ball and beyond that at the center of the ghost ball - which you did not know the exact location of but which you are now aimed at nonetheless. That's the whole point here. CTE brings you to the target through a series of objective concrete steps that begin with visual objective lines. The result is that when you are then down on the ball you are then and only then actually AIMING at something. The cue is then on the line and it is your job to focus only on that line and deliver the cue tip down that line.

[@jbideastoo]

And if you were to use the ProOne version then you would have a secondary line to use for alignment and one works for the corner and the other one works for the side.

[@recluer1745]

Are you lining up edge to edge then piviting to center cue ball?

[@jbideastoo]

No. That's 90/90 but it would work exactly the same way for a wide range of shots.

[@carlenquist9210]

I was really excited to find this video and I really want to believe this method but when I see the "dead on the line" and it's almost a whole ball off it make me wonder.

[@jbideastoo]

what time in the video are you referring to?

[@jbideastoo]

this is the only instance where you would sight to just inside the edge for the side and to the actual edge for the corner. Everything else is the same. You would pick up on this in about 60 seconds.

[@edhartgrove7552]

Is that chalk on the pool table? How crass! LOL

[@nucks24]

is your back foot parallel on the line or horizontal ?

[@riddler2468oasis]

Great video! Does it work on both thicker and thinner shots? Thanks.

[@jbcases7921]

riddler2468oasis Yes it works on any shot in a 180 degree arc around the object ball.

[@riddler2468oasis]

JB Cases thank you :)

[@BunsticleBill]

Im assuming that CTE is for aiming into the Corner pockets and not centre pockets yeah??

[@LeonFleisherFan]

@jbideastoo In a nutshell, I don't have anything against CTE per se. I merely find it problematic when its advocates start referring to it as SIMPLIFICATION of matters compared to the obvious: learn to see the shot line (get a feel for it, same as learning anything in any sport, trusting one's subconscious, which, ultimately, a CTE user will have to do, too). That's the one thing it isn't.

[@mirzaburgic]

JB, I've sent you mail and a msg on youtube, but you didn't answer, pls how can I contact you, I need some advices on using CTE, I still have some unanswered questions.

[@jbideastoo]

it is just off the CTE line and angled into it. Not exactly sure of the angle.

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

I've seen a ton of videos trying to explain CTE. This is one of the better ones and it's still severely lacking. On top of that this guy is trying to overcome his inability to explain this by almost shouting through the whole video.

[@LeonFleisherFan]

@jbideastoo As you know, I teach all this myself. I'm not per se adverse to the idea! But treat it as the additional complication of matters it really is. While it is true there are, very rarely, people who need "help" finding the shot line, most don't miss because they aim off target, but because they can't make the cue ball go where they want, mostly because they don't hit the cue ball dead-center or exactly where they intend to. Needless to say, I've got hundreds of video tapes to prove this.

[@LeonFleisherFan]

Of course, a millimeter or less is all it takes to miss anything by that hair any experienced player misses. That IS the problem with pivoting. No one ever claimed it takes a lot, or that one misses by a lot as a result. Although, once people start swerving into or away from shots due to the torsion created by pivoting, there's no telling by how much they're going to do so. Pivoting need not create such problems, let alone always, but it's one further complication, which is why pros do without.

[@BradEnquist]

Is this the one that Earl Strickland uses?

[@jbideastoo]

No. Earl uses the 50 million ball method. He started when he was a kid and by the time he was 21 he was a world beater having learned at the school of win or starve. I highly recommend that trial by fire method if you have the opportunity and can fade it. Will wither turn you into a working man OR a world beater.

[@MrAlivallo]

+John Barton Same Method SBV used; he came up with his own system at 16yo; there is a podcast where he talks about it with Eferen; he does something at cue ball level whence he is down on the ball 'where he divides his stick into 3 sections; Mike Seigle, Jimmie Rempe, Corey Duele, all use their own method as well; lesson here is; learn all methods, combine them consistently.

[@thejohnhughes]

go check out proone aiming with Stan Shuffet

[@jmbanxa]

what " CTE " line means ?

[@jbideastoo]

it means the Center to Edge line that you find by standing behind the cueball and lining the center of the cueball to the edge of the object ball.

[@xkguy]

a little more explanation at the beginning would have been helpful for those of us who do not even know what the CTE is or how it is used.

