AimPoint Green Reading

[RFKFREAK]

Absolutely!! Without Aimpoint you're guessing on break amount and you're also guessing on speed. "It looks a little uphill so I'll give it a little extra." But with Aimpoint, if you've figured the speed for one 15' putt 90* to the 2% slope on a green stimping 10, then you've figured them all. You eventually get a feel based on those numbers.

So I'd suggest that when you're practicing putting, even if you're just practicing hitting your lines, also make a point to know the stimp of the green you're practicing on, and the length of your putts.

That said, I learned a lot more about speed control from Erik's putter acceleration thread than anything else.

Yeah, I tried to let the putter drop to the ball and I'm not saying that I putted well but for me to only have two 3 putts and average 2 putts per hole indicates I had good distance control that day and, at least, right now, that's good considering this season I'm averaging 2.144 putts per hole over 4 18 hole rounds and 1 9 hole round even though I'm not hitting GIR's.

[colin007]

Saratoga National a week from Friday.

I didn't know there was an AimPoint instructor there...

[RFKFREAK]

I didn't know there was an AimPoint instructor there...

They don't. They're doing a one day clinic. One at 10, the second at 1, and the third at 4. I signed up for the one at 10. :)

[jbishop15]

I am desperate for a clinic in Georgia. There's a few teachers that I'm looking to email for a private lesson but it'd still be cool to do a clinic.

[Golfingdad]

Yeah, I tried to let the putter drop to the ball and I'm not saying that I putted well but for me to only have two 3 putts and average 2 putts per hole indicates I had good distance control that day and, at least, right now, that's good considering this season I'm averaging 2.144 putts per hole over 4 18 hole rounds and 1 9 hole round even though I'm not hitting GIR's.

Not sure I would describe as "letting the putter drop" so much as I'd simply describe it as not "hitting" at the ball.  A couple of the worst putters I know take the same length backswing (or close to it) on all putts and vary the length of their follow through to try and control the speed.  Backswing is way too long, usually, and they decelerate massively as they come through the hitting zone, and intentionally stop the putter at some point shortly thereafter.

Another one I played a few rounds with recently, who is a much better putter than the aforementioned, but still not that good, is the opposite.  Super short backswing that varies only a tiny amount, and he varies the acceleration into the ball to try and control speed.  He'll hit a 40 foot putt with a 6 inch backswing.  Of course, he'll also sometimes hit it 25 feet and other times 55 feet.

Until Erik's thread, I was a lot more like the latter, and now I've started taking a much longer backswing on my longer putts and controlled everything that way.  The stroke is as much pendulum as I can get it, and the distance control is much improved.

But, to get this back on topic, that is to take nothing away from the distance control improvements brought on by learning Aimpoint.  To me, they were substantial.

[RFKFREAK]

Not sure I would describe as "letting the putter drop" so much as I'd simply describe it as not "hitting" at the ball.  A couple of the worst putters I know take the same length backswing (or close to it) on all putts and vary the length of their follow through to try and control the speed.  Backswing is way too long, usually, and they decelerate massively as they come through the hitting zone, and intentionally stop the putter at some point shortly thereafter. Another one I played a few rounds with recently, who is a much better putter than the aforementioned, but still not that good, is the opposite.  Super short backswing that varies only a tiny amount, and he varies the acceleration into the ball to try and control speed.  He'll hit a 40 foot putt with a 6 inch backswing.  Of course, he'll also sometimes hit it 25 feet and other times 55 feet. Until Erik's thread, I was a lot more like the latter, and now I've started taking a much longer backswing on my longer putts and controlled everything that way.  The stroke is as much pendulum as I can get it, and the distance control is much improved. But, to get this back on topic, that is to take nothing away from the distance control improvements brought on by learning Aimpoint.  To me, they were substantial. :beer:

Well, the way I interpreted the drill was to take an appropriate backswing and then let the putter hit the ball. Maybe it's wrong but I'm trying to let it just hit the ball and not give it and extra force and let it work like a pendulum. Is that wrong?

[Golfingdad]

Well, the way I interpreted the drill was to take an appropriate backswing and then let the putter hit the ball. Maybe it's wrong but I'm trying to let it just hit the ball and not give it and extra force and let it work like a pendulum.

