Anyone Learned Aimpoint? Your Thoughts?

[HawkeyeMS]

I wouldn't say that Homer takes any longer now he is used to it than anyone else. In the first instance I think it did take a little longer but I guess that is to be expected.

My own opinion, having seen it used but never used it, is it all looks like a bit too scientific and calculated for my liking and is still open to a little bit of human error and guess work but even if the result is your second putt is a tap in that has to be a good thing. My own method of reading greens isn't too dissimilar in theory to the aimpoint approach, but with more feel and no books. I understand the theory and have no doubt it works, but I know that I personally couldn't be bothered with the charts.

The biggest thing I think it has done for Homer is to teach him that putts break more than he had previously allowed himself to think. In the beginning I heard him question the information given to him on more than one occasion but he now seems to trust it and go with it. I don't know whether he holes more putts but I am sure he gets it rolling on a better line than he did before.

 

[standrew]

I wouldn't say that Homer takes any longer now he is used to it than anyone else. In the first instance I think it did take a little longer but I guess that is to be expected.

My own opinion, having seen it used but never used it, is it all looks like a bit too scientific and calculated for my liking and is still open to a little bit of human error and guess work but even if the result is your second putt is a tap in that has to be a good thing. My own method of reading greens isn't too dissimilar in theory to the aimpoint approach, but with more feel and no books. I understand the theory and have no doubt it works, but I know that I personally couldn't be bothered with the charts.

The biggest thing I think it has done for Homer is to teach him that putts break more than he had previously allowed himself to think. In the beginning I heard him question the information given to him on more than one occasion but he now seems to trust it and go with it. I don't know whether he holes more putts but I am sure he gets it rolling on a better line than he did before.

Well the subconscious mind works 10000 times faster than the conscious apparantly. I dont know if its just me but i feel my brain gets the read roughly after a second or two of looking down the line.

I was wondering before if there was any training product which would have for example photos of putt lies and photos round the hole, and you had to visually identify the break. I think this would be quite a useful tool.

 

[Foxholer]

There are also 2 requirements that are likely to put folk off adopting it (apart from the price and ego) imo.

You have to know the speed of the greens - or at least get your estimate reasonable close - so the Practice green and first couple of Course greens are a bit of a learning exercise. And the Greens have to be consistent - which isn't always the case!

That shouldn't, though can, put people off trying it.

Their (completely different system) predictions that are used by PGA coverage are great to watch. Those greens have been mapped and modeled to get the line, but the calculation of break is the same.

 

[Qwerty]

I can't see how this would work unless the Slope/break was a constant amount of degrees. In most Putts its got to be variable throughout and surely you can only judge that via the eye.

Also if Theres break involved you need to hit the putt at the right pace to take the break accordingly.
I really don't have a problem with someone using this if they feel its helping, but I just don't get it.

Putting is a skill surely? And even if this method did work is it not taking some of the pleasure away from reading hitting and holing a putt?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

In simple terms, you need to work out the pace as this obviously affects the amount of break. You then find the mid point of the putt on the lowest side You need to turn until you face up the slope and the angle you are to your ball gives you the angle. You then need to work out the degree of slope (1 being a virtually flat putt, 4 being a severe slope). Simply look up the result in the chart and that's it.

Eh? Looking up a chart - what's that about?

 

[john0]

Surely someone must have a video of this penguin dance that we can see?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

just have a good look at the break and visualise the putt. Pick your spot on the putt trajectory to aim at and hit a straight putt at that spot. Bobby Locke - all putts are straight...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

http://aimpointgolf.com/

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

http://aimpointgolf.com/

Looking at the video - I do this I think. Sort out trajectory and and define aimpoint then define point on trajectory in fov (or straightline to aimpoint - pretty much coincident) and hit ball at it.

 

[Stuey01]

Done some YouTube "research" (using the term loosely!). I have a serious question for you aimpointers.
Having established the position of the straight line to the hole, how do you go about accurately assessing the angle between that and the position of your ball?
Is it an estimate? How critical is it that this is accurate?

