pga tour players using aimpoint

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What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

Eight-foot putts are not typically stressful for PGA Tour pros, but the 8-foot par putt that Max Homa faced on Friday morning on the fifth at Augusta National had to be made if he was going to stay tied for the lead at the 2024 Masters. On the outside, he looked calm, but on the inside, he had to be feeling the pressure.

After both Tiger Woods and Jason Day finished the hole, the dance floor was Homa’s. With one foot on either side of his golf ball, he bent his right arm at about a 90-degree angle and held up his index finger and middle finger while staring at the hole. After backing up four paces, bending to take another look toward the hole, and then getting into his address position, Homa set his putter behind the ball. No practice strokes. He made a quick glance toward the cup, made his stroke and buried the putt.

“I mean, that is special,” said Colt Knost on the ESPN+ broadcast before Billy Ray Brown added, “That’s what champions do.”

Max Homa lines up a putt on the no. 9 green during the second round of the Masters Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network

But what was Homa doing with his fingers, which appeared to be what Will Zalatoris, Viktor Hovland, Keegan Bradley, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott and a growing number of other PGA Tour pros are doing? Like those other pros, Homa uses AimPoint Express. This green-reading technique was developed by Mark Sweeney, the man who created the AimPoint putting line that broadcasters like Golf Channel, NBC and CBS used to show viewers a virtual path a ball needed to travel to finish in the hole.

“AimPoint Express is a dramatic simplification of what is a very complicated computer program to figure out how the ball goes from Point A to Point B and goes into the hole,” Sweeney said. “AimPoint y]=Express takes about 100,000 lines of code and converts it into the play feeling how much side tilt there is in the putt.”

What television viewers did not see during the broadcast of Homa’s putt on the fifth hole was that he had not only straddled his golf ball before he putted, but that he also stood halfway between his golf ball and the hole for a few seconds and tried to feel the tilt of the putting surface. Through practice and some training, Homa and other golfers can feel the difference between a one-, two- and three-percent slope to one side or another using their feet.

Then, standing over their golf ball, they extend an arm and hold up the number of figures that correspond to the estimated number of degrees in the tilt they felt — one finger for a one-percent slope, two fingers for a two-percent slope and so on.

Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris both use AimPoint Express. (Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)

Sweeney accidentally discovered the relationship between the slope of a green, the length of a golfer’s arm and the width of a person’s fingers.

“I had a much more complicated method of reading greens prior to AimPoint Express,” said Sweeney. “But then I was teaching some young kids, 7- and 8-year-olds, and I had them put their thumb on the high side of the hole, just to get them aiming somewhere above the hole. It turns out that your thumb is perfect for one’s and two’s, it will get you close, but then we started experimenting with one finger per percent. We tested those reads against the math and it was insane how accurate it was. Like, it was within an inch or two every single time (from 20 feet).”

Knowing that, and seeing Homa on the fifth hole holding up two fingers, viewers familiar with AimPoint Express would know that Max was estimating that halfway to the hole, there was a two-perfect tilt in the green. From Homa’s perspective, his target on that putt was two fingers’ width to the right of the hole (probably about 4 inches right), and assuming he hit the putt directly at that target, he was right because the ball went in the cup.

Every week, pros can be seen practicing AimPoint Express and developing their sense of feel for slopes on the practice greens at PGA Tour events. Many of them bring a digital level, and as they stand along an intended putt line, they call out a slope percentage like one, two or three while their caddy looks at the level.

Surprisingly, Sweeney said, developing this skill is easy.

“Within about 15 minutes, most people are picking up half-degrees of slope,” he said. “People are much, much better at feeling slope than they think. Nobody is ever off by more than one percent. Like, it’s almost unheard of that a player is off by more than one percent. No one calls a one a three or a one a four because they are so dramatically different.”

Ben An doing slope detection exercises with his caddie at Riviera Country Club. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Sweeney claims that anybody, with a bit of practice, can accurately estimate to a half-percent. He also encourages golfers to calculate the slope along their putt’s length twice around halfway between the ball and the hole and use the bigger of the two estimations for their read. Some players, like Homa, take one reading and then turn around and repeat the estimation facing toward the ball to confirm their first reading.

In a Golf Channel interview, Homa said, “Your eyes can lie to you a lot, but your feet, typically, will never lie.”

Tiger Woods does not use AimPoint Express, and neither does Jordan Spieth or Jason Day. Brad Faxon, Loren Roberts and Ben Crenshaw never used it either. Some golfers have a green feel for green reading, seeing slopes and contours on the putting surface and understanding how putts will roll. However, many golfers are not blessed with this ability, and Sweeney likes telling poor green readers to practice more and that the skill will come with time and experience.

“As a coach, you have to take someone who doesn’t have a skill and give them that skill,” said Sweeney, who works with several tour pros and teaches lessons at Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. “How do you teach someone green reading if they don’t naturally see what a good green reader sees? I thought ‘Just go do it and you’ll get better,’ was a really crappy answer. It’s like a full-swing instructor saying to someone, ‘I know you’re slicing it off the tee, but just go hit a lot of balls and you’ll get better.'”

Tom Kim and his caddie practice reading greens with a digital level before the start of the Genesis Invitational. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Aimpoint Express removes the need to walk around a hole and see your intended putt from multiple angles, so for Sweeney, it does not slow play as some people think.

Sweeney postulates that the better a golfer gets at reading greens, the more time they can spend working on improving distance control and developing the quality of their putting stroke.

“It’s really helped me to read the greens, obviously, but it’s turned a lot of that into better speed,” Homa said on Golf Channel. “I’m shocked more people don’t do it, if I am being honest.”

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek

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AimPoint is the most popular green reading process on all of the Professional Tours Worldwide

All I do on the golf course revolves around AimPoint

--Stacy Lewis

Stacy Lewis, winner of the 2013 Women's British Open, and previously the #1 player in the world rankings, the first American to win the LPGA Triple Crown in 21 years, credits AimPoint for her low scores on the green. More than that, she says it's become a huge part of her whole game. "It changed the way I look at the greens, at my strategy going into the holes," she explains. "It's made me a smarter player knowing that the game will be easier; It's made me trust my reads, and I make more long putts than I did before."

Lewis finished the Open with a dramatic birdie-birdie finish, beating her nearest competitor with a two-stroke advantage. She acknowledges that reading greens using the AimPoint system gives her a competitive advantage. "I was one of the first ones to do it a few years ago and people thought I was crazy having a chart with numbers and a level," she says with a smile. "But now everyone is doing it."

This is what professional tour players are saying

Hunter Mahan, PGA Tour Player and Barclays Champion: “It’s like poker. It’s easy to learn, but it’s hard to master. I like it because it travels. I can feel flat with my feet, but it’s hard to find with your eyes.”

Jason Dufner, PGA Tour Player and PGA Champion: ”Now I have something to believe in on the greens.”

Adam Scott, PGA Tour Player and winner of the Masters: “When I stand over a six-footer I have a game plan. I know where the putt needs to go and that gives me great confidence. It also means the pressure is less on the long putts because anything inside six feet feels like it's in my comfort area."

Scott McCarron PGA Tour Player: “The only true way to read greens.”

J oseph Mayo, PGA Tour Instructor: "I'm not an AimPoint instructor nor am I affiliated with it in any way. I have no dog in the race. But, AimPoint flat out works. It's legit."

Christina Kim, LPGA Tour Player: "Cannot thank AimPointGolf enough for helping me realize that I love putting, and that putting isn't so hard! Evolve your game, learn it! Thank you to AimPointGolf for the great work. Being excited to putt after years of frustration is proof to me that this is the real deal.”

Hank Haney, PGA Tour Instructor: "Had a great time learning #AimpointExpress today in Vegas w @RadarGolfPro great teacher, great system can’t believe everyone doesn't use it."

Tour Player Who Use AimPoint

Tommy Armour III

Craig Barlow

Kevin Chappel

Jason Dufner

Brian Henninger

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Charles Howell III

Dustin Johnson

Austin Johnson

Zack Johnson

Hunter Mahon

Scott McCarron

Scott Piercy

D.A. Points

Ian Poulter

John Riegger

Justin Rose

Adam Scott

Daniel Summerhays

Julia Boland

Na Yeon Choi

Lauren Howe

Stacey Keating

Christina Kim

Katherine Kirk

Mindy Kim

Jee Young Lee

Stacy Lewis

Michele Redman

Dewi Claire Schreefel

INTERNATIONAL

Matthew Baldwin

Alejandro Canizares

Hao-tong Li

Eduardo Molinari

Andrew Sullivan

Yuko Fukuda Emma Jandel Mina Nakayama Misuzu Narita Yuko Saito Li Jia Yun

SYMETRA TOUR

Ryan McCormick Julia Roth Alps Tour Jean-Pierre Verselin

CHALLENGE TOUR

Anthony Snobeck

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What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

“I mean, that is special,” said Colt Knost on the ESPN+ broadcast before Billy Ray Brown added, “That’s what champions do.”

Max Homa lines up a putt on the no. 9 green during the second round of the Masters Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network

Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris both use AimPoint Express. (Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)

Sweeney accidentally discovered the relationship between the slope of a green, the length of a golfer’s arm and the width of a person’s fingers.

Surprisingly, Sweeney said, developing this skill is easy.

Ben An doing slope detection exercises with his caddie at Riviera Country Club. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

In a Golf Channel interview, Homa said, “Your eyes can lie to you a lot, but your feet, typically, will never lie.”

Tom Kim and his caddie practice reading greens with a digital level before the start of the Genesis Invitational. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Aimpoint Express removes the need to walk around a hole and see your intended putt from multiple angles, so for Sweeney, it does not slow play as some people think.

Sweeney postulates that the better a golfer gets at reading greens, the more time they can spend working on improving distance control and developing the quality of their putting stroke.

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek

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Aimpoint Putting: What is it & Does it actually Work?

Have you ever seen certain PGA Tour golfers stand behind their ball and have 1-3 fingers up, trying to read the green?

If you’re like most golfers, you’re probably wondering what in the heck they are doing. You might be asking, why aren’t you reading the green by squatting down behind the ball like everyone else?

These are good questions because most of us are used to reading greens in the conventional way . Most of us mark our ball, step behind it, bend down, try to see the break, mark our ball, go through our routine, and hit the putt. Some players also read the putt from behind the hole, while others do it from the side as well to see any slopes.

When you see someone trying to measure the slope with their feet or hold their fingers up, it’s a newer method called AimPoint . The unique aimpoint putting method uses physics to read greens, not so much your eyes.

But most of us don’t think about physics when it comes to golf, so a lot of golfers don’t understand how it works. In this post, we’ll hope to clarify some of the common misconceptions and inform you more about this putting style to see if it can make you a better putter.

How to Use AimPoint – Basic Overview

AimPoint is a way to read greens unlike anything you’ve probably ever tried out before.

So where did this system come from?

History of AimPoint

This unique system was founded by Mark Sweeney, who said in an interview, “The easiest way to describe it is that it’s a simplified way to read a putt. You just need to know one factor about every putt and get a correct break on the putt.”

The one factor that is referring too is the slope, so that you can read greens effectively.

He created this system himself after watching TV, struggling to read putts with his coach, and used his software development to predict how a ball would behave on the green.

After a few months, he developed a product that was actually picked up and used by the Golf Channel from 2007 to 2012. From this product, he simplified it dramatically and created the Express system that is used today.

Mark has taught this method to over 100 PGA Tour players, including five players who were ranked number one in the world! He was also named by Golf Digest as one of the best 50 Teachers in America.

Now, he teaches this method to other instructors who teach it to amateurs and professionals around the world. Mark is still involved and even does occasional lessons from the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

Getting Started

I also want to clarify this method is best learned from a certified AimPoint instructor.

Watching a video on YouTube or reading this blog post will help, but I can’t cover every detail and it’s best learned hands on. Instead, this is more of an overview of what it is (and what it isn’t) to help you better understand this green reading method.

Since it’s best with an instructor, we don’t want to give away every detail in this post. Instead, we’ll give you a brief overview of how it works to see if you want to learn more from a certified instructor. If you want to watch a video overview, this YouTube video will help you out too.

Here are the three steps to help you better understand the AimPoint system.

Step 1: Feel the Slope

Step one is getting your feet involved to feel the slope.

This is a big shift for anyone who starts out learning this system. If you’re like most people, you might notice a slope as you walk on the green or around the hole, but it’s probably not part of your routine. What makes this green reading method so unique is that you incorporate your feet into green reading.

With AimPoint, your feet, not your eyes, are the starting point. I know it sounds a little weird, but stay with me.

