For those that are having difficulty understanding, they are referring to the percentage of slope. U need to get a digital scale that displays percentage of slope.(not degrees) Then identify 5 areas on a green that represent each percent of slope. 1-5. Then memorize the feel for each one with your feet and use the corresponding number of fingers to match the percentage felt.
Easy - get some wood strips - 1.5-2.0 inches wide. Cut to foot lengths. For a 1% slope you'll need a piece that's 1/8th" thick - place it under your foot on one side and place the other foot 12.5" away - the feel between the foot on the 1/8" wood and the other without the wood is 1%. Use a piece of wood at 1/4" thickness and it's 2%. Use bother the 1/8th and 1/4 and it's 3% and use twp 1/4" pieces and that's 4% - add the 1/8th and you have 5%. Keep doing that and looking down between your feet and feel where the balance point sits between your feet and you have it. BTW - Don't use a putter as a plumb bob between your feet doing this on the course cause that's against the rules - using a club for its unintended purpose rule.
Ok, I was sceptical, but I tried using this today (without having had the proper training). This worked surprisingly well for long first putts. I hit quite a few 30 footers to within 1or 2 feet and even sunk a 25 footer going across a slope. I think the enforced pre-shot routine is part of what makes this work so well
I love the way the AimPoint guys never really tell you how to do AimPoint - you'll need to attend a course and pay. These videos are more advert than helpful.
@@tigger8579 Take a look at Geoff MAngums discussion document on using a set break vs distance calculations called " Slope Break Reading" - it's exactly how AimPoint works. The odd thing is if you tell players what you are doing the Geoff Mangum way they think you are bonkers - and if you tell them you are doing the AimPoint thing they think you are cool - such is the power of marketing!!
Slight feeling of break under the feet is 1 finger left or right of hole when stood directly behind the ball, regardless of distance away from hole. More break is 2 or 3 fingers etc. Aim at that exact spot (blade of grass, pine needle or whatever) or more easily a spot on the same line far closer (which you should then aim to roll over). Adjust power for slope and then trust the system so that you either hole it or miss close and 'high' (for an easy 2 putt). Voila.
@@robertbaldwin177 If you get three pine strips about a foot long - 2 at 1cm thick and 1 at 5mm thick then you can put one or two of these under your left or right foot and train yourself to correctly feel 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% slope. Just put your feet at 50 cm apart and place the 5mm strip under your foot - you are feeling 1% of slope. With the 1cm stripe thats a feel of 2%. the 5cm + 1cm is going to be 3% and two 1cm strips is 4% - all of the strips is 5%. You just need the break-per-foot matrix to do the calculations. at stimp 7 the break at 1% is about 3/8ths of an inch per foot so that makes a 10 foot putt at 1% a 10x 3/8 = 30/8 = just under 4". Geoff Mangum has all the numbers on his website.
@@robertbaldwin177 Put your feet about 2 foot apart - then 2% looks like your centre of balance is 2/3rds of the distance between your feet when you look down, 3% looks like 3/4qtrs and 4% is like 7.8ths. You'll get it with practice. Try my foot size strips method to practice strips under one foot of 5mm 1 cm .
Great video. I had a lesson in using aimpoint. Use it in my putting routine but only the feet not the fingers. I am convinced that using your feet is more reliable than using only your eyes in determing what the break of the putt is. Your eyes can indeed be deceiving😇🧐
Hi Raymond. It is a great system for sure. For the majority of golfers we feel it would be a big benefit and would give them a fast, more accurate read.
I had a lesson with Jamie a year ago on aimpoint, once you get it, it changes your game completely. Hole so many more puts, so much more confidence on courses I haven't played before etc. Very worthwhile investment. For those confused about slope numbers, its pretty simple just how severe it feels, slight slope = 1 more severe = 4 etc. But it takes practice it isn't a magic solution and isn't for everyone.
After watching this video I went out and played 9 holes to test it out. I 2 putted 8 holes and 1 putted the other and I’ve never done the before! Thanks guys!
If you like it definitely get a lesson from a certified instructor. You need to dial in what the feel for each percent of slope. 1 thru 5 percent of slope. And nuances such as when to line up the side of your fingers at the middle of the cup or low side. Plus how to adjust your arm length to adjust for the green speed.
