Putting Strategy

[LagShaft 8]

I hate aim point... It's funny that the guys that preach aim point also get angry about pace of play... I know once you learn it it's probably better and just as fast but it seems complicated and reminds me way to much of work...for some reason Geoff Magnum resonates with me and the idea of surveying a green on your approach walking up, having a target and working mostly on speed control just feels like the way to go... Maybe when I can quit worrying about slowing people down with my long game that will change.  So take that for what it's worth...the opinion of a high HC player who just likes to have fun but also thinks you should find a teaching technique that clicks not clacks in your head.

[iacas 10,909]

6 minutes ago, LagShaft said:

I hate aim point... It's funny that the guys that preach aim point also get angry about pace of play... I know once you learn it it's probably better and just as fast but it seems complicated and reminds me way to much of work...

AimPoint is the fastest AND most accurate way to read putts. Maybe AimPoint users complain about pace of play… because they can read a putt in less than ten seconds while other people are wandering around the hole for a minute or two?

6 minutes ago, LagShaft said:

for some reason Geoff Magnum resonates with me and the idea of surveying a green on your approach walking up, having a target and working mostly on speed control just feels like the way to go...

That's not really green reading, and once you have your aim point you focus on just speed with AimPoint as well.

6 minutes ago, LagShaft said:

Maybe when I can quit worrying about slowing people down with my long game that will change.  So take that for what it's worth...the opinion of a high HC player who just likes to have fun but also thinks you should find a teaching technique that clicks not clacks in your head.

I don't think you've really done much AimPoint training, though, have you?

I've been teaching it about as long as anyone. I'm not saying my experiences have to match yours (or vice versa), but I do have a fair amount of experience in working with it.

[saevel25 2,102]

10 minutes ago, LagShaft said:

I hate aim point... It's funny that the guys that preach aim point also get angry about pace of play...

I would say 99% of slow play happens from those who don't use aimpoint. Aim Point is not slow. 

10 minutes ago, LagShaft said:

I know once you learn it it's probably better and just as fast but it seems complicated and reminds me way to much of work..

It's not complicated. You can take a  lesson, practice a few times and you got it. Just like anything else in golf it needs practice. When I practice my putting overall I just go through the routine of getting use to slopes. It takes me what, 15 minutes to do that. Then I am good. 15 minutes a few times a week and I am a better green reader than most golfers out there. Sign me up ;)

 

[Ernest Jones 1,015]

6 minutes ago, iacas said:

AimPoint is the fastest AND most accurate way to read putts. Maybe AimPoint users complain about pace of play… because they can read a putt in less than ten seconds while other people are wandering around the hole for a minute or two?

That's not really green reading, and once you have your aim point you focus on just speed with AimPoint as well.

I don't think you've really done much AimPoint training, though, have you?

I've been teaching it about as long as anyone. I'm not saying my experiences have to match yours (or vice versa), but I do have a fair amount of experience in working with it.

Agreed, I definitely don't slow anyone down with my putting routine. I use Aimpoint Express, but also know how to use the charts, and once you know what you're doing and have put in a little practice, it's just as fast as the plum-bobbing idiots and even faster when you consider how many less putts it takes you to get around the course.

[Ernest Jones 1,015]

1 hour ago, Ernest Jones said:

I would focus your attention on learning to control speed. IMO, that's the quickest way to lower your putts per round. I'll post a couple good practice drills a little later, kinda pressed for time right now. 

Alright, so here is my drill suggestion. Place a tee in the practice green about 5' in front of you. Place another tee about 25' in front of you. Now, putt a ball just past the first tee. Now putt a ball  just  past the ball you just putted. Keeping putting a ball just past the last one and see how many balls you can fit between the two tees without leaving one short. If you leave one short, meaning it didn't pass you last ball, start over. Once you can make it all the way to the 25' tee, start putting just short of your last ball and see how many you can fit coming back. 

Also, read this:

Something that I do, may or may not work for you, is to develop a feel for how heavy the putter head feels on the backstroke for any given distance. The farther back you bring the putter head, the heavier it will feel. I actually thing in terms of weight as opposed to speed, but YMMV.

[LagShaft 8]

Bwahaha easy guys I thought that may strike a nerve... I don't often troll but when I do I admit it lol.  I've read through every thread about aim point on this site.       I've also watched a lot of aim point videos and carting a card ruler and a turpedo level onto each green with me has no appeal... I have to think this guy will watch the same videos so so convince us otherwise with out insult if you would be so kind... And @iacas if there is one thing that I can teach you in my experience it's that telling people how much experience you have is meaningless because if your good people will know... And if your not... Well then it really doesn't matter how much experience you have now does it.

Edited February 20, 2016 by LagShaft

[iacas 10,909]

Just now, LagShaft said:

I've also watched a lot of aim point videos and carting a card ruler and a turpedo level onto each green with me has no appeal.