[@WholesaleJewelleryAustralia]

I have a question. At 9:30 at that exact angle. Lets day the target would be a couple inches more to the left. Wouldnt you have the same pivoting and same exact edge to centre line? Why would you pivot MORE when the edge to centre should be the same and wouldnt you miss the shot more to the right? It just doesnt make sense

[@jbideastoo]

If I understand you the "target" means the pocket? So if the pocket moved would the action be the same is your question? Well, no. Because this method works on tables with fixed pockets and a 2:1 ratio, meaning comprised of two perfect squares it doesn't account for shots to points on the rail unless those shots are intended to bank into a fixed pocket. Perceptually, even when the balls are along a string the body actually moves in rotation. I have another video that demonstrates this in another way. The pocket is fixed but the balls are set along a fixed line. So the center to the edge in 2d is exactly the same. But in 3d the CTE perception changes with each different ball placement and this forces a different alignment to each shot. Now can CTE be used when the pocket moves? Yes and no. Perceptually I start with a cte perception for each shot to anywhere and then work from there to determine where to send the object ball. Factually though the CTE method applied correctly brings the cue in line to make the object ball go to a pocket, either directly or by doubling the rail as you say in England. The most basic form I show here in this video works often for the banking. ProOne by contrast is more like a set of master keys that precisely unlocks the aiming line for just about any shot through a combination of perception and pivot. Sounds like gibberish doesn't it? I can't explain the math nor do I understand the biology or neural computations happening when the angles are perceived using this method but I know it's more accurate for a wider range of shots for me.

[@WholesaleJewelleryAustralia]

Sorry if im annoying but another question. Lets say the ball has stopps behind the breaking line (sorry i dont know pool terms) and there is a ball behind the side pocket thats close to the side pocket. How do i choose what pocket i want to shoot at when im using the exact same technique? Wouldnt it give me the same shot line? How can i pick which i want to shoot? Or CAN i even pick?

[@WholesaleJewelleryAustralia]

Lets say i have a specific situation where my cue ball and obj ball are at point A and point B. I have 2 pockets, for example the corner pocket and the side pocket are available for me to get the object ball in. What is the difference between pocketing the OBJ ball in the corner and pocketing the OBJ ball in the side? What do i do DIFFERENTLY? Because if i follow your exact tutorial its going to get me the same destination everytime.

[@jbideastoo]

M Maash For the situation where you have a side pocket or a corner pocket you have a different edge. Imagine you could cut the object ball to the right in the side or also to the right in the corner. Now imagine that the object ball has 360 ticks on it. one tick or edge takes you to the corner and the next tick facing you on the same side takes you to the side. If you use ProOne aiming then you have an additional objective perception to use with the A B C points on the OB.

[@jbideastoo]

M Maash I don't understand the breaking line example.

[@JulioSilva-mt4rw]

CTE ja ja ja , this is were beginners get loss for years. Simple rule aim at the center of the ghost ball ( about 1 inch from the object ball) and see the ball disappear

[@6771Randy]

I think you missed one white line but I can't be positive, do you see what I mean?

[@jbideastoo]

I don't.

[@danelobe2524]

Find the spot on the object ball you need to hit the cue ball at and cue to it.... Why do you need all this ??? I've been playing so long that I can feel when I'm in line and when I'm not. CTE might be great for beginners.

[@paulriggall8370]

Utter madness

[@saidas108]

I appreciate the effort, but this is way too complicated an explanation. It's like building a mathematical formula or drawing blueprints to back your car our of the driveway.

[@brucelabieniec9960]

Find the center of the ghost ball. Good luck...

[@jgoemat]

There must be other adjustments not mentioned, or subconscious alignment. Say you have the actual cue ball in the demonstration trying to make the object ball by ending in the ghost ball position and CTE aiming will make the cue ball contact right where the ghost ball is and sink the object ball dead center in the pocket. Now move the balls (target ball, ghost ball, and cue ball) exactly 2.5" towards either side rail in exactly the same direction. The cue ball should end up with the exact same angle and in the same position as the ghost now as before if the aiming system is true, but now the ghost ball/object ball points to either the side rail or end rail and you wouldn't make the ball... You could visualize this by placing balls on either side of the object ball and cue ball and drawing the same lines would be pointing towards the rails near the pocket. As you move both balls towards the rail attached to the pocket, the angle you should shoot the cue ball at moves to the right and as you move both balls away from tat rail the angle you should shoot the cue ball moves to the left. Is that small of a difference in ball position enough to make you line up at a different point? The problem would be compounded if the cue and object ball were in the same relative position but the shot was further away from the pocket.