Just completed this course with Jamie at Woburn.. folks if you have the time it really is amazing to learn.2hr course But you have it for life and it works
That was really insightful; I asked Peter Finch were to look fro Aim Point input and I found this... Didn't get the numbers piece 1 2 3 4 etc> I assume degree of slope but what criteria between 1 and a 2?? Thank you
Love AimPoint!!!! I average now 25.7 Putts per round. I’m teaching it with my students because there’s no pro in my area that does it nor they want to understand it.
How does it work what is the scale too howd he know three is it one to 5 obviously 5 fingers? And when he said we talked about the speed point talking about how far away his hand is from his face so whats that?
Eric Hurt sounds a little like you don’t entirely know or, you dont have all the info. I don’t understand how you couldn’t articulate it on a keyboard but you could articulate it vocally in person??
Bryce Smith when you go to the teaching of it they thought us how to feel the green with our feet while because visually you can’t see everything, you get a scale on what each point is based off of. Now this is of course based on course conditions and green speeds. When I play I always ask what scale are the speed of the greens.....no does every golfer ask that....heck no.....they’re loading up for beer and on there way. So like I said there’s a lot of factors involved and scale training. Go to a class close to you and they will get more involved and you’ll see how putting is way more involved then you think.
@Darrell Johnson That's the hardest part to learn. Feeling the slope. Here is what I did to learn how to feel the slope. I purchased a digital carpenter's level at Lowes that can measure incline in percent. Cost was under $20. Percent incline is simply a measurement of how much the surface goes uphill or downhill in a given distance. Example: From ball to hole is 100 inches, From ball to hole the green rises 1 inch. 1 inch is 1 percent of 100 inches, so hence the slope is a 1 percent slope. 4 inch rise in 100 inches would be a 4 percent slope etc. Anyways, I took the digital level to the practice green at my local course and laid the level down and read the slope. Then tried to feel that slope with my feet. Then found another spot that was steeper and compared what that felt like. Soon I could feel the slope confidently enough to challenge myself by picking a spot on the green to stand on, then guessing the slope , then laying down the level to see how close my guess was. Got to the point that I could guess within 1 percent . Keep in mind that Aiming point works best for putts where the ball rolls an a constant slope to the hole. That means relatively short putts on most greens (under 10 feet). If it's a long putt , with slopes that go in several different directions, the system becomes much more difficult . You have to break the putt into 3 sections and figure out what the ball will do in each section, then somehow average it out.
Really enjoyed his point about the landscape and to remember that the ball only knows what it touches. The green is manmade and they can do anything they want.
How ironic, I just inadvertently used this technique today several times, I never knew this already "was a thing". It works, and I learned more about my putting in just 30 minutes of practicing than I've learned in 30+ years of putting. I am using this technique from now on, especially after I thought I came up with it. Lol..
One thing that has improved my putting is grip. Feeling the stroke is so key. A friend told me that I should grip the club with my right hand (since I’m right handed) and let the left hand just rest to guide the club. After making this change I began making 10-20ft puts on a regular basis, probably 5 of 10, up from 1 of 10. The control with the right hand helped me feel how hard I was hitting the ball.
NB: Tour pros on the best greens in the world average 50% from around 7 feet. Your right hand tip is a very good one, but you don't make half of your 10-20 footers.
I’m not saying I make 50% of those shots every time I golf... let me rephrase what i was trying to say. If I were to put it into a percentage basis, I would say that it would be 30-50%. All depends on how Im golfing, and the condition of the greens. All I’m saying is that it greatly improved my accuracy. I would love to learn the aimpoint system and refine my putting even more. Where once I was three and four putting, I’m now 1 and two putting the same distances, just by changing my grip. This year in a round of 18 holes I’ve maybe had 2 triple putts a round. Before I would have 6 or 7 triple putts. That’s all I’m saying.
A few points. 1. Trust your instincts. 2. Always use a line on the ball to aim the ball at the aimpoint. That way , once you setup to the ball and square the club face and body to the line, aim no longer should be part of the thinking process. Another benefit of having a line on the ball is that you get instant feedback regarding the quality of your stroke. If the line rolls end over end without any wobble you had a square club face at impact and a down the line stroke at impact. So if you then missed the hole, you don't have to wonder if it was because your aim or stroke was bad. It means your read or speed, or both, have to take the blame. If the line wobbles on the ball, the severity of the wobble will tell you how bad your stroke was. I laugh when announcers on TV proclaim when a golfer misses a putt left or right, that he "pulled it" or "pushed" it, yet the line on his ball rolled nicely end over end. You can't pull or push a putt without the line wobbling all over the place. Actually it will wobble so much that you can't even make out a line because it becomes a blurr. Try it next time . Finally, something I rarely hear mentioned and I get laughed at whenever I mention it. SPIN YOUR BALLS!!! If you don't you are basically putting with a mud ball. No ball is perfectly balanced. At least I have never found one to be.
