Jim "Bones" Mackay's 10 Tips for Reading Greens

[iacas]

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/10_rules_jim_mackay

1. First sight is best sight. - Meh. Architects (try to) fool you all the time. And, I would say, nothing involving "sight" is best.
2. Read with your feet, too. - This is the only tip that should be in this article, which should be titled "Take an AimPoint clinic."
3. Speed doesn't always kill. - Phil also three-putts a lot from five feet and in because he jams putts in. Yes, if you can hit your line within a few tenths of one degree, take a little break out and hit it firmly.
4. Develop an insurance read. - This one doesn't really say anything other than "I don't mind slow play."
5. One read for bent, two for Bermuda. - Uhhhh… okay? Unless he's talking exclusively about short putts, the physics doesn't back this one up much at all.
6. Your partner must love the read. - That's fine advice if you're playing with a partner, yes.
7. The best look: behind the hole. - I still disagree that any "look" is best.
8. Be wary of plumb-bobbing. - No shit Jim.  It doesn't work AT ALL.
9. Know the local topography. - Nah. Almost never applies, and can persuade you to go against everything else. The only topography that matters is VERY local - the topography between your ball and the hole.
10. Respect the comebacker. - Or, if you don't jam all your putts like Phil Mickelson, just tap them in.

What are your thoughts? For those of you who haven't taken an AimPoint class, too, I'm curious: why not?

[nevets88]

Quote

On mountain courses, balls tend to move away from the highest peak in the vicinity.

I really want to know the logic for this one.

[TN94z]

37 minutes ago, iacas said:

What are your thoughts? For those of you who haven't taken an AimPoint class, too, I'm curious: why not?

I pretty much agree with all of your comments as well. As Jacob plays in these tournaments, some of the techniques I see these kids using are pretty funny sometimes. Maybe it works for them. The plumb bobbers are everywhere.

As far as the Aimpoint class, I VERY MUCH want to take on myself but haven't had the extra cash lying around

Edited June 15, 2017 by TN94z

[Antneye]

40 minutes ago, iacas said:

For those of you who haven't taken an AimPoint class, too, I'm curious: why not?

$$$$$$

That's all that stands between me and all of the instruction I would love to get

[amished]

16 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

I really want to know the logic for this one.

More than likely just something from typical architecture.  The altitude of the land will necessarily be lower the farther away from the near highest point.  Instead of manufacturing greens that go away from the natural slope of the land, requiring a lot of dirt to be moved to counteract that effect, the architect is more likely to just shore up any slopes that would be impossible to putt on.  So rather than countering the natural lay of the land, they likely only negated some of the lay of the land if necessary.

[Valleygolfer]

Not very helpful advice from Jim and aimpoint is not offered anywhere near me.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

What are your thoughts? For those of you who haven't taken an AimPoint class, too, I'm curious: why not?

Too damn lazy.  

Plus, I'm a decent putter.  Not great by any means, but I seldom 3-putt, and make my reasonable share inside 10 feet.  If, and you know this, it's a BIG if (  ), I were to spend any time actually working to improve an aspect of my game, it would be my full-swing approach shots...

[iacas]

49 minutes ago, amished said:

More than likely just something from typical architecture.  The altitude of the land will necessarily be lower the farther away from the near highest point.  Instead of manufacturing greens that go away from the natural slope of the land, requiring a lot of dirt to be moved to counteract that effect, the architect is more likely to just shore up any slopes that would be impossible to putt on.  So rather than countering the natural lay of the land, they likely only negated some of the lay of the land if necessary.

Thing is, then you have to build two drains - one on the uphill side of the green to collect run-off from the slope, and one on the other side of the green to catch the drainage there. Build the green against the slope and you can just have one drain.

And… a mountain top miles and miles away doesn't have much effect on the topography of a putting green.

They say the greens at Augusta National slope toward Rae's Creek. Not even #11 slopes toward Rae's Creek! (Only two greens do.)

[nevets88]

I'm waiting for the reviews of David Pelz's crowdfunded method. That should be interesting.

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

I'm waiting for the reviews of David Pelz's crowdfunded method. That should be interesting.

What's the ETA on that thing?

[nevets88]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

What's the ETA on that thing?

$74,910
pledged of $212,000 goal
751
backers
21
days to go

[iacas]

Never mind… still not over.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/19456955/dave-pelzs-secrets-of-greenreading

Began May 7, so over one month ago, and has 21 days left. About 1/3 funded.

I'm gonna wager "not gonna get funded."

[saevel25]

It sounds like he needed to come up with a list and couldn't find some good ones.

Honestly, if you know aim point it takes out 7 out of the 10. If you know the concept of capture speed then that takes out a few more. 

Maybe Jim needs to keep it simple ;)

[nevets88]

Wait a second. Bones is Mickelson's caddie. Mickelson works with Pelz. I guess Bones is NDA'd, but if he knows Pelz's revolutionary method and is still giving us this mountain BS, pffffft.

[iacas]

Just now, nevets88 said:

Wait a second. Bones is Mickelson's caddie. Mickelson works with Pelz. I guess Bones is NDA'd, but if knows and is still giving us this mountain BS, pffffft.

Nah. Phil hasn't supported the Kickstarter campaign, either.

[nevets88]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

Nah. Phil hasn't supported the Kickstarter campaign, either.

There's a video of him on the KS page praising Pelz on green reading though.

I dunno, I just feel like all these guys are just trying to sell me air.

[billchao]

2 hours ago, nevets88 said:

I really want to know the logic for this one.

It's because human beings are incapable of shaping the land and creating drainage systems that differ from that which was formed by nature.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, nevets88 said:

There's a video of him on the KS page praising Pelz on green reading though.

Sarcasm… my man. Though I still would bet Phil hasn't backed the KS campaign.