projectpat

i have a polaris 99 slth 700 that i recentley replaced the stator on. i put evrything back together and got spark back but it has a major dead spot right off idle(you have to ease into the throttle) and it gits worse arter its been running a while. im pretty sure the timing is too far retarted . the clymer manuel dosent go over static timing very well and i am affraid of advancing it too far. i guess my first question is where do you line the timing marks up at while shootng it with a light, the middle or one side of the hole. do i need to try and get a static timing light like the manuel talks about? am i even on the right track with timing, (i know its not fuel). any help would be appresaited thanks.