Trial and error in practice. I taught this to myself with no instruction. Whatever my feet feel is the number I give it. This could be something different to everyone. Once u know where the putt ended up adjust it from there. Ex: oh crap what I felt was a 3 really was a 4. Ok. Eventually you will have your own feel to the number you pick. It’s not really rocket science tbh.
Interesting.Nicely done lads. Thoughts,use only 1 flag and hole location. It was challenging at times to be certain which hole you were putting to.I also thought that upon determining slope percentage the number of fingers held up were from the center of the hole or the flagstick .As distance changed it would sometimes be from the edge ,on the high side of the cup.That indicated AimPoint distance in the video seemed to be a much larger break than I believe the number 3 would actually indicate as your reference ,it looked to be 5 plus .Again perhaps the camera.Excellent point made about the acceptable distance past the hole.With understanding it must pass on the high side. I could not agree more once a part of your Pre shot routine and a successful putt.This is a very quick and accurate way to increase makable putts.Continued success ⛳️ Thanks
Tried this on a billiard table and the results were incredible. Got to be careful not to kick balls out of the way. I now read books with my feet to make sure I read them correctly...Barnum and bollocks come to mind...😂👍
Personally I like to use quantum electrodynamics to calculate the probability of the trajectory. By using Richard Feynman’s complex mathematical diagrams I can predict not only where the golf ball will be in relation to the hole but also where it is in the universe. Yes it slows down play but time is relative.
Ian Barnes on a really gentle slope try closing your eyes and shifting your weight very gently left and right - you’d be shocked how sensitive your internal gyroscope is when you put all focus on balance. Narrowing and relaxing the feet can also increase sensitivity.
Enjoyed the Video, but you have not explained anything about how many fingers to use, how far to hold the hand away from your eyes or how to evaluate the feel you get from your feet. Do you have any Information about that?
You actually have to go to an aim point clinic or express to learn it. It's a feel method so it's best if it's shown directly on a slope. Basically it everything depends on the slope of the green you feel with your feet - so they show you - this feel = 1 finger, this feel = 2... if you are X meters away from the hole and the feel is 2 fingers you need to either - stretch your hand out, bend it etc. I don't think it can be taught online, so I'm probably going to a clinic this summer.
I like the concept, because it seems right that our feet are more reliable than our eyes in green-reading, but my buddies would be frustrated, time-wise, if someone used AimPoint.
Have to honest, for the first 10 mins, I thought they were talking about aiming at the flag on the left, then he putts to a hole I never saw, so kinda screwed me up😂
I purchased the Aim Point Express DVD a few years ago, and no matter how much times I spent on the practice green I could *never* properly estimate the "degree of slope" that you *must* be able to do. I even purchased TWO electronic levels (large one for practice sessions and a smaller one to keep in the golf bag), and it was comical how much I was unable to come up with the proper degree of slope. As they say in the auto commercials, "your mileage may vary."
Fair enough, makes perfect sense. Trouble with face-to-face instruction, is that the Aim Point's own web site has a map of the USA with instructors, but they are labeled as Level 1 (most instructors) to Level 5 (Mark Sweeny in Orlando, who I think is the creator of the system). Nowhere on the web site that I can find details what the difference in "Level" instruction is. The only instructor listed in the Myrtle Beach area where I live is at the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and is a Level 1. Is a Level 1 instructor going to teach me anything I won't already know from watching the DVD? I'm guessing that Level 1 is "basic intro" stuff.