That's not how you do AimPoint. That's how you learn AimPoint. It would be illegal to use AimPoint if you had to use a level and a ruler… So, do you understand AimPoint? I'm not seeing a lot of evidence saying you do. If you're just trolling, well, stop.

Just now, LagShaft said:

And @iacas if there is one thing that I can teach you in my experience it's that telling people how much experience you have is meaningless because if your good people will know... And if your not... Well then it really doesn't matter how much experience you have now does it.

That's a goofy thing to say, isn't it?

Being "good" has nothing to do with this: I've taught a heck of a lot of people AimPoint, and they all read greens faster than the average golfer who hasn't learned AimPoint. That's all the "experience" comment speaks to - I have more than a small sample size by which to judge the relative speed of reading greens.

And I'm quite good, too.

[LagShaft 8]

You are I don't doubt that

[boogielicious 3,272]

10 hours ago, LagShaft said:

Bwahaha easy guys I thought that may strike a nerve... I don't often troll but when I do I admit it lol.  I've read through every thread about aim point on this site.       I've also watched a lot of aim point videos and carting a card ruler and a turpedo level onto each green with me has no appeal... I have to think this guy will watch the same videos so so convince us otherwise with out insult if you would be so kind... And @iacas if there is one thing that I can teach you in my experience it's that telling people how much experience you have is meaningless because if your good people will know... And if your not... Well then it really doesn't matter how much experience you have now does it.

Then why do it? All it does is lower the value others may have of your opinion. 

I've done AimPoint for 4 years now and frankly no one notices. I even played with a teaching pro in Florida, who complimented me on my putting and he had no idea. I am among the best putters in my league, maybe the best. It's quick, it's easy and it's is dead-on-balls accurate. 

Your impression of how AimPoint is done is also based on cursory knowledge. I've read a lot of Geoff Magnum's stuff and he has a lot of good information. But his opposition to AimPoint is more of an ego thing. He even went as far as trying to invent a very similar system, but it was stunningly complicated.

Your other comment about Magnum's approach, "surveying a green on your approach walking up, having a target and working mostly on speed control just feels like the way to go." applies to all green reading methods including AimPoint. So there is nothing  unique to Geoff there.

What AimPoint does do it dispel the myths in putting like, "the ball will always break toward water or away from the mountains etc." The ball will always break downhill period. AimPoint shows you how to measure that quickly and accurately.

We are trying to help a new member with some putting issues. Your comments are not helping, they are not constructive and go as far belittling the help. If you don't have anything constructive to add, then why post?

[SemperFi 3]

How long is a typical Aim Point lesson.  There is one close to me who teaches a 1 hour private lesson.

[DaveP043 2,699]

I had a group lesson with @iacas, we had 6 or 7 people in the group.  I believe we spent maybe 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  For a private lesson, a full hour seems reasonable, but I don't have much to compare it to.

[dennyjones 1,106]

31 minutes ago, SemperFi said:

How long is a typical Aim Point lesson.  There is one close to me who teaches a 1 hour private lesson.

It has been a few years since I took the Aimpoint class.   In one hour they taught me putts with only one break.    A second class which covered multiple breaks wasn't included in the class that I took.    They have since changed and now have a speed class.  The best idea is to talk to the instructor and ask the question.   They'll be responsive to your questions.

[boogielicious 3,272]

2 hours ago, SemperFi said:

How long is a typical Aim Point lesson.  There is one close to me who teaches a 1 hour private lesson.

If it’s private, one hour may be fine. I’ve only done group lessons and they were two hours. It’s well worth it.

[iacas 10,909]

One hour for a private one is pretty normal. In a group, 90-120 minutes.

[graham57 33]

I‘d like to come back to the idea that a putting strategy can mean paying attention to where to leave the ball if you miss (e.g. below the hole giving you a straight uphill putt). This really starts with the approach shot - if I am chipping from around the green, I will try to leave myself an uphill putt, i.e. the putting strategy starts before you even get to the green.

[StuM 197]

On 2/25/2021 at 5:28 PM, SemperFi said:

How long is a typical Aim Point lesson.  There is one close to me who teaches a 1 hour private lesson.

I will be doing AimPoint in March and it will be a 90 minute private lesson.  He said since only me he could cover everything in 1 session so no 2nd lesson. He offers free refreshers if I feel the need.

[iacas 10,909]

9 hours ago, graham57 said:

I‘d like to come back to the idea that a putting strategy can mean paying attention to where to leave the ball if you miss (e.g. below the hole giving you a straight uphill putt). This really starts with the approach shot - if I am chipping from around the green, I will try to leave myself an uphill putt, i.e. the putting strategy starts before you even get to the green.

That’s not advisable. You score worse doing that than just trying to get the ball close to the hole.