Is that wrong?

I think that is probably correct, but the wording worries me a bit.  The phrase "let the putter drop" sounds like you'd be decelerating too much at impact.  You're still giving it something on the downswing and follow-through, and it's not just the weight of the club that's "hitting" the ball.  So you are giving it force, just not accelerating.

But, yeah, like a pendulum is the goal. :)

[iacas]

I think that is probably correct, but the wording worries me a bit.  The phrase "let the putter drop" sounds like you'd be decelerating too much at impact.  You're still giving it something on the downswing and follow-through, and it's not just the weight of the club that's "hitting" the ball.  So you are giving it force, just not accelerating.

But, yeah, like a pendulum is the goal. :)

Drew, he may feel like the putter just drops. Lots of golfers used to accelerating feel like when they only add 20% that they're adding nothing at all.

Kind of OT for this thread though.

[RFKFREAK]

Drew, he may feel like the putter just drops. Lots of golfers used to accelerating feel like when they only add 20% that they're adding nothing at all.

Kind of OT for this thread though.

My bad.

Still excited about taking the class, though.

Depending on how it goes, I might give a TR.

[RFKFREAK]

So, I took the class last Friday and wanted to give a Trip Report (YAY TR!).

All I have to say is that if you get an opportunity and have the resources and want to improve your putting, then you should take this class.

I took the class with John Graham (BTW, @iacas John says hi) and he was phenomenal.  He is very patient and breaks green reading so one can easily understand it.

I don't want to say too much other than to say that I went out earlier today and whereas I wouldn't make anyone proud, I was reading putts better by the back 9 (only 3 putted once and 1 putted twice).  With some practice I'm sure that I'll improve and I'm so glad I invested in Aim Point.

[Magnus]

So, I took the class last Friday and wanted to give a Trip Report (YAY TR!).

All I have to say is that if you get an opportunity and have the resources and want to improve your putting, then you should take this class.

I took the class with John Graham (BTW, @iacas John says hi) and he was phenomenal.  He is very patient and breaks green reading so one can easily understand it.

I don't want to say too much other than to say that I went out earlier today and whereas I wouldn't make anyone proud, I was reading putts better by the back 9 (only 3 putted once and 1 putted twice).  With some practice I'm sure that I'll improve and I'm so glad I invested in Aim Point.

I took a class with John as well @ Webster in Roc hester. I'm in Syracuse, but he was worth the 90 minute drive. One of the better investments I've ever made in my game.

[RFKFREAK]

I took a class with John as well @ Webster in Rochester. I'm in Syracuse, but he was worth the 90 minute drive. One of the better investments I've ever made in my game.

Yeah, I was fortunate that he did a class in Saratoga which is about 45 minutes north of me.

Otherwise, I think the closest instructor was around 3 hours away.

[shakogolfer78]

Just signed up for an Express 1&2 class tmrw night! Can't wait to see how this changes my golf game. You guys convinced me to pull the trigger, so I will post a long rant if I was led astray!

[dchoye]

I think it can only help by making one committed to a spot/line.

I know when I putting badly I dont focus on a specific point on the green I want my ball to roll over.

[Patch]

How about reading the inside of the cup, as long as there is an insert, and the insert is level. It will also tell you which way the grain is running. This would not work well for reading the break along the run of the ball, but should work well around the cup.

[RFKFREAK]

Just signed up for an Express 1&2 class tmrw night! Can't wait to see how this changes my golf game. You guys convinced me to pull the trigger, so I will post a long rant if I was led astray!

Outside of signing up for Evolvr, I really feel this has been the best investment in my golf game.

It really is eye-opening.

[iacas]

How about reading the inside of the cup, as long as there is an insert, and the insert is level. It will also tell you which way the grain is running. This would not work well for reading the break along the run of the ball, but should work well around the cup.

a) The cup might not be perfectly horizontal.

b) The green may break differently near the hole than the majority of the putt.

c) Grain doesn't matter very much.

Find an AimPoint clinic near you.

[newtogolf]

We've seen a bit, yeah. This might surprise you, but a lot of golfers don't watch much golf, let alone Golf Channel enough to know what they're talking about.

It might be a good thing.  Over the weekend Faldo called it "Trackman Green Reading" and totally messed up the description of the process.