I don't have any trouble reading the greens. My issue is getting the ball started on the selected path with the proper speed. And that's a practice thing. JM2C
im a quick putter I don't have practice swings I have a quick look at my putting line then I put I found taking out practise swings improved my putting I just make sure the club face is square to where I want too put and judge the pace and that's it I use the kiss method kiss stands for keep it simple silly
How does it work on greens with subtle breaks. The greens i play on have the most subtle breaks and the greens have no discernible indicators. Such as back to front slope or grain or falls toward the water. They are mostly flat and feeling slope is extremely difficult
Reduce the expectations of your performance to zero, nil, nothing (Note: this is *not the same* as thinking you're going to play badly!). If you have high expectations of how you are going to play you have already mentally played the round in your head and shot a good score - yet you haven't actually hit a single ball! That brings pressure and pressure brings tension and tension brings poor shots and poor shots bring disappointment in your expectations. So go out with a clear mind (and maybe a couple of swing thoughts you know help you) and just execute each shot the best you can. If it's a bad one, let it go and move on - no amount of anger or wishful thinking will change it. If it's a good one your confidence will grow for the next shot. With a bit of golfing luck and skill you 'll get in the zone and be hitting balls pressure free, not expecting good shots, just hitting them as they happen.
Thanks for the input. A suggestion on the production of the video...don't bore the audience before you (actually) hit the ball. Consider video production in reverse order.
I follow the merit of establishing degree of slope but the path of a ball due to grain and/or wind may be contrary to degree of slope to left or right.
For me I would say missing on the low side is better as then you always have an uphill 2nd putt, you won't hole as many putts, but over 20 foot I would much rather 2 putt every time than get the occasional one putt and have tricky downhill 2nd putt
If you miss the line low, the ball will NEVER go in. If you miss the line on the high side you still have a chance if you get the pace wrong. Hit it a fraction slow and it might go in.
Bring a hula hoop and place it right behind the hole. If you don’t finish in the hole you should finish in the hula hoop. Most amateur 3 putts (I’ve seen) are more about pace than break.
Aimpoint reduced my 3putts but unless you take the time to dial it in with the stimp/speed then it is easy to become too reliant on it within scoring range and burn too many edges
Lads, thanks for this show. I fully realise that you are making someone elses work known, Bravo. If a Golfer takes (say) 10 even 20 seconds and sinks the putt (or has a gimme), how is that slow ? 3 Putting HAS to be slower than sinking fewer putts. Especially if the group in front is a 3 or 4 ball....... I'm returning to playing again having retired at 62 (sadly My broad chest and narrow hips have swapped places) having not played to any measurable degree for 25yrs. My short game was (I stress WAS) always pretty tidy. But. Short game is a confidence game, so I've been wondering if My reliable touch will have deserted Me. Then I watched this. Bingo. Doesn't matter if I'm rubbish around the greens tomorrow, because I have a "Caddy in The Head" not a "devil in The Brainbox" (Peter Aliss term that) and My Brane Caddy will help Me get better. I'll get better at AimPoint just and it's results will encourage Me.
There are two faults with aimpoint. First, your fingers distance from your eyes. I was told to adjust my fingers distance on different green speeds and courses, but it is highly inaccurate and ineffective to do so. Second, measuring slope with your feet will never make an accurate calculation of the slope. Not to mention finger thicknesses, green elevation, and different speed for different lines. I sticked to Tiger’s method: walk the putt 360 degrees and imagine the line. Way more drained putts and lower scores!
That's explained in the class. They don't give it away on camera as then no one would pay for the classes. I took AimPoint thinking that I'd cannibalize the best bits from it into my routine but now it's 95% of my putting routine. This video makes it sound more complicated then it really is.
@@chrisd5986 I do recommend the 1st two classes but I'm not convinced on their 3rd class on Speed. I think they'll refine that better (over to you Mark and Jamie)
Look folks, 1st find the fall line.Then imagine the line running thru the middle of cup. So now your ether putting down hill, up hill or putting across the the fall lone in some manner. Look at the terrain pick a line and putt towards the fall line. NOTE ..If you putt past the fall line you'll miss the putt. NOTE 2.. The more the slope the more the break....NOTE 3. 1 Finger for 1 percent, 2 fingers for 2 percent, so on and so on..Now look at run line to the fall point and putt a good stroke.....It not that hard, just takes patients and good speed control to keep ball on line......Try it, let me know
I really didn’t understand the first couple mins of this guy explaining how it all works (I get it, they want you to buy the system, not get it on a freee UA-cam channel), but would have helped if you guys gave a bit more info...”we ran through the ratings earlier”?? Not much help here ...”its was kinda like a 3 or a 4 here”...huh? Kinda feel like I came in on the middle of the movie here. On my end, I do a modified version of Aimpoint which is I simply use my feet and walk the line to determine a) slope uphill or downhill and how much and b) which way the putt breaks and how severely. This has greatly improved my putting over the years.