Use Your Weight to Understand The Slope

Once you mark your ball, the first step is to stand about one pace behind the golf ball with your feet shoulder width apart. Then, you want to feel which foot has most of the weight, on a scale of 1-5 (the average for most slopes is about a two). As Mark Sweeney said, “The most effective way to find slope is by feeling it, not by seeing it. Our body is very well tuned to adjust to the slope.”

Let’s say you have a 10-foot right to left putt. When you stand behind it, you will feel that your left foot has more weight than your right due to the slope (meaning it breaks right to left). After judging the severity of your slope, you think it’s about a two on the scale of 1-5.

For longer putts, there is an extra step as there is more room between you and the hole. After doing the first part, you then walk halfway up between the hole and your golf ball and do the same thing. The important part here is to not step in your line or any of your competitors’ line either.

From here, you should have a clear number based on what you felt in your feet. The more slope you feel in your feet, the higher the number. The more straight a putt feels (or if your weight is 50-50) then it will be a zero or one.

Mark stated in an interview from the YouTube video above, “90% of reading the green is done with your feet. I would say only about 10% is actually done with your eyes.” For most players, this is a huge difference, as it’s probably flip-flopped 10-90 in the traditional way of reading greens.

Step 2: Aim Your Putt

Once you have your estimated slope number (let’s say it’s a two), then stand behind your ball and hold up your index and middle fingers. You will hold up two fingers that correspond to the two you identified for the slope in step one. If you thought it had more slope, like three or four, you would use the corresponding number of fingers to line up the putt.

The total number of fingers represents the side tilt.

From here, extend your arms out fully to the right of the hole (since the putt in this example is breaking from right to left). The finger on the outside, in this case the middle finger, is your starting point. This is where you want the golf ball to start so that it will take the break and hopefully find the bottom of the cup.

If you’re someone who uses a line on your golf ball or the markings that come with certain golf balls, line it up to this spot. From there, trust your stroke and see if you read it correctly.

Step 3: Make Everything

As they say on their website, the last step is to “make everything.”

While I love optimism, I think it’s important to note that you’re still playing golf. If this was an overnight miracle method, every golfer would use it.

Some find success, while others don’t. Some buy into the system, while others are skeptical of bringing physics into their golf game. But if you’re committed, keep an open mind, and stick with it, then it can help your golf game.

While I doubt you will “make everything”, it might turn your putting in the right direction. Never forget putting a fickle part of the game. As legendary ball striker Ben Hogan once said, “There is no similarity between golf and putting. They are two different games, one played in the air, and the other is on the ground.”

Finding an AimPoint Instructor or Clinic

Now that you know a little bit about this system, it might be time to take it to the next level. If you’re curious and want to learn more, I suggest finding a certified AimPoint Putting instructor near you. In only an hour together, you can learn the entire system and start practicing it in the real world.

While the overview above sounds simple, it doesn’t factor in longer putts, double breaking putts, straight putts, and slope (up or down). Fast greens or slow greens will also need to be factored in. This is all covered much more in-depth in your lesson with other technology and gadgets to show you how it works. Plus, it’s nice to see someone use the technique in front of you to get your mind on board.

The best way to find them is to visit their “ Find an Instructor ” tab and search based on your zip code. Then you can see who is in your area and do some additional research on them to contact and set up your first appointment.

Or, you can see if there is a clinic in your area as well. This will help you learn the method in a group setting and potentially meet some like-minded golfers too.

The great thing about this system is that you don’t need to do tons of lessons to get results.

Once you learn the fundamentals, you’re good to go. You might have a second lesson if you have any questions, but in my case I understood the science behind it in only one 60-minute lesson.

FAQs About the AimPoint Express Green Reading System

If you’re like most players, you might still have some questions about this unique way of reading greens. If so, we have a

What are the benefits to AimPoint?

According to their website, there are a ton of benefits, but some of the biggest ones are:

Understand your speed better. They claim that when you understand the physics of putting and how the speed affects the putt, you’ll hit better putts. By mastering your speed on the greens, you will have fewer strokes on the greens and avoid costly three putts.
Make better decisions. As they mention on their website and we talk about a lot on the Left Rough, nearly 40% or more of all shots happen on the greens. So the better you can perform with the flat stick, your scores should drop quickly. AimPoint can help you make better decisions, which, in turn, should give you more confidence on the greens.
Trusted by top players. AimPoint has been used to win arguably the biggest tournament of the year in the Masters. Adam Scott brought this system to the big stage and delivered. If it worked for him, it’s safe to say it can work for you if you learn and trust it.
Develop a trusted system on the greens. One thing I see with so many amateur players is a lack of routine with putting. A lot of players have one for their full swing, but when it comes to putting, it’s different on every hole. This system can help give players a sense of comfort on the green with a repeatable routine. This should help build confidence as you go through the routine over and over again on every green.

Are there any downsides?

It’s important to understand this is a method to help you read greens more effectively. It’s not some huge swing change that could potentially ruin your swing and crush your confidence. So I wouldn’t say there are any downsides to learning and implementing this method.

But if things are going well with your putting, I wouldn’t throw a wrench in it and try an entirely new process. Instead, I would try out this method if you’re in a slump or feel like you’ve always had a lot of room to improve on the greens.

Is AimPoint putting legal?

Yes, this green reading method is 100% legal during casual rounds or competitive events. Their website even states that, “Five world number one players have worked with Mark Sweeney and use AimPoint. They have won numerous titles while using AimPoint and have credited AimPoint for much of their putting success.”

So if you end up liking this method, you can use it for any type of competitive round.

How do you read greens with your fingers?

Reading greens with your fingers is the basis of the AimPoint method.

For a lot of golfers, this is a very foreign concept, as most of us were taught to read greens with our eyes. An overwhelming majority of players learn how to read a putt from studying it from behind the ball and behind the hole.

But the AimPoint method as noted above uses your fingers and feet to evaluate the slope of the green. Then, you pick your line and go through your normal putting routine.

While the tips above will help you learn the basics, it’s encouraged to get a lesson from a certified instructor instead. They will give you hands-on training and teach you the method in depth to help you learn this new technique.

How much do AimPoint lessons cost?

There isn’t a set fee for a lesson on this green reading method. Each instructor will charge their own rate, which is usually available on their website.

Which professional golfers use AimPoint for green reading?

There are a number of professional golfers that use this method. Perhaps the most well known is Adam Scott, who is a multiple winner on the PGA Tour and won the Masters with this method. According to their website, thousands of people have learned and implemented this method, including:

75,000 amateurs
5,000 junior golfers
200 Tour Pros
300 Instructors

Other notable professional golfers include former world number one Stacy Lewis, Dustin Johnson (and his caddie Austin Johnson), Justin Rose, Brian Gay, Ben Crane, and others.

Do you still take practice strokes?

Yes, this method will help you find the break of the green, but I would still recommend having your own pre-shot putting routine. This way you can feel the speed that you need to hit the putt and AimPoint will help you with the starting line.

My only suggestion is to make sure this method doesn’t slow down the pace of play . While it might take some time getting used to, it should become automatic after a few rounds.

How do I become an AimPoint instructor?

If you’re a golf professional, you can go through their training process so that you become certified and can teach others. Here is a brief overview of the process:

Submit an application online, which should be approved or denied within 30 days.
Go through a 6-hour training that is scheduled once per month in Orlando, Florida. During this training you will learn the methodology, stimp adjustments, double breaks, adjusting for big slopes, and more.

After which, you will become a level 1 certified instructor. When I checked, the cost for the in-person training in Orlando is $1,950 and a $295 yearly license fee as well. If you’re interested in becoming certified, make sure to check out their website so you can begin the process.

How does the plumb bomb work in golf?

It’s important to note that AimPoint is not the plumb bob method . These are two entirely different ways to read greens.

But if I had to choose one style over the other, I would say the AimPoint method is more effective. Plus, more elite players and professional golfers use this method over plumb bob and it’s never a bad idea to try out what they’re doing.

Final Thoughts

If you struggle to read greens, this strategy might be your savior. Or, it might be a waste of time, but honestly, you don’t know until you try it. If it works for elite players Adam Scott, clearly there is some truth to this method.

In my 20+ years of golf experience, I’ve found that everyone learns differently. Some players learn visually, others with feel, and others with a mix of the two. But at the end of the day, it’s all about finding what works for you and gives you the most confidence with a putter.

While it’s different from the standard way to read greens, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth it to give it a shot. Sometimes thinking outside the box will help you get new results and take your game to the next level.

Plus, if you go through a lesson, try it on the putting green or golf course and don’t get results, you can always go back to your old routine. Or, you can take bits and pieces of this method and add it to your putting routine.

Whether you find it helpful or not, it will help you understand how to use your feet more in green reading instead of just your eyes. Hopefully this can help you get the ball started on the right line so you can drain more putts.

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What is aimpoint how to use and understand the putt-reading technique.

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Everyone in golf has seen it used, but not everyone understands how to use it.

In “Live From The Players,” PGA Tour pros and AimPoint founder Mark Sweeney describe how to implement the green-reading technique.

Analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley also debate whether or not they believe the method works, or if it’s just madness. Watch the video above.

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Jordan Spieth and Michael Greller Will Use AimPoint to Get a Putting Edge

Author: Associated Press

Raymond Carlin III-USA Today Sports

At Spieth’s request, Greller has been studying up on AimPoint, the methodology of reading greens that starts with using feet to feel the slope of the green and then holding up fingers for each percent of slope.

The former sixth-grade math teach is going back to school.

That would be Michael Greller, who left his old job to caddie for Jordan Spieth in 2013. At Spieth’s request, Greller has been studying up on AimPoint, the methodology of reading greens that starts with using feet to feel the slope of the green and then holding up fingers for each percent of slope.

Among those who use it are Dustin Johnson and his brother, Austin, whom other caddies say has mastered the technique.

Spieth said Greller met with John Graham, the putting coach for Justin Thomas, for a crash course. And he has been talking to Austin Johnson.

Never mind that Spieth already is among the best with the putter.

“I told him I try to look for an edge,” Spieth said. “It would be cool to gain a little edge by learning a skill you don’t have. In the past I would do Trackman seminars, stuff that here or there could mean a stroke.”

Spieth said he doesn’t use AimPoint and described his putting as more instincts than anything technical. That said, his description of his 50-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole at Royal Birkdale when he won the 2017 British Open sounded like more than instincts.

He said in 2017 about that putt, “I knew it was going to bend a little bit to the right as it went down off the slope to the bunker, and then when it gets to the valley, the hole is on a 3-degree slope going the other way, into and off the right, so it’s going to be a downhill left-to-right, and then it double breaks into uphill right-to-left.”

Spieth laughed when reminded of that description.

“What I was trying to explain is it was a significant double-breaker,” he said.

TALLEY SEEKS TORNADO RELIEF

Emma Talley is geared so much toward charity that she once flew to Puerto Rico to join PGA Tour players and help raise money for hurricane relief efforts despite not having any connection to the Puerto Rico Open.

Her latest effort has hit way too close to home.

Talley, a former U.S. Women’s Amateur and NCAA champion at Alabama, shared a GoFundMe link for tornado relief efforts in her native Kentucky. She posted a vivid image Monday on Instagram of the destruction in Princeton, the small town where she was raised.

“It got beat up by the tornado a few days ago. My mom says it is way worse than the pictures,” Talley wrote. “So many of our friends lost EVERYTHING. My parents have been going through rubble of friends homes to try and find sentimental items.”

Talley, who finished 70th on the LPGA Tour money list and reached the CME Group Tour Championship this year, is getting plenty of support from her peers. Justin Thomas grew up in Louisville and played junior golf with Talley, who at 27 is one year younger.

“Every cent/dollar helps,” Thomas wrote in sharing the link.

APGA EXEMPTIONS

Ryan Alford was a high school teammate of Sam Burns in Louisiana, and they might be competing again, this time on a bigger stage.

Alford received one of two Advocate Professional Golf Association exemptions to play in the Farmers Insurance Open, as the tour geared toward providing a path for minorities is starting to take root. The other went to Kamaiu Johnson, who was supposed to play at Torrey Pines last year until a positive COVID-19 test.

Alford learned to play from his father and took part in the First Tee Northwest Louisiana in Shreveport, eventually representing the chapter in the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach in 2011. He and Burns, a two-time PGA Tour winner this year, played at Calvary Baptist Academy.

Burns tied for 18th at Torrey Pines last year.

Alford, who played at Louisiana Tech, won back-to-back events on the APGA Tour last year at the TPC Scottsdale and Valhalla.

“Every competitive golfer dreams of someday playing on the PGA Tour,” he said.

