The Apex of the Putt - Page 4

What's the reason for most people aiming for the apex point of the putt?

I'd like to think that it's because they only read the putt from behind the ball. From that point of view people are trying to figure out where the apex of the putt is, and then aim for it. Why? Because it's the point where we want the ball to roll over.

I'm no putting expert, so I need you guys opinion on this thought. WHAT IF WE READ PUTTS FROM THE APEX POINT? My approach to do this would be to make a read from behind the hole. From there I would estimate where the apex of the putt is and make my read from that point back towards the ball. This way it will be easier to figure out where we wan't to start the ball for it to reach the apex point.

Why would I read the putt from behind the hole? Because this is where I wan't the ball to finnish. As I then work my way back, I'll decide where I wan't the ball to start. That's what we wan't to focus on when we take our stance.

Sounds reasonable?

Depends on the person, a study done shown that people imagine projectiles in different ways, some see curves, some see straight lines. The problem is, if you see a straight line, and you aim at the Apex, now your aiming far to less break. What you should be reading is the tangent line to the curve you want. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by saevel25 

Depends on the person, a study done shown that people imagine projectiles in different ways, some see curves, some see straight lines. The problem is, if you see a straight line, and you aim at the Apex, now your aiming far to less break. What you should be reading is the tangent line to the curve you want. 

True, the question is: How can we best figure out in what direction the tangent line of the right curve goes.

OK- I STAND CORRECTED ON THE "DEFINITION OF APEX" - MY POSITION REMAINS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME, THO - MAKE A "STRAIGHT" STROKE TO THE POINT THE BALL WILL BREAK TOWARDS THE HOLD - SMOOTH, STRAIGHT PUTT - DON'T "STEER" IT.  TOMM

Well its basic geometry, just read the putt as a curve, then if you pick a point a few inches infront of the ball then you have nearly the tangent. IF you pick a point on the curve further out then you are aiming way to less the break you need. That's why i aim for a point just infront of the ball. 

Really for me its visualization, its tough to describe. The best way for me to see it is, i will point my body in the direction i want to putt the ball, then trace my eyes from the ball to the hole, seeing it roll. Really instead of aiming towards the apex, i will aim some distance perpendicular out from the hole. Lets say, 3 inches right of the hole. The apex is less than that. Like 2 inches. It wont be 1.5, because the ball breaks less right off the putter, and breaks more when it gets towards the hole, less speed equals more time for break. But i don't think there is a general rule of thumb due to green speed variances. 

Really its just retraining how you read greens and how you putt. There's no trick, its just reading the putt right and aiming the putter correctly. Really Aim Point does very well in coming up with a way to do this. I am more of a feel putter. The reason is, my greens at my local course change through out the year. So i rather just be a feel putter. I do pretty decent. Probably just less than 2 putts per hole. 

I think you just gotta visualize your line and feel for the speed.  And I agree with putting to a spot perpendicular to the hole.  I don't understand why a lot of people say they play the putt a foot past the cup or so.  If there's any sort of break close to the hole your putt is gonna break too late.  I play with a few friends that could be really good putters if they would just stop rolling it too far.