Aimpoint

[HomerJSimpson]

@HomerJSimpson how long ago did you start using aimpoint?

About 10 years ago originally with the chart system and then went back and did the express read course, both with Jamie Donaldson

 

[3 jabber]

About 10 years ago originally with the chart system and then went back and did the express read course, both with Jamie Donaldson

Good stuff. So I'm guessing your putting has improved significantly after 10 years using AP?

 

[Neilds]

Good stuff. So I'm guessing your putting has improved significantly after 10 years using AP?

But it isn’t just AP that Homer is using, he is practicing much more than most of us on his putting so whilst no doubt AP is helping, it may not be the main reason he is putting better. You cannot prove a theory by changing more than one thing at a time

 

[3 jabber]

But it isn’t just AP that Homer is using, he is practicing much more than most of us on his putting so whilst no doubt AP is helping, it may not be the main reason he is putting better. You cannot prove a theory by changing more than one thing at a time

What else is he working on?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Maybe we need a Trilby Tour thread


I suspect GM may have some sort of partnership with Donaldson so what better than to get a new article out there

It ain’t what it used to be…

Aimpoint? If you apply it properly maybe it’s just as quick as any other way…but what if most who use it don’t apply it properly

My own ‘putts holed’ % improved immediately I understood my right eye dominance and how to compensate for it - and that doesn’t require any faffing about.

 

[Neilds]

What else is he working on?

See post #40

 

[AussieKB]

Maybe just practicing your putting no matter what method you are using is helping you to improve.

 

[SteveW86]

Hard to quantify along with swing changes trying to improve short game etc. definitely get better reads and putts have more chances to drop. Definitely worth looking into

I believe you enjoy tracking your stats, so if you are willing to share some data to put some facts into the discussion it would be great to help understand.

Do you have your average putts for this year compared to previous years? Not an exact science because you could be hitting more greens due to your other work, so putting more rather than chipping, but I (and I'm sure others) are interested in the numbers.

 

[3 jabber]

See post #40

I'm not sure of the relevance. Putting is all about getting the ball to a specific point on the green. Reducing the size of the hole is irrelevant, it is still about getting the ball to a specific point. Making the hole smaller may help to focus the mind but you still have to get the line and pace correct. Reducing the hole is not a training aid, it's no different to putting to a tee peg. If AP works and Homer is good at it then I would expect to see an improvement in hcp or at the very least an improvement in putting stats.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Maybe just practicing your putting no matter what method you are using is helping you to improve.

Alternatively, you may be ingraining something bad into your putting . I get what you are saying, and largely agree, but I've also seen enough bad strokes, and gone through bad spells myself to realise that practice just for the sake of practice does not work alone. There has to be some method to it as well.

 

[Neilds]

I'm not sure of the relevance. Putting is all about getting the ball to a specific point on the green. Reducing the size of the hole is irrelevant, it is still about getting the ball to a specific point. Making the hole smaller may help to focus the mind but you still have to get the line and pace correct. Reducing the hole is not a training aid, it's no different to putting to a tee peg. If AP works and Homer is good at it then I would expect to see an improvement in hcp or at the very least an improvement in putting stats.

Not sure where you have got the idea that Homer is reducing the hole size. The gates are placed just in front of where you strike the ball to ensure you set the ball off in the right direction.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure where you have got the idea that Homer is reducing the hole size. The gates are placed just in front of where you strike the ball to ensure you set the ball off in the right direction.

I do have one of these but that is merely used on practice on the 2-3 footers where it is more important to get it running in the middle https://www.perfectmygolf.co.uk/products/no-3-putt

I wouldn't use it in conjunction with starting gates and mat. Two separate practice drills

 

[3 jabber]

I do have one of these but that is merely used on practice on the 2-3 footers where it is more important to get it running in the middle https://www.perfectmygolf.co.uk/products/no-3-putt

I wouldn't use it in conjunction with starting gates and mat. Two separate practice drills

So what putting improvements have you seen in the last 10 years? I'm open to AP if I think there are real benefits.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So what putting improvements have you seen in the last 10 years? I'm open to AP if I think there are real benefits.