Johnson was kept from playing last year after the positive test. He wound up getting exemptions to Pebble Beach, the Honda Classic and Bay Hill.

Meanwhile, the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational will expand to 36 holes, on the North Course at Torrey Pines on Saturday and the South Course on Sunday. The PGA Tour events end on a Saturday. Golf Channel will televise the Sunday round, the first time an APGA Tour event will be on TV.

LOVE’S MOTHER

Davis Love III says his mother, Penta B. Love, died Monday after a long struggle following a stroke. She was 94 and had been living in St. Simons Island, Georgia, since 1977 when her late husband, respected teaching professional Davis Love Jr., took a job at Sea Island. He died in a plane crash in 1988.

“While everyone in our family is saddened at the loss of our family leader, we are blessed with so many great memories and rejoice that our faith tells us she is at peace eternally,” Love said.

In his book, “Every Shot I Take,” Love said his mother was a good player and he grew up trying to beat her at golf, which took him into his early high school years. The former PGA champion and two-time Ryder Cup captain says his mother constantly was on him about his putting.

“Her favorite thing to say, in regard to my putting, is, ‘Davis, you’re reading too much break,’” Love wrote in his book. “I’ll say, ‘You know, Mom, these greens on tour are a little faster than what we’ve got at home.’ She is never moved. ‘Too much break, Davis, too much break.’”

REMEMBERING KAYE KESSLER

Kaye Kessler first wrote about 10-year-old Jack Nicklaus as a sports writer in Ohio and went on to cover 126 men’s professional majors.

Kessler was 11 days short of his 98th birthday when he died on Thursday, according to longtime friend Keith Schneider, the general manager at Castle Pines Golf Club who first met Kessler when he was sports editor of the Columbus (Ohio) Journal Citizen.

Kessler started with the Columbus Citizen while in high school and spent some four decades covering golf and Ohio State before moving in 1985 to Colorado, where he stayed involved in golf through the now-defunct International tournament on the PGA Tour.

When he had to miss the Memorial in 2020 during the pandemic, Nicklaus mentioned his absence and said, “Not many people today can start a conversation with me by saying, ‘Jack, I remember when you were just 10 years old.’”

Kessler received the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2001 and the Memorial Tournament Journalism Award in 2002 and he was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.

North Berwick will host final qualifying for the Women’s British Open next summer, where three players will earn spots in the field at Muirfield. North Berwick previously held the 2008 Women’s British Amateur and has been a final qualifying site for the men’s British Open six times. ... The 13th edition of the Els for Autism Pro-Am raised more than $1 million, taking its total to about $13 million since the tournament began. The money goes toward the Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida, for children with autism, including Ernie Els’ son, Ben. ... The PGA Tour’s “super season” in 2020-21 that involved 51 tournaments with six majors allowed a record 124 players to earn at least $1 million on the golf course.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Brad Kennedy at No. 385 was the only player from the top 400 in the world ranking who played last week. He was runner-up in the Victorian PGA Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“The charity dollars is what’s most important, so the more money I can get in my hands, the more I can give away.” — Bubba Watson on his decision to sign up for the Saudi International.

AimPoint Putting: The Best Approach To Master Reading Greens?

Green reading is challenging for every golfer, as the slightest misjudgment can send your ball significantly offline. A few years back, I encountered the AimPoint Putting system. Golf coach and founder Mark Sweeney was adamant about simplifying putting for every golfer.

As with everything, I was skeptical, even after the endorsements from Stacy Lewis, Justin Rose, and Lydia Ko. However, after recommending the DVD to my playing partner struggling for accuracy, I saw the results over time.

Once you understand AimPoint putting and have your green reading down pact, I recommend reading our guide on how to putt . This helps you improve your putting stroke to combine accuracy with distance control.

Tips For Using AimPoint Putting

What is aimpoint putting.

What Are The Benefits Of Aim Point Putting?

Step 1 – Study The AimPoint Express Tutorial

Step 2 – feel the tilt, step 3 – judge the degree of tilt , step 4 – line up your ball up at aimpoint, step 5 – putt the ball, how do you find the slope of aimpoint, which pga tour players use aimpoint, pros & cons of aimpoint putting.

Improves your ability to read greens
Works to enhance your accuracy
Brings consistency to your putting
Helps you enter a pre-shot routine
Designed to reduce 3 putts
It takes time to understand the system
It is not entirely accurate
Read our full article
Familiarize yourself with the AimPoint Putting chart
Straddle the line of your putt at the start and middle to gauge the slope direction
Assign a value of 1, 2, 3, or 4% to the slope, depending on how severe it is
Close one eye when holding up fingers to read the line
The outside edge of your hand is the aim point for your putt.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by AimPoint Golf (@aimpointgolf)

The AimPoint Putting System was developed by Mark Sweeney to simplify the alignment of putts with excess slope. Tour professionals and amateurs find that the 10-second AimPoint putting method makes it easier to determine where to aim every putt for superior accuracy.

The system gives you a better understanding of how severely the green slopes and the ideal point to aim. It also provides golfers with a structured pre-shot routine system that helps them enter the zone.

Sweeney developed the AimPoint Green Reading Chart, which suggests that every finger counts as a degree of tilt. When you have an idea of the slope, stand behind the ball as you hold up the necessary fingers to the high side of the cup.

The edge of your outside finger is the aim point, and if correct will propel your ball toward the cup.

What Are The Benefits Of Aim Point Putting?

AimPoint helps golfers understand the undulation of a green and how a putt will break. It demystifies green reading for the average golfer and aids the pros in maintaining consistent accuracy.

Besides the alignment benefits, some golfers suggest it assists with their pre-putt routine as they enter the zone while searching for the line.

When these factors combine, it helps golfers start the ball on the intended line and finish close to or on target. As a result, average golfers have a better chance of bagging a 2-putt, while low handicappers and pros may drain it.

For a more detailed guide on the topic, review our guide on how to read greens .

How Do The AimPoint Putting Technique Work?

In the below sections, I will guide you through the steps for mastering the AimPoint Express Putting System. For optimal results, I suggest watching the video, which is the AimPoint Express explained in detail.

Conversely, if you have the dollars available, you may consider taking Sweeney’s lesson for $500 per hour . Since most average golfers lack this level of disposable income, you can follow my guide below.

The tutorial explains how each degree of slope on the green represents one finger width. It is up to you to judge the severity of the green slope. If you feel the green has five degrees of loft, you hold five fingers to the high side of the cup, and the edge of your pinky finger is your target.

Once familiar with the AimPoint Green Reading Chart, head to the practice green and employ it in your training session. The first step is to pick a target hole and place a ball on the green.

Next, stand with one leg on either side of the ball, and determine which side is the low side. If your left leg stands on the shorter side, the ball breaks from right to left, and you must aim toward the right side of the cup.

Renowned instructor Jamie Donaldson shows the chaps from Meandmygolf (video above) how this step is to execute.

When you know which way the green slopes, I recommend walking a quarter of the way to the cup and standing over the line with one leg on each side. Again, feel how the green slopes and assign it a value. Then place a tee at that point, and remember your estimate.

Next, walk halfway to the cup, and stand over the line to see the tilt level from the high to the low side. Assign a value to this point based on the intensity of the tilt. With this in mind, proceed back to the strike zone, and stand behind your ball to prepare for alignment.

Use the highest slope degree value determined at the quarter and halfway points to the cup. For example, if the quarter mark is a 2 and the halfway mark has 3 degrees of tilt, you go with 3.

When the high point sits to the right of the cup, hold up your index, middle, and ring finger to the right of the cup. The outside of your ring finger is your Aimpoint, based on the information you gathered.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Erika Larkin PGA (@erikalarkingolf)

After completing all the AimPoint Express Putting program steps, use the alignment aid on your ball to point at the target line. Next, place your putter face behind the ball, square to the target, and prepare for your backstroke.

Step 3 in the below video by Erika Larkin shows you how to maximize the use of your golf ball alignment aid for better accuracy.

Now that your alignment is watertight, you are ready to putt. Pay attention to the roll of your ball and the break of green to identify if you employed the AimPoint Green Reading guide correctly.

For example, if the putt breaks from right to left and your ball stops 3 feet below the cup, you need to aim marginally further right. Conversely, when your golf ball finishes right of the cup, you must aim marginally left to catch the slope down to the cup.

Adjust your setup accordingly until you have the correct line, then stroke multiple putts to work on your distance control.

My buddy that I mentioned earlier found that employing this drill in his putting training helped improve his understanding and judgment of sloped putts.

You find the slope of the AimPoint golf system by standing on either side of the ball to determine which side the green slopes to. Once you have the angle, you test the severity of the undulation by standing on either side of the line, halfway to the cup.

This gives you an idea of how many degrees the green slopes and how many fingers you should aim for the high side of the hole.

Adam Scott, Justin Rose, and Jordan Spieth are three high-profile golfers who have used or currently use the AimPoint Putting Chart system. In addition, LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka dabbled with the system when he plied his trade on the PGA Tour.

Besides the men, LPGA Tour star Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko also employ the system in their putting routine. It must have the desired effect, as the two stars have notched up an impressive 32 LPGA Tour victories.

That answers the question: what is Aimpoint in putting? As you notice, it is a genius system designed by Mark Sweeney, which has aided amateurs and professionals on the green. Although it is not the holy grail to your putting woes, it is a start to keep you on line.

The green-reading chart does take some work to perfect, but with the assistance of my 5-step guide and the DVD , it is easy to execute.

If you struggle to read the line and understand the slope of the green, I recommend trying the AimPoint Putting System to see why it has worked for the average golfer and the best in our game.

How To Put Backspin On A Golf Ball
Best Putter Grips

Matt Callcott-Stevens

Matt has played golf since he was 4 years old and has written over 150 articles at GolfSpan since 2021. Matt specializes in product reviews using his postgraduate degree in Sports Marketing from Johan Cruyff Institute. Matt has a handicap index of 10.8 and currently plays weekly at Pilar Golf Course near his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He also loves his Callaway Odyssey Exo Rossie putter and likes a pepper steak pie with curry gravy at the turn. You can connect with him on LinkedIn .

Best score : 70
Favorite club : Callaway Odyssey Exo Rossie
Favorite ball : Srixon Q-Star Tour
Favorite food at the turn : Pepper steak pie with curry gravy
Matt Callcott-Stevens https://www.golfspan.com/author/matt-callcott-stevens Achievable Golf Goals To Lower Your Score in 2024
Matt Callcott-Stevens https://www.golfspan.com/author/matt-callcott-stevens Titleist Pro V1 vs Pro V1x: Differences, Pros, Cons
Matt Callcott-Stevens https://www.golfspan.com/author/matt-callcott-stevens 7 Best Golf Balls For Slow Swing Speeds: Pros, Cons, Reviews
Matt Callcott-Stevens https://www.golfspan.com/author/matt-callcott-stevens 5 Best Golf Swing Analysis Apps: iPhone, Android, & Free

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The World’s Leader in Green-Reading Science, Methods, and Coaching

Proven results: used by multiple Major Champions and World #1’s

For over 20 years, AimPoint has enabled multiple tour players across the world to win major titles. With over 99% accuracy and over 100,000 lines of algorithms, professional and amateur golf enthusiasts use our industry leading software to continually improve their putting and revolutionize their play.

AimPoint has proven results with World #1’s on the PGA Tour and LPGA, Masters Champions, Fed Ex Cup Champions, Major Champions, Olympic Golf Medalists, and Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup Winners.

Who else is using AimPoint?

50% of pga tour winners.

Top players in the world such as Viktor Hovland, Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose and Adam Scott have used AimPoint to win tournaments

7 World #1’s

Taught by AimPoint’s founder and developer, Mark Sweeney, these world #1’s received expertise from one of the Best Teachers in America as ranked by Golf Digest

Half of the World Top 20

Half of the top 20 men and women players in the world currently use AimPoint

Constantly innovating, evolving and regenerating players worldwide

Our TV Virtual Putting Line is groundbreaking technology and the first of its kind in the industry. This Emmy Award winning technology allows for the graphical insertion of optimal putt overlays into golf broadcasts, adding drama and unparalleled opportunity for the viewer.

AimPoint features a whole host of industry-first features such as Wind Adjustments, Drop Point Read and Entry Speeds, but our most popular by far is our Green Heat Map. Indicating slope severity and in which direction putts break, this specialized technology gives golfers more confidence to make strategic decisions with their putting. Our Green Heat Map allows players to truly understand the green and its slopes, meaning they can enhance their aggressiveness of play and ultimately lower their scores.

AimPoint Golf first innovated green heat maps to visually show slope in 2005 and has provided them to players, golf courses, architects, and major golf tournaments ever since.

