What is Aimpoint Putting?
Aimpoint green reading has become popular over the past several years as golfers look to shave strokes from their final score.
Invented by Mark Sweeney, the Aimpoint putting technique has reached professional golfers.
Adam Scott is the most notable one who used the process to line up his putts on the golf course.
This multi-step process to green reading may seem difficult initially, but it provides a path to making better strategic decisions on the green to help you make more putts.
In this article, we’ll dissect Aimpoint putting by providing a step-by-step primer to help you adopt this process to improve your putting game.
How does the AimPoint putting method work?
The AimPoint method is a systematic approach to reading greens and aiming putts.
Here’s how it works:
1. Slope Assessment
The golfer first determines the slope of the green by standing perpendicular to the line of the putt, about halfway between the ball and the hole.
Using their feet to sense the ground’s contours, the golfer estimates the percent slope, typically from 1% (very slight) to 5% (very steep).
2. Aim Point Determination
The golfer then stands behind the ball, facing the hole. They close one eye and hold up their hand with their index finger just outside the edge of the hole on the high side of the break.
They extend additional fingers based on the estimated slope percentage. For example, they would hold up three fingers if they felt a 3% slope.
3. Finger Alignment
The last finger held up (in our 3% example, the ring finger) indicates the aim point. This is where the golfer should aim their putt.
4. Setup and Stroke
The golfer then aligns their ball and putter with this aim point, not directly at the hole. They make their normal putting stroke towards this spot.
The method relies on the principle that for a given slope percentage, the putt break will be consistent based on the putt’s length.
Using their fingers as a visual guide, golfers can quickly determine how far outside the hole they need to aim.
One of the trickiest dilemmas facing golfers is reading green speeds. Too many golfers fail to understand the speed of the green, starting with a poor aim point and misjudging the slope.
The beauty of AimPoint is its consistency and repeatability. While it still requires practice to gauge slope percentages accurately, many golfers find it more reliable than traditional green reading methods that rely solely on visual cues.
How to feel AimPoint slope?
Feeling the slope for AimPoint putting involves using your feet to feel the slope of the green’s contours.
To do this, stand perpendicular to the line of the putt in various spots, with the most popular being about halfway between your ball and the hole.
Spread your feet shoulder-width apart and distribute your weight evenly. Pay attention to how your body naturally wants to lean due to the slope.
The key is to focus on the sensation in your feet and legs, noting any subtle pressure changes.
Many golfers describe it as feeling which foot has more pressure or which way their body wants to tilt. This skill improves with experience, allowing you to quickly gauge whether a green has a 1%, 2%, or higher slope.
Does AimPoint use percent or degrees?
AimPoint uses a percent slope, which is easier for beginners to understand. When you’re on the green, you’ll try to feel how steep it is, rating it from 1% to 5%.
A 1% slope is very gentle, so you might barely notice it as you stand. But the 5% slope is steep, so you’ll feel that tilt in your feet.
However, don’t worry about exact numbers at first when learning the Aimpoint golf process on the greens.
Just try to sense if the green is flat, slightly sloped, or very sloped.
With practice, you’ll get better at feeling the differences. What golfers love about this method is that you don’t need to think about complicated angles or degrees. Just focus on what you feel in your feet when you stand on the green.
This simple percent system will help you improve your aim using the AimPoint golf method.
What is Aimpoint Express?
AimPoint Express is a simplified version of the original AimPoint green reading system, designed to be quicker and easier to use on the golf course.
This method helps golfers read greens and determine the correct line for their putts more efficiently.
The Express system focuses on feeling the slope with your feet, estimating its percentage in 1% to 5% increments, and then using a specific finger technique to visualize the aim point.
Golfers stand behind the ball, hold up a number of fingers corresponding to the slope percentage, and use these fingers to find where to aim their putt.
This method eliminates the need for complex calculations or charts in the original AimPoint system. It’s beneficial for beginners who struggle with traditional green reading techniques.
Is AimPoint putting legal?
AimPoint putting is legal in golf for professional tournaments and casual play. The method does not violate any rules set by USGA or R&A.
AimPoint green reading was briefly questioned in 2019 when the USGA and R&A introduced a rule prohibiting the use of green reading materials that showed detailed slope information.
However, this rule does not apply to AimPoint green reading as it relies on a player’s own observations and feel rather than any pre-prepared materials they may carry on the hole.
Major champions like Dustin Johnson use the AimPoint Express read in tournaments, further confirming its acceptance within the golf world.
Why is Aimpoint Putting controversial?
One of the biggest reasons some coaches and PGA Tour golfers are negative about Aimpoint putting is the time it takes to read the green using the process.
In an age where golf courses are strained to facilitate rounds in under four hours, Aimpoint green reading adds even more time to a golfer’s day at the links.
And with junior golfers now adopting Aimpoint Express, there’s genuine concern that widespread adoption could dramatically increase overall time per round.
What does it take to be a certified Aimpoint instructor?
Anyone can become an Aimpoint-certified instructor. All it takes is attending a 6-hour course in Orlando, Florida, with Mark Sweeney.
During that seminar, instructors will learn how to teach the Aimpoint method that PGA Tour players use for reading greens.
Instructors learn Aimpoint golf concepts and methods, plus how to read green speed using their pointer finger behind the ball.
The first year’s training fee is roughly $2500, and the yearly fee is $500. Instructors must register and maintain 25 students annually to keep their Aimpoint license.