AimPoint Green Reading

[Ernest Jones]

Yep, that is how I am using it as well. I find it difficult to say, "Ok its 60 inches outside the right." and trying to figure out were the hell 60 inches is at when lining up long distance. I know that is a skill I need to learn better for short distance as well, but this is were express has its advantage at long distance.

Use the cup width as your guide. 4.25 inches I believe, so 60" would be just under 15 cups, but yeah, express FTW in those situations.

[RFKFREAK]

Just took both the "Express", and "Midpoint" lessons on Saturday. Oh, I'd like to thank @iacas and @david_wedzik for their time and for a great lesson on Aimpoint. It was very informative and I can't wait to get to practicing this technique. As for "Express" versus "Midpoint". I think I would primarily use "Express" for anything outside of 20-25 feet. The percentages are so low on making those putts, that the "Express" read will probably end up being quicker than having to get all the information for the "Midpoint", and doing the math for such a long distance. Even if you get a read on the chart, its a bit tricky trying to figure out the point to aim to from that far away. So, "Express" does give you an visual advantage from farther away when lining up a putt. I think both are very useful in their own way. I think up close midpoint probably ends up taking the advantage.  I would like to see a study done really. Take about 10 golfers who use aimpoint. Have them each read 5-10 putts from 5 feet to 30 feet at intervals of 5 foot. Its a lot of reads, but I wonder if there is an intersect point at which Midpoint becomes more advantageous. Heck they could probably bring out a machine that would putt the balls, just have it aimed at their line. That way you are taking human putting error out of it.

This might be a better question for Erik, but can you take the Midpoint class instead of the Express class? I like the idea of using a book and the more accurate method. Just went on the Aimpoint site and it seems like they aren't doing any clinics in the northeast. :(

[Ernest Jones]

This might be a better question for Erik, but can you take the Midpoint class instead of the Express class? I like the idea of using a book and the more accurate method. Just went on the Aimpoint site and it seems like they aren't doing any clinics in the northeast. :(

I believe you can take them independant of each other but I would recommend learning both at the same time as the skillset is basically the same just used in a different manner. I think it would be kind of silly not to take both classes at once. Oh, and I felt the exact same way with regards to the bold but have since changed my tune for the exact same reasons as Matt ( @saevel25 ). Interestingly enough, @georgep took the Aimpoint classes with Matt and myself and I believe he has come to the same conclusions as to when to use express (outside 20'-25') and when to use the midpoint for a more refined read. In other words, don't underestimate the validity and usefulness of express, it's not a gimmick, it works surprisingly well.

[iacas]

This might be a better question for Erik, but can you take the Midpoint class instead of the Express class?

I like the idea of using a book and the more accurate method.

Just went on the Aimpoint site and it seems like they aren't doing any clinics in the northeast. :(

You can do MidPoint, of course, yes. Just call the nearest instructor and ask him about it.

I believe you can take them independant of each other but I would recommend learning both at the same time as the skillset is basically the same just used in a different manner. I think it would be kind of silly not to take both classes at once.

It's normally gonna run you about $400 to do all of that, though. $100 each for MidPoint and Express Level 1 and 2. Most people, the vast majority of people, like Express more now because there's no chart.

Oh, and I felt the exact same way with regards to the bold but have since changed my tune for the exact same reasons as Matt (@saevel25). Interestingly enough, @georgep took the Aimpoint classes with Matt and myself and I believe he has come to the same conclusions as to when to use express (outside 20'-25') and when to use the midpoint for a more refined read. In other words, don't underestimate the validity and usefulness of express, it's not a gimmick, it works surprisingly well.

I do agree with all that.

[boogielicious]

Yep, that is how I am using it as well. I find it difficult to say, "Ok its 60 inches outside the right." and trying to figure out were the hell 60 inches is at when lining up long distance. I know that is a skill I need to learn better for short distance as well, but this is were express has its advantage at long distance.

Matt,

For longer putts with larger breaks, I relate everything to a putter length.  I imagine my putter lying next to the hole. That is 35 inches.  A 60" break would be almost two putters.  I find it easier to relate things to a dimension I know.  For closer putts, I know the hole is 4.25".  So I pick the lesser breaks by how many hole widths.  I know in training we are supposed to practice estimating exact break distance using the ruler, but I find this easier.

[cipher]

It's normally gonna run you about $400 to do all of that, though. $100 each for MidPoint and Express Level 1 and 2. Most people, the vast majority of people, like Express more now because there's no chart.

So it is generally about $100 for an express class and you need to take 1 and 2?

[RFKFREAK]

So it is generally about $100 for an express class and you need to take 1 and 2?

Does that mean there is only 1 midpoint class at $200 or two midpoint classes at $100 each?

[cipher]

Does that mean there is only 1 midpoint class at $200 or two midpoint classes at $100 each?

That is kind of what I was trying to ask, and if you need to take 1 and 2 for express.

[Jakester23]

There's a guy in spring green that teaches aimpoint express if you want to do it chiper.

[cipher]

There's a guy in spring green that teaches aimpoint express if you want to do it chiper.

Thanks, yeah I spoke with him and got the answers I was looking for.

[Ernest Jones]

There's a guy in spring green that teaches aimpoint express if you want to do it chiper.

Thanks, yeah I spoke with him and got the answers I was looking for.

That's funny. I almost put @Jakester23 's post in the spelling thread, I thought "chiper" was for "cheaper" but it's a typo for "cipher".

[Always an 80]

A friend of mine who always does well in the city tourny told me something about putting two days ago that kind of depressed me.  He said his method is to walk up and look at the green and then hit the ball.  No theory.  No study.  No routine.   He shoots around 76 on average day.  He is 73 years old and says you can putt or you can't.

Now that I think of it, I am not kind of depressed.  I AM depressed.

[iacas]

He is 73 years old and says you can putt or you can't.

He is wrong.

[Always an 80]

Not so depressed now.  Thanks.

[Ernest Jones]

A friend of mine who always does well in the city tourny told me something about putting two days ago that kind of depressed me.  He said his method is to walk up and look at the green and then hit the ball.  No theory.  No study.  No routine.   He shoots around 76 on average day.  He is 73 years old and says you can putt or you can't.   Now that I think of it, I am not kind of depressed.  I AM depressed.

While I will agree that some people are born with a talent for putting I disagree with the statement that "either you can putt or you can't". Anybody who puts in the time can become a good to great putter. 1) take an Aimpoint class to remove the mysteries of green reading 2) practice your distance control 3) learn how to aim your putter correctly so you can hit your lines. Make sure the putter you have suits your eye. All three require some practice, but not a ton of practice. Hell, I've barely practice at all since taking Aimpoint and I'm getting a lot of tap ins for my second putt. If I spent a little more time on those three things I can easily see half of those tap in leaves going in on the first putt. I tend to leave them an inch or two short so really I just need to dial in my distance control a touch better. Putting is, without a doubt, the easiest part of the game.

[Golfingdad]

Apologies for the background interference.

[iacas]

Apologies for the background interference.

I recorded the same thing. No babies, though. Sorry.

Slightly better version yet:

[Golfingdad]

I recorded the same thing. No babies, though. Sorry.

I don't blame her, though, it was a life or death situation.  You see, she has a tiny two-day old scratch on her knee and she needed a band-aid.  First she wanted a Cinderella band-aid, so mommy opened it up, but then she decided after it was too late that she wanted a different princess.  You can hear when she screams at 0:20 that "I want Belle!!!!!!!"

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I didn't actually get to watch the tournament though, so I didn't see her actually using it.  Has anybody ever seen her (or anybody else) doing a midpoint read on TV?  I still hope to see that one of these days.