... having huge problems with pinpointing my target and the holes. anyone that can help please! ...
Sarrah, everyone here is trying to answer your questions in printed text (Go figure: It's a printed text forum). And Andy's book is in printed text (Go figure , it's a book). Yet the machine you are trying to master works on AUDIO SOUNDS. And all the questions you are asking : Invariably involve audio sound.
Hence it will nearly impossible for anyone to answer your questions in printed text.
It would be like asking someone to "Describe the sound of C major in printed text". It can't be done. It can only be heard.
And also visually seeing "the correct way" is important too. So you can see how someone is trying to isolate a certain sound, in the way they move the coil, x-marks criss cross, etc.. And likewise: The signals they'd elect to pass.
None of that can be done in printed text. The best way is to hook up with someone proficient, and trade off flagged signals to compare. Watch the way they swing. Watch the signals they elect to pursue, vs. those they elect to pass. Ask "why?", etc...
I had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM , 15 yrs. ago, when I tried to go from Whites to Minelab Exp. II (which is similar in sounds to your CTX) : I was pulling my hair out because "everything sounded the same" and "pinpointing was a bear" and "I couldn't tell deep vs shallow", blah blah blah.
Yet on the OTHER hand, I was getting spanked when hunting side by side with Exp. II users. Yet when taking it out to learn, I was totally disgusted. So I made an appointment to meet up with a CA pro. After trading off the 4th or 5th signal (and conversely seeing what he was electing to pass), and seeing how he swung, isolated, etc... (him pulling out his headphone jack to show me), THEN the "lights went on". From then on I was a bird-dog on a scent
And when/if you find someone to show you the ropes, find someone who is genuinely bringing in the goodies. (Ie.: not just a sandbox hunter). Preferably someone getting oldies from park turf (where a little cherry-picking and sound-evaluating is in order). Versus a relic hunter who is simply going to "dig all" anyhow.