The stick is the target you are teaching him to follow the stick if you want him to pick up a whiffle ball you place the ball on a table where the bird is standing then target the stick behind the ball so your bird goes to the stick and as he touches the ball click and reward soon he will realize that touching the ball gets him a treat just like touching the stick. Then progress to picking up the ball ad so on. The first part which you are teaching him now is to follow the stick; since he seems to understand that start moving the stick farther back so he has to come to the stick it could be a way for you to get him to leave his cage, keep moving back until he's standing in the door way. then if you can make a "T" perch that is the right height of his cage door off the door onto the perch. I think you get the idea he learns that going to the stick means he's going to get a treat or praise don't forget the praise sometimes that is the best treat.