AimPoint Golf was the first to create and patent angular AimCharts in 2003 which were then used all over the world by tour players and amateur golfers to better understand break. AimCharts where also used to validate the AimPoint Express green-reading method which has become the most used and accurate system in the world.

If you’d like to find out more about AimPoint then use the email link here

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A new green-reading formula is catching on with pros. Here's how it works

If you've read anything that I've written before, you'll probably know I'm always interested in the areas of the game that pros think a lot about but amateurs don't. Green reading is one of those areas—if not the biggest areas of all.

Yes, pro golfers work hard on the mechanics of their putting stroke. But often, they see that stroke as something of a means to an end—not particularly difficult, but rather a problem solved with a little hard work and repetition.

Green reading is where they make their money.

Judging what the green around you is doing—and how best to navigate along it—is the essential ingredient for good putting. It's why good players sweat over it—and recently, a new system has emerged on tour that is helping players do it.

A green-reading formula

Over the years, Ralph Bauer, a Canada-based putting coach who works with multiple PGA Tour players, spotted a problem.

"So many golfers miss a putt and they don't know why. They don't know if they misread it or pushed or pulled it or mis-judged the speed," he says. "My focus has been on trying to remove as many of those variables as possible."

When the world locked down during COVID in 2020, and with more time on his hands, Bauer paired with an app engineer and developed the Tour Read app.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ralph Bauer (@ralphbauergolf)

The app uses the gyroscope within the iPhone to measure the exact slope on the green once you lay it down on the greens. Then, Bauer's app pairs that data, along with information about the speed of the green itself, to feed a green-reading algorithm that instantly spits out the exact read of the putt.

"It's a system I developed over years with real golfers, through trial-and-error," Bauer says.

The app is, of course, illegal to use in competitions, but it's also not designed to be used that way. The app itself is a practice tool to help players work on their green-reading on the practice green. The goal for players is to be matching what the app is measuring with what they feel in their feet. Players have to make a judgement call on the degree of slope, and once they do that, the formula within the app will measure the exact break. Players can then apply that formula in their heads when they’re out on the course.

To give you an idea of what the end result looks like, here's an example of a few reads the app will generate, based on a green that's running about 10 on the Stimpmeter.

/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/puttlength.jpg

It’s a different approach—a deeply formulaic one—but one that’s gaining traction on tour with a growing number of success stories.

Marcus Potter, a fellow putting coach who uses the Tour Read app with many of his players, including recent PGA Tour winner Lee Hodges, is a fan.

"It helps quantify a lot of things, which is really helpful to guys who may struggle reading greens," Potter says.

If nothing else, it helps provide players an alternative method to give them more confidence in their reads.

I've actually started using the method myself recently and found it really helpful. If you're interested, you can hear me break it down in the most recent episode of the Golf IQ podcast below.

More from Golf Digest

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Why AimPoint Will Save Your Putting: A Basic Introduction

Over the last 10 years, golf has changed dramatically and there is a constant push for technology. For years, club companies have made a push for more distance to create the “longest club ever.” What many golfers forget to realize is that about 30 percent of all strokes will occur on the putting green, so why isn’t there technology for sinking more putts? Well, there is and it’s changing the way players of all skill levels learn to read greens.

About six years ago, Mark Sweeney developed a system “which can accurately predict optimum putting parameters and putt trajectories from any point on a green to any other point.” In layman’s terms: He developed a way to give you the correct read of any putt from anywhere on a putting green. I was skeptical at first but having a background as a civil engineer piqued my interest.

AimPoint is similar to a science experiment. The more variables you have in an experiment, the more your results tend to vary; the fewer the variables, the more precise the results. AimPoint strives to isolate each variable that occurs on a putting green and the golfer basically plugs them into an AimPoint chart.

Let me elaborate, for this example a golfer hits an approach shot to 15 feet and is getting ready to read the break of his simple one plane putt. Most of the time, golfers are playing a guessing game based off of past experiences and there is no methodology to how much the putt will break. With AimPoint, the same golfer will now answer a few quick questions to systematically determine the break of the putt and it’s surprisingly easy.

1.) What is the length of the putt?

This is generally simple and can be your best estimation of how long your putt is.

2.) What is the slope of the putt?

This one is a bit tricky and will take a little practice. The severity of slope on any putt is generally between 1 and 4 percent. In my time using AimPoint, I’ve observed most of my putts are about 2 percent and rarely get to 4 percent. Getting yourself a digital level can help you hone this skill further.

3.) What angle is the putt to the slope?

You don’t need to be an engineer to solve this equation but this does take a bit of practice. Essentially if you were to draw a line from your ball to the hole, and then lay your club down in the same direction of the break, the two lines intersect. What is the angle between the two.

4.) What is the stimp (speed) of the green?

Some courses post their current green speed for the day but it’s always best to estimate your own stimp.

That’s it. Once you have all the information the only variable left is referred to as capture speed. All AimPoint calculations assume your putt will lay to rest about six to nine inches past the hole on every putt. You take this information, plug it into your “AimChart” and you have your read.

At first it might seem daunting to roll through all these variables but with practice you or your regular caddie will become very proficient in gathering all the information in less than 30 seconds.

So why waste another $400 on a driver that is the “longest ever” and spend a few dollars on learning a new skill that will revolutionize the way you read the putting green. If you don’t believe me, feel free to ask PGA Tour Pro Justin Rose (whose putting performance at the Ryder Cup sparked a historic comeback) or LPGA Tour Pro Stacey Lewis (who has won four tournaments in 2012 and LPGA Player of the Year), or any of the over 60 Tour pros who are currently “Aimpoint-ing.”

Bettinardi Putter Photos- Kuchar Wins w/ #1

Summit Golf Brands appoints Nolan as non-executive chairman

Scott is a Certified Personal Coach at GolfTEC Main Line in Villanova, PA and also the Head Men's Golf Coach @ Division III Rosemont College. Each day he utilizes 3-D Motion Measurements, Foresight Launch Monitors, and high speed video to help each of his students achieve their specific goals. Past experience include owning and and operating the Yur Golf Swing Teaching Academy in Philadelphia. He started my golfing career at Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova, Penn., and spent time at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla. In his short 7 year instruction career he as taught over 5,000 golf lessons. He currently works with many of the top local Amateur golfers in the Philadelphia area, and many of the best Junior golfers. Teaching golf has always been my passion and with my civil engineering and philosophy background from Villanova University, I am able bring interesting perspective and effective techniques to my instruction.

31 Comments

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Jun 16, 2014 at 12:38 am

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Jun 10, 2014 at 7:54 pm

It works.. Gillisgolf.com

Apr 17, 2014 at 1:26 pm

There might be one or two other items in the running, but the basic AimPoint class I took last year is solidly top-3 in the best-money-I-ever-spent-on-golf-instruction category.

After a 3-year layoff from golf (newborn) my putting skill and touch was gone. I got a long-overdue putter fitting (which helped some) then I took the AimPoint single-break class and it changed my putting nearly overnight. Skills I have now that I didn’t before: I *always* know which way it will break — don’t laugh, I used to just read the break wrong (visually) A LOT!. I also know the distance of my putts down to the foot, know whether the putt is breaking a little vs. a lot, and a good idea of the stimps without a stimp meter or anything weird, just using the chart. I now make everything up to 5-feet pretty easily and if I leave 20-30 footers they are tap-ins.

One fo the more intangible things is that by following the charts, and seeing putts drop, it helped me get back a bit more of that intrinsic “feel” for the right capture speed. It’s hard to describe the feeling but I’m not trying to “die” the ball into the cup anymore, and I don’t often run it 6-feet (or more!) past the hole.

Don’t get me wrong, I still miss putts and make bad reads, but at least I’m in the ballpark much more with my misses than I used to. I make a high percentage of 10-15 footers now, where in the past those were almost automatic misses.

About the speed of play stuff: It has been a full season since I started with AimPoint and I often forget to even get out the chart book especially if I’m playing my home course — I would be even more accurate if I did use it, probably. When I do use the chart I glance at it once or twice per round (usually for putts in 15-20 foot territory). I would definitely bring the charts along on a new course where the stimp is way different from my home course. My playing partners have no idea what I’m doing — I stroll around on the green and look at lines, I plumb-bob a little, then drain it (usually). The other guys take longer than me, and then they usually miss.

I didn’t intend to write a book here, but I wanted to give real-world feedback. I am super happy with the results. It was a bit to choke down the price of the class, but honestly I have to admit it was well worth the expense. I would however not really recommend any of their other courses that talk about double-breakers or 50-foot lag putts. The statistical averages on those putts are so low, that I don’t think any kind of systematic practice will make a measurable difference, and surely not worth an additional $200 or whatever. Up to 20-feet, definitely. This isn’t my opinion, Dave Pelz’s research and Every Shot Counts both detail the statistics that beyond 20 or 30 feet, you will miss, Pro or not.

Dec 20, 2013 at 3:58 pm

you still have to read the break.

Feb 11, 2014 at 2:54 pm

The AimPoint charts give you the amount of break for a distance, slope and Stimp.

Aug 31, 2013 at 7:46 pm

Unfortunately instructors are limited in florida of all places. Most if not all are in Orlando. Disappointed

Pingback: Why AimPoint Will Save Your Putting: A Basic Introduction | JR's site

Scott Yurgalevicz

Mar 1, 2013 at 11:20 pm

check out the aimpoint website. They have instructors world wide. http://aimpointgolf.com/instructors.asp

Mar 2, 2013 at 7:11 am

Not in Chile, not even in South America 😛

Mar 1, 2013 at 9:52 pm

What happen if I don’t live in the States, so I can’t get formal instruction. I can’t use the method? Is there an online tutorial?

Mar 1, 2013 at 11:34 am

Scott- Is an Aimpoint lesson with an instructor basically the same as going to one of the clinics?

Mar 1, 2013 at 12:53 pm

I would say yes. I would recommend attending a clinic though mostly due to other golfers having questions that you may not think of. You’ll end up with a well rounded grasp of AimPoint.

Feb 28, 2013 at 9:07 am

The one thing I love about AimPoint is that it got me it had me “feeling” the break using my feet and not my eyes. Sometimes our eyes deceive us and thus plumb-bobbing isn’t always the most accurate option. My experience with AimPoint also showed me that this method is actually easier to use for older golfers whose vision is waning because it puts an importance on feel not sight.

Feb 28, 2013 at 8:12 am

I cannot figure out how this ‘system’ (don’t you guys just love that word?) can do anything that plumb- bobbing and some practice won’t do.

Apr 21, 2014 at 12:05 pm

That’s because plumb-bobbing doesn’t do ANYTHING. It’s a total waste of time and effort. Why do you think NO tour guys do it? Geeze…

Feb 28, 2013 at 12:35 am

I won my first Club competition last weekend shooting a 73. My handicap was 7. I’m now a 6. I spent 2 hrs with Mark Sweeney last December and learned the Aimpoint method. I went out and mapped all the greens on my home course, using a Breakmaster. The results have been good. No 3 putts in the last 10 rounds.

Feb 27, 2013 at 6:50 pm

Sadly, AimPoint is a major contributor to the mind numbingly slow pace of play which has become the norm in the professional game. I think Scott McCarron was one of the first to use it. Slow play is killing the game, allow AimPoint for practice but it should not be allowed for tournament play.

Feb 27, 2013 at 7:36 pm

Hi Dave thanks for the input. I couldn’t agree more that professional golfers are painfully slow. I feel like a lot of that stems from not playing ready golf. Like I said before, I’m reading my putt even before I get to the green. I have about half of my aimpoint info by the time I get to my ball. If you practice finding the other variables it should take no more than 15-20 secs to determine your read. So yes pro golfers are slow but aimpoint has nothing to do with it.

Sep 1, 2016 at 10:16 pm

Hmmm, I don’t think creating a “No Aimpoint allowed” rule would go over very well. You might as well create a rule for no stepping on the green, and no thinking.

Feb 27, 2013 at 4:50 pm

Very interesting read. Two questions. 1). How would this impact pace of play? Some people already play at a paralytic pace. 2). Is this “calculator” legal in USGA sanctioned events?

Feb 27, 2013 at 5:09 pm

Jeff those were my first thoughts as well but golfs governing bodies have approved the chart as seen above. In terms of pace of play it really doesn’t influence it. Like anything else if you do this repetitively it becomes second nature. In fact before reaching the green I’m already aim pointing to streamline the process.