[@jbideastoo]

here is a video demonstrating the situation that you describe. As you can see there is truly no adjustment that I can detect. I follow the steps exactly for each shot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5OclmmEqrOnm6c

[@jbideastoo]

and to continue, the table is constant, the pocket locations are constant. What changes are the positions of the balls in relation to the pockets and by extension the position of the player in relation to the table. In other words, moving the balls exactly parallel does not mean that the angle going towards the object ball is going to be the same for both shots. I show this in another video which I will link to. This video sucks but I do address your concern in it somewhere :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIeblJaLZdehedE

[@manhcuongvu3963]

It look like 90/90 system, not CTE

[@jbideastoo]

As you can see I have marked out the CTE line and that line is what orients the shooter to the shot as the first visual. I didn't call out the ABC visuals from CTE because that's not what this video is about. 90/90 however would resolve to the shot line in the same way but requires the edge to edge/edge to center/edge to opposite edge lines as orientation lines. 90/90 works for a wide range of shots but not for all shots. I use it a lot. If one does the the manual half-ball pivot as shown in this video the final step before adopting the shot line is identical to 90/90.

[@0flan]

you have to already know the angle to line yourself up to hit the ball in the right place. so it's not doing anything.

[@mcesarey]

My problem with CTE is that it answers a question that nobody asked. It's a system that tells people how to aim. It doesn't address that multitude of other factors in the mechanics of the shot. It's no better than the ghost ball method in my opinion. Yes, it's supported by math, but the human element is still there. I watched a demo of this in vegas and the guy selling the "system" missed several shots during the demo. Snake oil....

[@jbideastoo]

Not sure who was doing the demo but it likely was not someone qualified to teach. As for question no one asked... Well aiming is a huge part of the game and one that is not as simple as people think it is. CTE and other objective aiming systems are there to provide a baseline aim from which one can adjust for spin as needed. Not snake oil at all. Never advertised as a cure all, magic wand, silver bullet etc.... Just as an objective and accurate way to aim.

[@jbideastoo]

Also no one is selling it. No one has likely asked you for money to learn CTE. Stan shuffet is the foremost CTE teacher in the world and he gives away cte knowledge for free.

[@mcesarey]

@@jbideastoo I guess my negative initial opinion is because the guy I watched in vegas WAS selling it. You could buy a packet of information for $35. I was VERY turned off by that. Also, great to hear from the real John Barton. I have a couple of your cases.

[@Guitarded4life1]

Why not just get down in line for the shot and skip the pivoting? What does the pivoting accomplish? It just seems like an unnecessary habit to adopt, like not washing your socks for good luck. Maybe it doesn't hinder your game, but in my opinion, unless it has an actual purpose, it shouldn't be encouraged.

[@LeonFleisherFan]

@jbideastoo BTW, I'd prefer you'd not tutor me on the use of "terms". So you call it a "slight shift"? Watch your own video: you'll see that slight shift is around an axis, i.e. a pivot, as you call it yourself elsewhere. Rotating one's body introduces torsion, and with it a muscular memory of the stance one was in before, i.e. that into which one tends to fall back naturally, or guards against falling back into. Not rocket science, nor a matter of terminology: using CTE, you do something extra.

[@jbideastoo]

It's $40 and if you don't feel it's worth it don't order it. No one is forcing you to use any particular technique to play pool.

[@prakashbhalse9678]

esnookar hindi tenig

[@bongcruzangeles4946]

Very confusing

[@truezealwebsite]

$50 bucks, I don't perceive the value.

[@enzopalumbo2164]

It would been nice if he explained what his CTE line is. Not everybody uses the same CTE method, and I am one of them. I am better off not listening to him because I am doing quite well with the version a I am using.

[@jaroslavcech225]

once again video about CTE which just simply does not help amateur players...how on earth are the folks to know where exactly to place the bridge hand, for example...? Can anyone actually show me a video which is understandable by human beings? :D

[@eddieb8337]

Probably better not to have lampost laying on the table when making a pool tutorial...

[@runroadside1200]

Tried watching this but my BS meter was alarming. People with a major in physics shouldn't play pool it's annoying. I bet you can beat I few people but feeling and visualizing the shot overpowers physics in my opinion. Yes the laws of physics don't lie but whenever you figure in the condition of the equipment and pressure all your planning goes out the window and it is no longer accurate. Be like water my friend and flow instead of think 🤔🤯😜

[@Kmuggle]

Insufficient for all shot angles ... mathematically proven. It's well meaning hocus pocus at best.

[@user-gf4cv2nk7o]

日本語で話して

[@w.stevejoynerskeet9313]

This video does not make one bit of sense.

[@stevemarion9591]

Bottom line John, Stan, And good old Howard are rotten teachers, Don’t get me wrong Stan knows his stuff but has a hard time explaining his methods for a new student to pick up on. He reminds me of DR. Dave unless you already know this stuff nobody can understand what there trying to tell us. It’s too bad for us that we’re stuck with the three stooges as teachers