Thanks

 

[standrew]

Done some YouTube "research" (using the term loosely!). I have a serious question for you aimpointers.
Having established the position of the straight line to the hole, how do you go about accurately assessing the angle between that and the position of your ball?
Is it an estimate? How critical is it that this is accurate?

Thanks

There is a chart they use to determine this. I think it would be pretty make or break.

 

[Stuey01]

There is a chart they use to determine this. I think it would be pretty make or break.

I thought the angle was what you use with the chart to determine break, not what the chart helps you to determine.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

But how can you use a chart when playing a comp - your chart isn't a caddy - it's an external aid?

 

[standrew]

But how can you use a chart when playing a comp - your chart isn't a caddy - it's an external aid?

I guess eventually you wouldnt need it but idk.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Having never done this, but seen about it, the chart is just a piece of paper with numbers on it. You can write anything you like on a piece of paper, such as yardages etc etc, and as long as you use it in the "traditional sense", ie, you read it, that is fine.

Happy to be corrected if i'm wrong, but that is how I understood it...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

From Mark Sweeney -Aimpoint Founder
The R&A has issued a decision on AimCharts (Decision Reference Number ES2012-0479) which states that using them during a stipulated round does NOT violate Rule 14-3 (Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment) provided that: 1. It is not used as a physical reference for gauging angle. This means that in R&A governed rounds you cannot use the AimChart at the MidPoint to pick the angle, you will have to visually pick the angle based on how it intersects your body, then move away from the MidPoint before looking up the break on the AimChart. 2. Golfers play without undue delay (Rule 6-7)3. Players do not stand on or touch the line of the putt (Rule 16-1a) Points 2 and 3 are existing rules governing standard play which you probably know already. The USGA has not commented on this decision, but to be safe we recommend that anyone playing USGA-governed rounds follow the same process. This modified process is just as efficient, just be sure to practice what angles visually look like when standing at the MidPoint. Two AimPoint players who already modified their process won this week—Stacy Lewis on the LPGA and Stacey Keating on the Ladies European Tour.

 

[palindromicbob]

But how can you use a chart when playing a comp - your chart isn't a caddy - it's an external aid?

Lol I had a post here trying to dissect all the possible arguments how it is against the rules but Homer has it covered more solidly before I hit post.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Anyone using the Pythagoras method for determining who is first to putt.

Two balls and hole make three points - three points define a triangle.

Draw imaginary line between the two balls (the base line) and walk along it looking at the hole - with another imaginary line drawn between yourself and the hole.

Move along the base line until the angles between the two imaginary lines is a right angle - as best as you can judge obviously. When it is look at each ball in turn. Whichever looks furthest from you is first away.

Obviously for short putts simply pacing it out is quickest and easy - but this is a good way for longer putts that saves someone doing two lots of pacing out.

 

[3565]

I've been using Aimpoint since early 2012, and been using the Express read recently through the knowledge I've gained by using the chart. Reading these posts you will always get sceptics about something new and Aimpoint is revolutionary. You go to the range, hit balls, pace, laser, gps the distance so you have a better knowledge of how far you hit each club, you go on Trackman and number crunch your AoA, smash whacker, launch of orbit, terminal velocity of the little white missile, and boast how far you can smash your driver, that can be tweeked down to 7.75* with XX-stiff macho shaft................ Why be so cynical when a guy who took time and effort to produce something that gives you no matter what the speed of green is the amount of break required after you have taken certain parameters into account.

I've had players stand and watch what I'm doing on the putting green and they always say the same thing, too bloody complicated, it is if you don't apply the brain, but when I show and then drain the putt without studying the putt the normal way, it shuts them up.

 

[chrisd]

But it's not rocket science is it?

I've been using Aimpoint since early 2012, and been using the Express read recently through the knowledge I've gained by using the chart. Reading these posts you will always get sceptics about something new and Aimpoint is revolutionary. You go to the range, hit balls, pace, laser, gps the distance so you have a better knowledge of how far you hit each club, you go on Trackman and number crunch your AoA, smash whacker, launch of orbit, terminal velocity of the little white missile, and boast how far you can smash your driver, that can be tweeked down to 7.75* with XX-stiff macho shaft................

Well maybe it is!