Feb 27, 2013 at 2:02 pm

This is well wort the investment. I went to the one clinic and once they start putting lines down and those balls start breaking the exact way they predict its nuts. Instant believer. The one they showed us a 50+ footer and asked everyone which way it broke. Answered ranged from 5 feet left to 5 feet right. His answer was right at the hole. Nobody could believe it. So we all got up there, aimed at the hole and that putt moved left and right and left and right and lipped out. It was amazing.

Feb 26, 2013 at 11:13 pm

Aimpoint totally changed how I now see and read greens. A lot of the time you don’t even have to use the chart, especially if others in your group putt before you do. It is definitely the best money I’ve spent in golf. It does require practice to not only get good, but to get fast at reading greens. But that is like any other skill in that the more you practice the better you get. That being said, it has taken a weakness of my game and now made it a strength.

Feb 26, 2013 at 9:45 am

I was a terrible lag putter before aim point. While Aimpoint focuses on 20 feet and in, and really shines at the 10-15 foot mark, just learning a more objective green reading process has made me a much better putter. It has given me the confidence in my read to make a more confident putting stroke. I would say I hole 2 putts a round that I would not have made before aim point and certainly roll many more to tap in distance as opposed to the knee knocking 3 foot mark which is probably another stroke saved through three put avoidance.

The only complaint is that the charts are involved and while you get adept at using them quickly, pulling out your chart can feel goofy and you’ll be tempted to either attempt to memorize it (a daunting task) or to go without it and use approximations (which robs the system of much of its effectivenesss). A serious devotee would want to memorize the chart as much as possible and pull it out only when uncertain. Not there yet but a big fan of Aimpoint.

Feb 25, 2013 at 6:02 pm

Dave, I think #3 is this…If you look at the picture of Sabbatini, imagine a line straight to the hole from the ball, then you see the white dotted line that runs straight from the ball PAST THE TOP OF THE BREAK of the putt. You figure the degree of angle between the two. That is my best guess.

Feb 25, 2013 at 5:32 pm

Can you explian # 3 better

Feb 25, 2013 at 6:20 pm

Not a problem Dave. #3 is a bit tricky to explain but let me try in a different way.

Lets talk about a 10 foot one plane putt. For this scenario a one plane putt will have a ZERO LINE. If you were to walk in a complete circle around the hole maintaining a 10 foot radius there would be 2 points on that circle that you can putt directly at the hole and the ball will go in (as long at all the other parameters are met).

Once you determine where the nearest “zero” point is to your ball on that radius, you simply make an educated guess at how many degrees away you are from it.

The Aimpoint chart works in 15 degree increments (notice the bulls-eye looking picture above).

Keep in mind, we are just trying our best to get as close to each variable as possible. So when we “AimPoint” we are merely giving ourselves a greater opportunity to make each putt.

Let me know if this way is easier to understand. I prefer the Zero Line but the “Mid-Point” Method is equally as popular. Another way of explaining the Mid-Point method is; if you take the same 10 foot putt, walk on a straight line towards the hole and stop half way and place your feet close together. From here use your feet and begin to rotate until you find the direction of the slope that would force you to lean perfectly straight forward and not slightly left or right. From there how many degrees away from your ball are you facing. (this Youtube video I found my help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj6R-_wfKdo )

Hope this helps

Feb 26, 2013 at 9:57 am

The “zero line” is really just a technical term for straight up hill. As Scott already said, that putt would go in if you putt it right at the hole from two positions, directly below or above. While Scott says its simple, its actually a suprisingly difficult skill that requires practice for aim point to work. Course engineers are great at making optical illusions that confuse the player as to where directly up hill is for their putt. As Scott said, a bubble level can be used to verify if the player has properly identified the zero line and can be used as a training aid when learning the system. Like anything else, aim point requires practice to learn and apply properly on the course but I can attest that if you are like me and have a “system” of reading putts that is fairly ad-hoc and subjective, applying the more structured and objective approach advocated in the aimpoint clinics and literature can be a big boost to your game.

I swear I am not paid to say this crap by Aim point. In fact they have 200 bucks of my money but they can keep it. The system has worked for me.

Feb 26, 2013 at 1:49 pm

First, AimPoint is ALLOT easier to use after formal instruction and a bit of practice. Relax cause you don’t have to be a surveyor or physics whiz to take full advantage of the process either. It’s pure physics, there’s a margin for error, it’s simple to use, it definitely works.

Second, the AimPoint pocket charts are simple and calibrated as a clock face accounting for Stemp, slope, and ideal ball speed of rolling the ball about 6″ past the cup on all putts. Determine the degree of angle of your putt line directly from the ball straight to the hole. then the angle of that line to vertical line line through the cup; apply the Stemp and slope values; a quick look at the chart a you’ve got your firing solution. Unless there’s multiple slopes involved I can often read a putt in detail at my first glance of the green or in less than a minute. Trust me, if I can learn to do that anyone can.

As for point 3: AimPoint slope is actually one of TWO things. A) A measure expressed as a “PERCENTAGE of Fall” defined as a Zero Break Line, or a surface upon which a ball will roll straight and true between the an ultimate high point of a green surface and ultimate green low point. A green may have multiple Zero Break Lines divided by high areas or crowns / shoulders in the surface. This is your first tip as to which way the overal green area really tilts or slopes. B) A “Fall Line” is a perfectly up and downhill line through a GIVEN cup also expressed as a percentage of slope relative to the horizontal. The Fall Line MAY be at differing slpe angle relative to an absolute downhill zero break line. C) The putts Approach Angle is the degree a ball approaches a given cup relative to that cups Fall Line.

Imagine a clock face with the cup at the center. (See the chart pic in the article) The fall line ALWAYS runs from 6 – 12 or dead up & down slope. If your ball is approaching the cup from 3 or 9 o’clock you are 90* to the Fall Line or slope; at 11:00 or 1:30 you’re at 15* to the Fall Line, etc., all the way around the clock face. Given the variables the charts are calibrated to account for the impact of gravity on a golf ball to provide the break in inches. Aim that far outside the hole, control the speed and prepare to be shocked at how many putts you can make plus how many misreads you’ve been making.

Take my word for it that AimPint definitely works if you’ll spend the time / effort to become proficient. Usually approx. 2 weeks. It also works great for chipping and improving our overall course knowledge. If you can’t make more putts with AimPoint you’re a hopeless basket case. As an alternative I suggest knitting. Hope this helps a little.

Feb 26, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Hey Jim – thanks for the comments! You are 100% correct that AimPoint is much easier with formal instruction. In an attempt to keep the article short I decided to give the readers digest version to introduce people to Aimpoint and maybe propel them to go get a lesson or attend a clinic(I could have went on for a few thousand words but who would read that?) Thanks for taking the time dive a little deeper into it, you clearly know your stuff!

Aug 19, 2013 at 11:41 am

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Titleist Blackout T100s irons

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of Titleist Blackout T100s irons.

From the seller: (@Eric05): “Titleist T100 S IRONS 4-W standard length and lie blackout grips, blackout amt S300 White Shafts These are in the LIMITED JET BLACK finish $975+Shipping. “

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Titleist Blackout T100s irons

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

Product Reviews

Mitsubishi diamana putter shaft review (p105 1.0 flex) – club junkie reviews.

When you hear the Diamana name, you immediately think of the current, or legendary, wood shafts that have been winning on tour for 20 years. However, few die-hard club junkies would think of a Diamana putter shaft, but Mitsubishi Golf is always pushing the limits and are delivering just that.

Graphite putter shafts have been a growing segment in the equipment world with companies noticing that they can create ultra-stable putter shafts that keep the putter on target through the stroke. Graphite also gives engineers the ability to adjust the performance, stiffness, and weight so golfers have more options to dial in the feel of their putter.

To get the full, in-depth review of the Mitsubishi Diamana P105 putter shaft check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast platforms or on YouTube.

Out of the box, the Mitsubishi Diamana P105 might be the best-looking putter shafts I have ever seen. The carbon weave at a 45-degree angle just reflects the light well, and then the shaft fades down into black near the tip section. A Diamana staple, the flowerband, is located just a little way under the grip but high enough up where it isn’t a distraction when looking down at the putter.

I installed the P105 into the new Bettinardi BB1 Wide putter, and it looked perfect with Bettinardi’s diamond black finish. The duo is definitely one of the meanest-looking combos in my rotation of putters. Both the P105 and the P135 are built using premium carbon fiber with a low amount of resin for added touch and feel. Mitsubishi utilizes 24t and high-strength intermediate modulus carbon fiber to build up the strength and stability, while the visible 6K woven fabric helps reduce torque.

The first question I get with this shaft is about the 108-gram weight. People areasking if it is too light. Honestly, if the shaft had no markings on it, I don’t know if I could tell that is was lighter than a traditional steel shaft. Now the head might feel a touch heavier and the balance of the putter slightly lower but I didn’t really notice the overall static weight of the putter being too light.

The P135 shaft comes in two flexes, 1.0 and the stiffer 2.0, but the P105 only comes in the 1.0 flex. To me, the P105 might be one of the softer graphite putter shafts I have tried and you can see a little bit of wiggle when you waggle the putter. Some players like a slightly softer putter shaft for additional feel and it can work with the tempo of their putting stroke.

On the course, the Diamana P105 offers the consistent stability that you expect from aftermarket putter shafts. On short putts the shaft stays right with your stroke and the putter head is always where you expect it, aligned with your hands and grip. Shorter strokes don’t show off the slightly softer flex of the shaft and you experience the added control of the low torque design.

When you hit longer lag putts you can notice a little flex in the shaft but the head never waivers from being square to your target. Speed control didn’t change at all from the traditional steel shaft in the Bettinardi to the Diamana. On the practice green hitting multiple putts at the same hole, it was easy to feel like you hit the correct speed and then see the results. Balls ended in the same area, as well as my skill would allow, and I never hit a ball the felt like it came up far shorter or longer than I expected it too.

Feel is such a subjective thing and each golfer is going to react differently to it. For me the Diamana had a slightly firmer feel than some of the other graphite shafts out there. If you are looking for responsiveness out of your putter shaft, the Diamana offers just that. To me the Diamana has more of a steel feel to it when it comes to getting the vibration from impact to your hands. You will feel exactly where you made contact on the face, giving you the ability to adjust your stroke and get back to making more center contact. I have found that most other graphite shafts mute the vibration a little and offer a softer feel, but the Diamana keeps the feel and sound exactly as they are.

Mitsubishi’s Diamana putter shaft is a great option for the golfer who wants to add some stability and consistency to their stroke without sacrificing feel. Players who love a specific putter face material or milling pattern to enhance their feel will be excited to not lose that with the upgrade to the Diamana.

Jason Day on his recent switch into Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 Mk II irons

Over the past year, equipment free agent Jason Day has played a number of different iron sets looking for his right match.

In May 2023 , he was using a TaylorMade P770 4-iron to go along with a set of P7MC irons (5-PW).

In August 2023 , he had switched to a set of TaylorMade P7TW irons (5-PW) to go with his P770 4-iron.

Then, in February 2024 , he was into a full set of P760 irons (4-PW).

Now , Day has switched it all the way up, and he’s currently using a new set of Srixon ZX5 MK II long irons (3 and 4), and Srixon ZX7 MK II mid-to-short irons (5-PW).

On Tuesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Day told GolfWRX.com that he made the switch before the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, because he was looking to reduce spin.

“For me, they spin a little bit less,” Day said. “They’re very good out of fairway bunkers, too. I haven’t played too much in the rough yet, so I still need to get an understanding of how the come out of the rough, but for me, it was all about spin control.”

“I had tested the previous model to these [Srixon ZX7’s], but I only had one club. And I was getting some inconsistent spinny with my previous irons, so I just decided to at least give them another shot. My biggest thing was to take spin off, because I was spinning it like crazy.”

The Srixon ZX7 MK II irons are known for producing low spin numbers, and pairing them with Day’s typical ultra-stiff True Temper X7 shafts make them certified spin killers.

If it’s spin he wanted to reduce, then Day may have found his match with the new Srixon irons.

See what else Day has in the bag at the 2024 RBC Heritage here

Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters

John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions

Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why

Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you

Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)

Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

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Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters

Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)

Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...

Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)

Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...

Max Homa WITB 2024 (April)

Max Homa what’s in the bag accurate as of the Masters. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting) Shaft:...

Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2024 (April)

Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75g 6.5 Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver...

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PGA Tour Pros Embrace AimPoint Express for Green Reading – All You Need to Know

PGA Tour pros like Max Homa are using the AimPoint Express green-reading system to improve their putting game, simplifying complex green analyses into a tactile technique.

AimPoint Express converts a 100,000 lines of code into a feel-based method for determining green slopes.
Pros using this system, such as Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris, can accurately estimate slopes to within a half-percent after some practice.