According to Arcoss over the last 2 years, average putts per round down from 38.1 to 32.7 with an average of 4.7 1 putts, 11,5 2 putts and 1.7 3 putts per round. I am making 0.9 strokes gained (on last 50 rounds) for my putting which is actually declining (currently down 0.2) which hasn't been helped by some poor putting from 2-3 feet (which isn't really down to Aimpoint, just poor putting and some greens getting bumpier as we head to Winter). According to my 2014 stats I was having 38.6 putts and averaging 6 3 putts per round so there is a definite correlation of improvement since a) using Aimpoint which definitely gives me better reads, b) working on start lines and c) working on shorter putting holing out (which is still a work in progress as I lose 0.3 strokes gained from 3-5 feet and 0.4 strokes gained from 6-9 feet)

 

[PJ87]

According to Arcoss over the last 2 years, average putts per round down from 38.1 to 32.7 with an average of 4.7 1 putts, 11,5 2 putts and 1.7 3 putts per round. I am making 0.9 strokes gained (on last 50 rounds) for my putting which is actually declining (currently down 0.2) which hasn't been helped by some poor putting from 2-3 feet (which isn't really down to Aimpoint, just poor putting and some greens getting bumpier as we head to Winter). According to my 2014 stats I was having 38.6 putts and averaging 6 3 putts per round so there is a definite correlation of improvement since a) using Aimpoint which definitely gives me better reads, b) working on start lines and c) working on shorter putting holing out (which is still a work in progress as I lose 0.3 strokes gained from 3-5 feet and 0.4 strokes gained from 6-9 feet)

Does that track your putts from the fringe? As officially that's off the green so would be a chip

Do you aim point them aswell out of interest

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Does that track your putts from the fringe? As officially that's off the green so would be a chip

Do you aim point them aswell out of interest

In Arcoss you have the option to mark a putt off the green as a "chip" so won't affect putting stats and yes if its on the fringe I treat it as a normal putt

 

[PJ87]

In Arcoss you have the option to mark a putt off the green as a "chip" so won't affect putting stats and yes if its on the fringe I treat it as a normal putt

I'm very interested in aim point. However from my research you really need to work on it and use it every single time. I just know I'd have the lesson then a couple putts not bother and make the whole thing a waste

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm very interested in aim point. However from my research you really need to work on it and use it every single time. I just know I'd have the lesson then a couple putts not bother and make the whole thing a waste

Which is what I've said. It is something you need to work at, especially getting use to reading degrees of slope (hence the digital level as proof). I am pretty good at finding 2 degrees and 3 degrees and any less is usually a 1 degree read (sometimes 1.5 and that is a hard differential to feel). A 4 degree or above (very unusual in the UK especially the courses I play) is fairly easy to work out. I take an Aimpoint read on any putt over 6 feet when I am practicing my distance control.

 

[Orikoru]

The Son of my mate uses it...he's a decent putter anyway and from my perspective, he doesn't seem to hole more putts than he did before he started.
One of the facets of Aimpoint relys on you being able to determine break with your feet astride the line of your putt.
I've tried this and, unless it's a 3 foot break, I just can't feel it.
I certainly can't feel half a cup of break....but I can see it.
Add into that..on our greens you'd need 15 fingers on eeach hand to show the breaks on some greens....
I understand the science behind it and, just like having a line on your ball and lining it up, as long as people get on with it I really don't care what they do.
It's not something I feel the need to explore

Yup. This is always my response too. I can't feel anything in my feet, unless it's a break severe enough to see with your eyes anyway. Maybe if I took my shoes off each time.

 

[Slab]

I can see the way this is worked out but not sure how it translates to a rating 0-6

We know from on screen graphics used by ET & LIV that all L-R / R-L bending putts don't just have a single thin line in order to be successfully holed. It can actually be a few feet wide . Depending on pace of course

So 2 players both agreeing its a 3 slope and holding 3 fingers up won't get the same result if their natural pace reading isn't also identical and we know there's more than one pace the ball can be hit with and still holed

So this gives the line only if you know the pace and pace gives the length but then needs a line, chicken and egg. Maybe the course covers the steps for reading pace too & just didn't factor into the name despite its importance
Aimpointpace
Pointpaceaim
Paceaimpoint
Pacepoint

Anyway I'm not seeing pros walking sideways up a slope reading pace