Not all PGA Tour pros utilize AimPoint Express, with players like Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, and Jason Day relying on traditional green-reading skills.

PGA Tour pros are increasingly adopting AimPoint Express, practicing and refining their green-reading skills using this method at tour events.
Mark Sweeney, the creator of AimPoint Express, emphasizes the ease of learning to estimate slopes accurately in a short amount of time.

As more pros embrace AimPoint Express, future developments may involve a shift towards standardized green-reading techniques on the PGA Tour and beyond.

AimPoint Express is revolutionizing how PGA Tour pros approach green reading, offering a tactile and efficient method that could reshape putting strategies in professional golf.

What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

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The Aimpoint Putting Technique: Mastering Green Reading

The aimpoint putting technique is a revolutionary method that has transformed the way golfers read putts. Developed by Mark Sweeney, this putting method has gained immense popularity among professional and amateur golfers alike. With over 200 tour pros, including top players like Stacy Lewis, using aimpoint, it has become a trusted and effective approach to improving putting accuracy. By using the aimpoint, golfers can better understand the slope they feel and make more precise judgments about their putts. The technique requires golfers to stand behind the ball and use aimpoint to determine the precise amount of break in the putt. This method provides a systematic and reliable way to read greens, thus enhancing a player’s ability to sink more putts.

By incorporating the aimpoint Putting Technique into their game, golfers of all levels can improve their putting skills and gain a competitive edge on the course.

Understanding Green Reading Basics

Before delving into the specifics of the aimpoint putting methodology, it is helpful to cover some basics related to green reading in golf. When reading a putt, the golfer is assessing the slope and breaks of the green to determine the ideal putting line that will get the ball in the hole. Greens can have multiple breaks that influence the ball path due to elevation changes, grain direction, or uneven turf growth. Master putters have an excellent ability to read these breaks instantly and aim accordingly. The aimpoint system provides the tools and techniques to develop this green reading mastery.

The Aimpoint Concept

Aimpoint concept, a method that revolutionized the game of golf, has gained widespread acclaim and popularity among professional and amateur players alike. Mark Sweeney, the inventor of aimpoint, has been accredited with the development of this revolutionary technique, which involves using one’s feet to feel the slope of the green and determine the exact aim point for a putt. Players who have adopted the aimpoint concept have credited it with improving their putting accuracy and overall performance on the golf course .

Numerous players have achieved success and won titles while using aimpoint to read greens and make more precise putts. The aimpoint method has become an essential part of the toolkit for any serious golfer looking to improve their game and lower their scores. By using the aimpoint concept, players are able to better understand and feel the slope of the green, ultimately leading to more accurate putts and a greater chance of success on the golf course.

Learning Key Reference Points

A key component of the aimpoint methodology is studying visual reference points with known percent of the slope, such as a 1% or 2% break. By comparing these to sections of an actual green, golfers can train their eyes to visually determine breaks with 0.2% accuracy. For example, aimpoint training aid s will have 1% and 2% sloped ramps that golfers can study. Golfers can then stand at different positions on a practice green and compare slopes to these keyed reference points. Over time and with deliberate training, visually determining slope becomes almost second nature.

Calculating the Break Amount

Once golfers have determined the main slope of the green and direction using reference points, the next step is to calculate the actual break on a putt. The aimpoint system has golfers measure precisely from the ball to the hole using special charts based on hand width. This measurement is then compared to the main slope direction and percent to determine the overall break needed. Based on the training, an aimpoint golfer could determine that the putt needs to break 2.5% left for instance. This data can be translated into an exact aiming line rather than relying on intuitive guesses.

Developing Great Speed Control

Reading the break accurately is only part of the putting puzzle. Being able to roll the ball online at the proper speed is critical for holing putts. The aimpoint training also dedicates significant time to developing excellent speed control on the greens. Golfers learn techniques related to judging distances precisely and then training with putts of varying lengths. The training also factors for stroking technique and green conditions to produce putts of exceptional speed control. Golfers are trained to match the speed to the break rather than under or overhitting.

Achieving Levels of Training

There are four dedicated levels of aimpoint green reading and putting training: 8ft, 15ft, 25ft, and Tour Level. At each level, golfers must pass certification testing that validates their skills before progressing. For example, at the 25ft level golfers must read slopes accurately to 0.2% and hole 24 out of 25 total putts from five locations. Not only do golfers have to read greens correctly but execute putts precisely under pressure. Each level takes dedicated practice and must be fully certified before progressing.

Getting Started with Aimpoint Golf

For golfers interested in implementing the aimpoint putting technique , taking an in-person clinic or certification course is recommended to learn properly. However, there are books, videos, tools and aids available as well from the aimpoint Golf website to get started. The training is incremental, allowing golfers to begin working on basics like determining 1% break before moving to advanced green reading skills. Whether working with a certified aimpoint coach or through self-directed learning, be prepared to put in dedicated hours mastering each aspect before progressing through the system.

On-Course Aimpoint Strategies

Understanding aimpoint is extremely useful during practice sessions but implementing these techniques effectively on the course is vital to better scoring. As they walk the hole, golfers must give careful consideration to visually assessing slopes and breaks ahead of putts. After hitting an approach shot, take time to pull out the aimpoint tools needed to calculate the main slope and break right away. Write down the break percentage and direction in your yardage book before ever arriving at your ball for the most accurate reads. These preparations along with visualization will make the application of aimpoint much easier under pressure on the course.

A Scientific Approach for All Golfers

While the aimpoint green reading methodology was originally developed working with professionals, the principles and training can help golfers at every skill level. Understanding words like “trust” and “feel” related to aiming and putting is very subjective. However, aimpoint provides concrete data for alignment, break amounts, and green speeds. Making putting more objective versus subjective immediately appeals to many avid golfers seeking to gain an edge on the greens. Taking the science-based approach of precisely measuring and comparing visual data points allows rapid skill progression versus intuition alone.

Elevating Putting Skills

The beauty of the aimpoint system is the ability to put related guesswork out of the equation. Even tour pros struggle with seeing breaks accurately or misreading greens. Implementing aimpoint allows a rapid elevation of green reading abilities first. Once golfers can confidently determine slope percentages and directions, the system then develops seamless translation into precise aiming lines and stroke execution. Essentially aimpoint helps golfers build a repeatable procedure of green reading and putting that minimizes human error related to intuition and feeling alone.

Troubleshooting Common Aimpoint Issues

As with implementing any comprehensive new technique into your golf game, certain issues can arise along the way. Here is a look at some common aimpoint troublespots and how to resolve them:

Overcomplicating On-Course Decisions: It is important to ingrain key aimpoint processes into your pre-putt routine but be careful not to get overly complex while standing over the ball. Simplify on-course decisions as much as possible.
Inconsistent Practice Habits: Sporadic practice with aimpoint will never cement the techniques enough to become second nature. Commit to at least three dedicated practice sessions per week.
Relying Too Much on Tools: Devices like plumb bobs, slope meters, and charts are very useful initially. However, the goal is to train your eyes and mind to gather data without aids on the course.
Poor Certification Testing Results: If struggling with certain aimpoint certification levels, go back and further ingrain training on those weak points specifically before retesting.
Losing Feel or Touch: Some golfers get overly mechanical using aimpoint at first. Be sure to blend aimpoint techniques with an instinctive feel and your natural putting stroke.

You should remember that these trouble spots are very common but you can overcome them with adjustments and using available aimpoint resources. At first, you will likely experience growing pains as you learn an integrated putting system until you build proficiency. Stick with the methodology and shortcuts will start to emerge.

The Benefits of Mastering Aimpoint Golf

From professionals to high handicappers, mastering the aimpoint putting and green reading methodology provides many measurable performance benefits:

Dramatically Improved Green Reading Accuracy: The biggest benefit is taking the guesswork out of judging slopes, breaks and pace. Golfers can improve reading accuracy up to 95% or better.
Increased Putting Consistency and Proficiency: With precise green reads matched with excellent speed control, golfers will sink more testable putts and lower scores.
Developing Objective Measures for Improvement: Using concrete data points for evaluation allows rapid skill progression rather than feel.
Building Putting Confidence: Knowing exactly how much break is needed and the optimal line produces great confidence over the ball.
Cementing Effective Pre-Putt Routines: aimpoint ingrains specific step-by-step processes leading up to strokes that ensure consistency.
Mastering Visual Slope Assessment: Determining exact slope percentages within 0.2% variation using just your eyes takes intuition to a whole new level.

Learn from the Best in the World

From its origins with founder Mark Sweeney to partnerships with short game guru Stan Utley, aimpoint has attracted some of the best putters globally to its certification programs. By studying aimpoint techniques under certified coaches, golfers can shortcut their learning curve dramatically versus trial and error alone. Notable golfers who have mastered aimpoint include professionals like Martin Laird, Peter Hanson, and Francesco Molinari as well as top amateurs and collegiate players. The roster of dedicated aimpoint coaches also includes renowned instructors like Future Champions Golf CEO Martin Chuck. Accessing this pool of knowledge within the aimpoint network allows rapid elevation of putting skill and scoring for dedicated students.

Who uses AimPoint on tour?

Swedish golf professional Mark Sweeney founded the aimpoint putting methodology. Since its inception in the early 2000s, many of the game’s top professional and amateur players have become certified aimpoint instructors or dedicated students of the system. Notable names who utilize aimpoint’s unique system of green reading and putting skill development include PGA Tour pros like Martin Laird, Peter Hanson, Graeme McDowell, and Francesco Molinari. Numerous other tour pros, elite amateur competitors, and collegiate golfers benefit from aimpoint’s science-based approach as well.

What is the AimPoint method?

The foundation of the aimpoint technique is equipping golfers to precisely determine the slope or break percentages of putts through visual observation alone. By studying reference points of known breaks (e.g. 1% or 2% grades) and comparing to practice greens visually, aimpoint students train their eyes to determine slope within 0.2% accuracy without aids like levels or charts.

Which PGA Tour players use AimPoint?

Some of the most notable PGA Tour professionals who have become dedicated aimpoint students and certified instructors are: Martin Laird (3x PGA Tour winner), Peter Hanson (5x European Tour winner), Seamus Power (PGA Tour winner), Russell Knox (2x PGA Tour winner), Francesco Molinari (2018 Open Champion). Other tour winners like Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, and Paul Lawrie also utilize aimpoint. The system appeals to professionals seeking every advantage on the greens.

How do you aim while putting?

Using the aimpoint method begins before ever approaching your ball. Carefully observe the green ahead walking to build your read, determining the main slope direction and grade percentage. Once you reach your ball, utilize your pre-putt routine to re-confirm slope data, measuring precisely to the hole with a special hand-width unit tool. Transfer the main slope direction and the exact break percentage needed to an aiming line on your ball.

If seeking measurable and rapid putting improvement based on science and data versus feel alone, aimpoint presents a proven methodology. Like any integrated technique, excelling at aimpoint requires a commitment to ongoing practice and high-quality instruction. There are no shortcuts to shooting lower scores on the course. However, by combining the empirical approach of aimpoint with fundamentals of solid stroking, golfers have a blueprint to greatness on the greens.

Ultimately, the golfer must walk the course and determine slope, grain and break without aids like charts or level tools. Mastering the ability to visually read greens just like the best players do takes time and dedication. Luckily aimpoint provides an objective roadmap to gain that elusive edge over the competition on the putting green when it matters most.

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Which PGA Tour players use Aimpoint?

Justin Rose is among the PGA Tour players who uses the AimPoint method. Putting is arguably the most important skill in golf, and green reading is a vital component to that. The problem is, reading greens is not an easily acquired skill.

Should tour pros learn the Aimpoint system?

First of all, there has been a significant increase in the number of tour pros using the AimPoint system. Some seem reluctant to learn the system, fearing that they will lose their “feel” for reading greens. That seems like a good thing. AimPoint trained caddy to tour pro after reading the chart, “Play it 14” left.”

What is the Aimpoint Express read in golf?

When you look up to watch the ball roll it is often past this 4-5 foot mark thus overtime this section of the putt is never taken into consideration when factoring the amount of break. Rather than relying so much on visual input, the aimpoint express read involves using your feet to judge the slope of the green.

What is Aimpoint putting and how does it work?

We’ll break down Aimpoint putting, including the Aimpoint express putting method, and how you can try it out in your own game. Aimpoint putting is a green-reading method designed to give golfers a quick and accurate read and a specific target for each putt. The process is simple to grasp but challenging to master.

Aimpoint Putting:

Aimpoint was developed by PGA professionals Mark Sweeney and Dave Pelz as a revolutionary way to accurately read the green and improve your putting. Through their advanced teaching techniques, they have set out to change the game of golf forever.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss in-depth how Aim Point works and why it is such an effective tool for improving your putting strokes. Aim Point uses a simple yet effective technique to identify the correct speed for your putt.

Rather than relying on intuition and guesswork, this system helps you accurately measure the break of the green reading system by using contours, grain direction, and other factors that help predict where a Golf ball is likely to roll.

Key Techniques for Getting Started with Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint Putting and pointer finger are popular techniques used by professional golfers and beginners alike to help improve their accuracy on the green. It relies on reading and feels rather than just sight lines or distance measurements.

Aimpoint helps golfers determine their starting line, understand slope and break, control the correct pace of putts, and more accurately identify the intended target. With practice, this technique can give you far more control and accuracy when putting on the green.

Tips for Lowering Your Score With Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint Putting is a revolutionary technique that can help you lower your score on the golf course. It uses lasers, targets, and body position to accurately read the length of the putt. By using Aimpoint Putting, you can also get a better feel for the speed of the green and aim more accurately for your putts.

You have to take the time to understand the concept of Aimpoint. Ensure you understand how each laser line is used and the different readings that can be taken from them. This will help you get more accurate readings when reading a green and help you adapt to changing conditions on the course.

Once you understand the basic physics of Aimpoint, it is important to practice. By regularly practicing your technique and mental visualization, you can slowly but surely develop an ability to read greens accurately. You should also make use of various drills, as they can work wonders for your putting accuracy.

Introduce Aimpoint Putting and its Benefits

Aimpoint Putting is a revolutionary technique that helps golfers improve their putting form. Developed by renowned golf instructor Mike Shannon, Aimpoint combines the science of aim and geometry with the art of reading green contours.

Certified Aimpoint instructor said this is a unique approach to understanding your own putting game, enabling golfers to reach greater accuracy, consistency, and confidence on the greens. The technique is based on the idea that golfers can improve their aim and control by understanding the geometry of a putt.

Aimpoint also focuses on reading green contours to provide an accurate and precise putting stroke. The goal of this system is for golfers to learn how to make more putts with greater accuracy.

Staying Positive Throughout Your Rounds of Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint putting is a great way to improve your golf game and score lower on the course. The technique utilizes the concept of “zero-in” aiming, which means focusing on specific targets within your putting line instead of relying solely on directional aiming from far away. While this can improve accuracy and consistency, it requires practice and dedication to master.

If you’re having trouble staying focused and motivated while practicing your Aimpoint, you can do a few things to stay positive. First, remember that the practice is worth it. Mastering aiming and putting will undoubtedly improve your game. Additionally, visualizing yourself making great shots can help keep you in the right mindset to stay focused on the task.

Set realistic expectations for yourself and break down your practice time into manageable tasks. Aimpoint-specific drills are a good way to stay motivated and track progress since you can measure results after each drill. Focusing on smaller, achievable goals instead of looking at the big picture will make it easier to stay positive and dedicated to the technique.

How to Read the Break When Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint Putting is a methodology that uses visual cues to help golfers read the break on the putting green and select the correct line. Aimpoint Putting aims to make reading greens faster, more accurate, and easier.

Using this technique, you can read greens confidently and create a dependable plan for making putts. Aimpoint Putting aims to use visual cues to help a golfer read the break and select the correct line.

When reading greens, it’s important to consider factors like elevation change, grass grain, greenness below your feet, and wind direction. With this technique, you can analyze each factor quickly and accurately to decide on the best line for your putt.

Aimpoint Putting aims for golfers to develop a systematic approach when reading greens. To do this, you should understand basic green reading skills and look at the size and shape of the green when determining where to place a reference point.

Understanding the Green Contours When Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint Putting is a unique technique that involves reading and analyzing the green contours of a golf channel and course to determine the best line for your putt.

In Aimpoint, you use various techniques to identify the break or slope of the green and then consider how much force you need to apply to make your shot.

By understanding these factors, you can put it more accurately and precisely, giving yourself a better chance to make your shot. The basic concept of Aimpoint Putting is to read the “contours” of green to determine the best line for your putt.

You can do this by using various techniques, such as studying diagrams, looking for visible slopes or breaks in the green, and using a device like AimPoint Pro.

When you have determined the contours of the green, you can then use your judgment to decide how hard or soft to hit the ball to make it go in the desired direction.

How to Use AimPoint Basic Overview

AimPoint putting is revolutionary playing golf designed to help you become a better putter. The Aimpoint method uses advanced technology and science to help you hone in on your target line and read the correct amount of break for any given putt.

With this technique, you can ensure that each stroke is perfectly aimed to roll exactly where you want it to go. Aimpoint’s core concept is the ability to read and understand the break of a putt by gauging its speed, slope, and angle.

Based on those factors, this allows you to accurately predict where the ball will go. It also considers any green undulations or wind conditions that could affect your shot. Once you can identify these elements, you can accurately set up for any putt and increase your chances of success.

Identify Common Mistakes with Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint putting is a revolutionary concept that has been adopted by golfers of all skill levels. It can help you reduce the number of putts per round and improve your score. However, it’s not without its challenges. Identifying common mistakes in Aimpoint Putting can help you get the most out of this method and ensure you’re practicing it correctly.

The first common mistake is not aligning your eyes directly over the ball when Aimpoint Putting. It’s important to ensure that your eyes are directly above the ball before you take a putt, as this will ensure an optimal alignment for the putt. Your putt will likely be inaccurate if your eyes are at an angle or off to one side.

Another mistake is not committing to the Aimpoint target you’ve picked out. Many golfers tend to second guess themselves when putting in and start looking for new targets instead of going with the original one they chose. This can lead to inconsistent results, so make sure that you stick to the target that you have identified.

Many golfers don’t practice Aimpoint Putting enough. This method takes time and practice to master, so make sure you are dedicated to improving by practicing your technique.

Explain the Fundamentals of Aimpoint Putting

Aimpoint Putting is a revolutionary method for all golfers to improve their putting game. It focuses on the visual aspect of a putt, helping golfers understand how to read green breaks and aim putts more accurately. The method was developed by Mark Sweeney, an experienced PGA Professional who has coached many professional golf tours to success in the putting department.

Aimpoint express the concept of ‘Points on a Line’, and how this applies to putting. Every putt has two points, the ball and the intended target (the hole). Between these two points, there is a line that connects them. The challenge for golfers is to recognize that individual green breaks can change this line and, in turn, the aim of the putt.

The Aimpoint Putting system uses a series of gridlines and colored arrows to help golfers visualize green breaks. The colored arrows are placed along the connecting line at regular intervals so that golfers can see how they should adjust their aim based on specific green break information.

History of AimPoint

AimPoint was developed in Sweden by two golf professionals and former European Tour players, Mark Sweeney and Peter Elmgren. The system became popular in Europe after being introduced to the LPGA and PGA tour players in 2003. It quickly made its way to the US, Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia in subsequent years.

Step 1: Feel the Slope

Aimpoint putting is a revolutionary technique golfer of all levels use to accurately read the green before making their putt. It relies on the golfer’s ability to ‘feel’ the slope of the green and then use this knowledge to adjust their aim and strike so that the ball rolls true. To properly perform Aimpoint putting, the golfer needs to identify a ‘target line’ – that is, the path of the ball based on the slope of the green.

Step 2: Visualize Your Putt

Before making a putt, please take a moment to visualize how you want it to move into the hole. Aimpoint putting encourages golfers to focus on the line, not the hole.

This means the golfer should imagine how they want the ball to move based on the slope and put it towards that spot.

Step 3: Make Everything

Aimpoint Putting is a groundbreaking method of teaching and learning the game of golf. It involves creating an imaginary line on the green, connecting each ball target point to its corresponding hole, then using this line as a reference for aiming your putts. This system eliminates guesswork and helps players become more consistent in their putting strokes.

Aimpoint Putting has been proven to help golfers improve their putting accuracy and more confidence. Studies have shown that the system can easily reduce three-putts by 50%, leading to lower scores on the course. It is also useful for golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to pros.

Aimpoint Putting does not require any complex knowledge or skill. It is designed to be a simple and intuitive system that helps you understand the green quickly and accurately. You can quickly get up to speed with the basics and improve your putting with simple drills.

Aimpoint Putting provides detailed feedback about your putting performance. It shows you how to read greens, the correct aim points for different types of putts, the best line and speed for each putt, and much more.

Aimpoint Putting offers a variety of benefits for both recreational and professional golfers. It can help you save time on the course by helping you read greens quickly and accurately, improve your accuracy and confidence, lower your scores, and more.

Aimpoint Putting is an incredibly powerful and useful tool in the game of golf. Helping players understand more about the aiming line can help them improve their aim accuracy and prevent costly misses. Players can also easily read even the most subtle greens and predict putts better than ever before. Aimpoint’s technique is easy to learn and can be practiced on any green.

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What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

“I mean, that is special,” said Colt Knost on the ESPN+ broadcast before Billy Ray Brown added, “That’s what champions do.”

“AimPoint Express is a dramatic simplification of what is a very complicated computer program to figure out how the ball goes from Point A to Point B and goes into the hole,” Sweeney said. “AimPoint Express takes about 100,000 lines of code and converts it into the player feeling how much side tilt there is in the putt.”

Sweeney accidentally discovered the relationship between the slope of a green, the length of a golfer’s arm and the width of a person’s fingers.

Surprisingly, Sweeney said, developing this skill is easy.

In a Golf Channel interview, Homa said, “Your eyes can lie to you a lot, but your feet, typically, will never lie.”

Tiger Woods does not use AimPoint Express, and neither does Jordan Spieth or Jason Day. Brad Faxon, Loren Roberts and Ben Crenshaw never used it either. Some golfers have a great feel for green reading, spotting slopes and contours on the putting surface and understanding how putts will roll. However, many golfers are not blessed with this ability. Sweeney hates hearing that the skill will come with time and experience.

Aimpoint Express removes the need to walk around a hole and see your intended putt from multiple angles, so for Sweeney, it does not slow play as some people think.

Sweeney postulates that the better a golfer gets at reading greens, the more time they can spend working on improving distance control and developing the quality of their putting stroke.

Mitch McConnell refuses to say whether he supports a US national abortion ban

Player Equity Program helps further align interest of fans, PGA TOUR players

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The recent roll-out of the PGA TOUR’s Player Equity Program (PEP) is another example of the TOUR strengthening its ability to lead professional golf forward. By offering players equity stakes in PGA TOUR Enterprises, the PEP aligns the interests of players and the PGA TOUR around a common goal: to bring the world’s best golfers together on iconic courses to deliver memorable competitions in a way that maximizes fan interest and enjoyment.

Tyler Dennis, the PGA TOUR’s Chief Competitions Officer, called the roll-out of the PEP “a historic moment for the PGA TOUR.”

“This is a first in professional sports. There’s no other sports league in the world that has this significant number of their athletes as owners of their own sports organization,” Dennis said. “We’re really excited about it because ultimately we want to do what is right for the fan.”

The PEP is an important element of PGA TOUR Enterprises, the newly-created for-profit entity that houses the PGA TOUR’s commercial assets, including its sponsorship and media agreements. In creating a for-profit legal entity for the first time, PGA TOUR Enterprises provides a structure through which the PGA TOUR can reinvest substantial capital directly into the game, including PEP. PGA TOUR Enterprises recently received a $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a consortium of U.S.-based sports owners who bring decades of experience and expertise across sports.

PGA TOUR players’ eligibility to participate in PEP is determined based on a number of factors, including their on-course performance and historical contributions to the game of golf. In order to maintain eligibility, players must participate in a specified number of annual PGA TOUR sanctioned events and/or provide other services to the PGA TOUR. Future equity grants for PGA TOUR Enterprises will be determined on an ongoing basis based on a similar calculation of on-course performance and off-the-course impact on fan engagement.

“Owners are motivated to think beyond their personal performance week-to-week and year-to-year,” said Jason Gore, the TOUR’s Executive Vice President Chief Player Officer. “They have a broader perspective of how their actions can impact the long-term health and performance of the TOUR in a positive way. One that meets the needs of our fans at every turn. It’s no longer as much ‘What’s in it for me?’ as ‘What’s good for fans and good for the PGA TOUR?'”

It offers a true win-win for all who love the game.

2024 RBC Heritage prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions

T he top players in the world won't have much of a break following the Masters because up next on the schedule is the 2024 RBC Heritage , a signature event with a loaded field. The 1st round from Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., begins on Thursday.

Below, we search for the best value prop bets among the 2024 RBC Heritage odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions .

Scottie Scheffler , fresh off his Masters victory, remains the No. 1 player in this week's Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. Xander Schauffele , who's also in the field, comes in at No. 2, followed by Rory McIlroy , Ludvig Aberg and Patrick Cantlay – all of whom are playing the RBC Heritage. Last year's champion Matt Fitzpatrick is Golfweek's 20th-ranked player.

Harbour Town is one of the shorter courses on tour and emphasizes accuracy off the tee and ball-striking with irons. The greens are also some of the smallest on the PGA Tour, so it's essential for players to be accurate when approaching the greens. It's a par 71 and 7,213 yards, slightly longer than it was last year.

WATCH: PGA Tour is live on ESPN+! Get ESPN+

RBC Heritage – Top-5 picks

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Patrick Cantlay (+300)

Cantlay is Mr. Top 5 at the RBC Heritage. Since 2017, he's played this event 6 times. He finished inside the top 5 on 4 occasions, missed the cut once and came in 7th another time. If there's ever a tournament to bet Cantlay to finish in the top 5, it's this one.

Collin Morikawa (+350)

Morikawa has yet to finish in the top 5 at this event, but he came close in 2021 when he came in 7th. Since then, he's had finishes of 26th and 31st, proving to be a good fit at Harbour Town with his accuracy off the tee and iron play.

RBC Heritage – Top-10 picks

Tommy fleetwood (+160).

Fleetwood has notched back-to-back top-10 finishes in his last 2 starts, including a tie for 3rd at the Masters. He's finished 15th, 10th and 25th in 3 of his 4 career starts at this event (MC in 2021), so he's played well at Harbour Town in the past. He could legitimately win this tournament on Sunday.

Shane Lowry (+300)

Lowry is poised to bounce back after a dreadful putting performance at the Masters. Harbour Town is a ball-strikers course and Lowry ranks among the best on tour this season. He's finished in the top 10 here in 3 of his last 5 starts.

Cam Davis (+375)

Davis still has long odds despite his course history (7th, 3rd, 25th) and 12th-place finish at the Masters. His length won't be a big advantage this week because it's not a bombers course, but he's played well here in the past and should do so again.

Other T10 contenders ( in order from longest odds to shortest ):

Russell Henley (+250)
Ludvig Aberg (+125)

RBC Heritage – Top-20 picks

J.t. poston (+150).

Poston has been feast or famine at the RBC Heritage. He finished 3rd in 2022, 8th in 2020 and 6th in 2019, but he missed the cut in his 2 other starts in 2023 and 2021. He's one of the best putters on tour (even if his numbers don't reflect that this year) and has the course history to finish near the top again this week.

Corey Conners (+120)

In the last 4 years, Conners has finished 31st, 12th, 4th and 21st. He seemingly loves this course and has had success here in the past, and we're probably getting a little bit of a discount after a disappointing week at the Masters.

Matthieu Pavon (+170)

Pavon has proved he can compete with the best players in the world, winning at Torrey Pines earlier this year. In his last 2 starts this season, he's finished 5th and 12th, so his current form is good despite his lack of course experience (no previous starts here).

RBC Heritage – Matchups

Suggested play is golfer in bold .

Cameron Young (-120) vs. Jordan Spieth (-105)

Spieth looked out of sorts at the Masters and he's now missed the cut in 3 of his last 4 starts. He won here in 2022 and lost in a playoff last year, but he's not playing nearly as well right now. Give me Young, who finished 3rd here in 2022.

RBC Heritage – Top Canadian

Corey conners (+200).

Conners is the favorite to be the top Canadian, ahead of Adam Hadwin (+300), Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor (both +400). Conners is the best course fit and has the better track record at Harbour Town.

RBC Heritage – Top Australian

Cam davis (+110).

Davis and Jason Day (-135) are the only two Australians in the field, yet it's Davis who's the underdog. Day hasn't played here since 2020 and he missed the cut that year, while Davis' course history is noted above.

RBC Heritage – First-round leader

Patrick cantlay (+2200).

Cantlay ranks 2nd only to Scheffler in Round 1 scoring average this season (67.5) and he's now coming to a course where he's finished 7th or better in 5 of his last 6 starts.

Xander Schauffele (+1600)

Schauffele is on fire right now, with his worst finish in his last 5 starts being 25th. Otherwise, he's had 4 top-5 finishes. He's 9th in 1st-round scoring average this year and opened with a 67 here last season.

More expert prop bet predictions

Group c winner: cameron young (+320).

In this group are Russell Henley (+333), Si Woo Kim (+333), Spieth (+375) and Sahith Theegala (+400). Young is the slight favorite and understandably so with the way he's playing right now coming out of the Masters.

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For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW .

Scottie Scheffler celebrated his Masters victory at a Dallas dive bar
What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

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This article originally appeared on USA Today Sportsbookwire: 2024 RBC Heritage prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions

Apr 17, 2022; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Patrick Cantlay lines up a putt on the 18th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

COMMENTS

Which PGA Tour Players Are Using AimPoint?
Former Masters champion Adam Scott is another prominent PGA Tour player who has embraced AimPoint Express as a key component of his putting strategy. By incorporating AimPoint's cutting-edge green reading techniques, Scott has optimized his putting performance, allowing him to navigate undulating greens with greater precision and confidence.
What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the
Eight-foot putts are not typically stressful for PGA Tour pros, but the 8-foot par putt that Max Homa faced on Friday morning on the fifth at Augusta National had to be made if he was going to ...
Tour Players Using AimPoint
Tour players of all levels around the world use AimPoint Green Reading to improve their practice. Experience the help of AimPoint today with Greenside. ... Adam Scott, PGA Tour Player and winner of the Masters: "When I stand over a six-footer I have a game plan. I know where the putt needs to go and that gives me great confidence.
The basics of AimPoint green reading, explained in 30 seconds
Justin Rose is among the PGA Tour players who uses the AimPoint method. Getty Images. Putting is arguably the most important skill in golf, and green reading is a vital component to that. The ...
This green-reading technique is hugely popular among Tour pros
Player Rankings Official World Ranking FedEx Cup Money Leaders All Player Rankings. Schedule PGA Tour ... time — and it's surprisingly simple to use. All you need to use AimPoint is your feet ...
What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the
Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris both use AimPoint Express. (Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports) Sweeney accidentally discovered the relationship between the slope of a green, the length of a golfer's arm and the width of a person's fingers. "I had a much more complicated method of reading greens prior to AimPoint Express," said Sweeney.
Aimpoint Putting: What is it & Does it actually Work?
Mark has taught this method to over 100 PGA Tour players, including five players who were ranked number one in the world! He was also named by Golf Digest as one of the best 50 Teachers in America. ... "Five world number one players have worked with Mark Sweeney and use AimPoint. They have won numerous titles while using AimPoint and have ...
What is AimPoint? How to use and understand the putt-reading technique
By. Golf Channel Staff. Published March 12, 2024 10:54 AM. Everyone in golf has seen it used, but not everyone understands how to use it. In "Live From The Players," PGA Tour pros and AimPoint founder Mark Sweeney describe how to implement the green-reading technique. Analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley also debate whether or not ...
Jordan Spieth and Michael Greller Will Use AimPoint to Get a Putting
The PGA Tour's "super season" in 2020-21 that involved 51 tournaments with six majors allowed a record 124 players to earn at least $1 million on the golf course. STAT OF THE WEEK
AimPoint Putting: The Best Approach To Master Reading Greens?
Adam Scott, Justin Rose, and Jordan Spieth are three high-profile golfers who have used or currently use the AimPoint Putting Chart system. In addition, LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka dabbled with the system when he plied his trade on the PGA Tour. Besides the men, LPGA Tour star Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko also employ the system in their putting routine.
The interesting green-reading technique used by the PGA Championship
Traditionally, golfers read greens by kneeling directly behind the ball, and surveying the slopes. That kind of worms-eye view helps players survey the slopes and see the path their ball is going ...
Green-Reading Science, Methods, and Coaching
For over 20 years, AimPoint has enabled multiple tour players across the world to win major titles. With over 99% accuracy and over 100,000 lines of algorithms, professional and amateur golf enthusiasts use our industry leading software to continually improve their putting and revolutionize their play.
A new green-reading formula is catching on with pros. Here's how it
A new app called Tour Read is making waves on the PGA Tour, helping players dial-in their reads using a combination of math and feel.
Why AimPoint Will Save Your Putting: A Basic Introduction
AimPoint strives to isolate each variable that occurs on a putting green and the golfer basically plugs them into an AimPoint chart. Let me elaborate, for this example a golfer hits an approach shot to 15 feet and is getting ready to read the break of his simple one plane putt. Most of the time, golfers are playing a guessing game based off of ...
PGA Tour Pros Embrace AimPoint Express for Green Reading
AimPoint Express converts a 100,000 lines of code into a feel-based method for determining green slopes. Pros using this system, such as Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris, can accurately estimate slopes to within a half-percent after some practice. Yes, But. Not all PGA Tour pros utilize AimPoint Express, with players like Tiger Woods, Jordan ...
AimPoint: How to perfect your putting
Most golfers who use AimPoint run a scale of one to six (one being the least and six being the most severe). Repeat the process. Walk along the line of the putt and repeat the last two processes. Walk around halfway to the hole, stand as before and get a feel for the slope through your feet. Remember, your eyes alone can deceive you.
The Aimpoint Putting Technique: Mastering Green Reading
There are four dedicated levels of aimpoint green reading and putting training: 8ft, 15ft, 25ft, and Tour Level. At each level, golfers must pass certification testing that validates their skills before progressing. For example, at the 25ft level golfers must read slopes accurately to 0.2% and hole 24 out of 25 total putts from five locations.
Which PGA Tour Players Use Aimpoint?
Justin Rose is among the PGA Tour players who uses the AimPoint method. Putting is arguably the most important skill in golf, and green reading is a vital component to that. The problem is, reading greens is not an easily acquired skill. Should tour pros learn the Aimpoint system? First of all, there has been a significant increase in the ...
AimPoint Golf
First of all, there has been a significant increase in the number of tour pros using the AimPoint system. Some seem reluctant to learn the system, fearing that they will lose their "feel" for reading greens. ... As a former PGA Tour caddie and professional tour player, I have to say respectfully to Mr. Mangum that most of your statements ...
Aimpoint Putting Guide
The system became popular in Europe after being introduced to the LPGA and PGA tour players in 2003. It quickly made its way to the US, Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia in subsequent years. Step 1: Feel the Slope. Aimpoint putting is a revolutionary technique golfer of all levels use to accurately read the green before making their putt.
AimPoint Putting
AimPoint Express Green Reading concepts are currently being used by PGA Tour Players Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington, Charlie Wi, Scott McCarron to name a few. LPGA Tour Players using AimPoint are Lydia Ko, Stacey Lewis, Na Yeon Choi, and Suzann Peterson. Adam Scott won the 2013 Masters with this green reading system.
What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour…
David Dusek. What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system? The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. Eight-foot putts are not typically stressful for PGA Tour pros, but the 8-foot par putt that Max Homa faced on Friday morning ...
Jamie Donaldson: AimPoint
Between us, we took a very technical system and watered it down to offer a practical solution to all golfers. In fact, the 'Express' read, which is what we use today, was originally designed to be so simple we could teach it to kids - and it is this ease-of-use that has made AimPoint so popular. AimPoint is a game-changer.
David Woods, PGA
309 likes, 6 comments - davidwoodspga on April 27, 2024: "So many tour players using our products. It's really cool to see how many of the best in the world find ...
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AimPoint is the most popular green reading process on all of the Professional Tours Worldwide

What is AimPoint Express? And why are so many PGA Tour pros using the green reading system?

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Aimpoint Putting: What is it & Does it actually Work?

How to Use AimPoint – Basic Overview

History of AimPoint

Getting Started

Step 1: Feel the Slope

Use Your Weight to Understand The Slope

Step 2: Aim Your Putt

Step 3: Make Everything

Finding an AimPoint Instructor or Clinic

FAQs About the AimPoint Express Green Reading System

What are the benefits to AimPoint?

Are there any downsides?

Is AimPoint putting legal?

How do you read greens with your fingers?

How much do AimPoint lessons cost?

Which professional golfers use AimPoint for green reading?

Do you still take practice strokes?

How do I become an AimPoint instructor?

How does the plumb bomb work in golf?

Final Thoughts

Trending Teams

Jordan Spieth and Michael Greller Will Use AimPoint to Get a Putting Edge

AimPoint Putting: The Best Approach To Master Reading Greens?

Tips For Using AimPoint Putting

Step 1 – Study The AimPoint Express Tutorial

What Are The Benefits Of Aim Point Putting?

How Do The AimPoint Putting Technique Work?

Matt Callcott-Stevens

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