If pro’s only make 14% of there 20’ putts ,an average amateur would never get close to this percentage ever ! Aim point is awesome and improves putting by eliminating 3 putting for amateurs .
Great video.I played this week with a young kid who used it and was disappointed with his 82. Two points. Next time take out that flag in the background, very irritating. Two: If you're not allowed to stand on your putt line, on a big breaking putt when you are taking your stance over the line to measure your number, wouldn't it be easy to accidentally stand on your line? You don't know the break until you get back to the ball and measure your 3 or 4. The kid I played with had his feet about 8 inches apart as he made his two measurements, and I'm sure he was on top of the line once or twice, although I didn't call it. Comments?
Adam Scott can't putt worth shit.....he's lost a lot of tournaments 'only' because of his putting. His one only Masters win was the only time he putted good....a fluke. You can love his swing but his putting and chipping holds him back
Why didn't Andy "measure/feel" the break at hole level? "Rating 2" was still about 2 yards in front. In my experience the slope effects most at the end of the putt, when the ball runs slowly.
"You can misread and make putts - does that make you a good putter?" If your misreads allow for a stroke flaw and cause you to make more putts you could be a good putter! The goal is to get the ball in the hole not to be better at reading greens, unless you want to be a caddy...
Nope not having this. Nicklaus, Woods, Faldo none used this. Putting for me is my biggest strength and from start out I was taught distance control not line. Feel your distance. Work way back from hole and ball entry into hole. Break into thirds and then you'll be back at your ball with your line. Most amateurs do not correctly putt and deliever the putter consistently which should be the first thing they work on, so many pull and pushes then blame the green
Very little point to this video unless you explain and quantify the slope ratings. No good to say “feels like a 3”. Good for you! Wanna explain how you got to that?
Haha thought the samething, ok wtf does a 3 feel like and what's the range cat.1-5 like hurricanes? Don't forget the coriolis effect for putts greater than 30ft.
For those that are having difficulty understanding, they are referring to the percentage of slope. U need to get a digital scale that displays percentage of slope.(not degrees) Then identify 5 areas on a green that represent each percent of slope. 1-5. Then memorize the feel for each one with your feet and use the corresponding number of fingers to match the percentage felt.
Thanks, this explanation is the clearest I’ve seen so far 👍🏾
Easy - get some wood strips - 1.5-2.0 inches wide. Cut to foot lengths. For a 1% slope you'll need a piece that's 1/8th" thick - place it under your foot on one side and place the other foot 12.5" away - the feel between the foot on the 1/8" wood and the other without the wood is 1%. Use a piece of wood at 1/4" thickness and it's 2%. Use bother the 1/8th and 1/4 and it's 3% and use twp 1/4" pieces and that's 4% - add the 1/8th and you have 5%. Keep doing that and looking down between your feet and feel where the balance point sits between your feet and you have it. BTW - Don't use a putter as a plumb bob between your feet doing this on the course cause that's against the rules - using a club for its unintended purpose rule.
How far should your hand be from your face?
Ok, I was sceptical, but I tried using this today (without having had the proper training). This worked surprisingly well for long first putts. I hit quite a few 30 footers to within 1or 2 feet and even sunk a 25 footer going across a slope. I think the enforced pre-shot routine is part of what makes this work so well
I love the way the AimPoint guys never really tell you how to do AimPoint - you'll need to attend a course and pay. These videos are more advert than helpful.
I mean that helped me do it… no class, everything for free
@@tigger8579 Take a look at Geoff MAngums discussion document on using a set break vs distance calculations called " Slope Break Reading" - it's exactly how AimPoint works. The odd thing is if you tell players what you are doing the Geoff Mangum way they think you are bonkers - and if you tell them you are doing the AimPoint thing they think you are cool - such is the power of marketing!!
Slight feeling of break under the feet is 1 finger left or right of hole when stood directly behind the ball, regardless of distance away from hole. More break is 2 or 3 fingers etc. Aim at that exact spot (blade of grass, pine needle or whatever) or more easily a spot on the same line far closer (which you should then aim to roll over). Adjust power for slope and then trust the system so that you either hole it or miss close and 'high' (for an easy 2 putt). Voila.
@@robertbaldwin177 If you get three pine strips about a foot long - 2 at 1cm thick and 1 at 5mm thick then you can put one or two of these under your left or right foot and train yourself to correctly feel 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% slope. Just put your feet at 50 cm apart and place the 5mm strip under your foot - you are feeling 1% of slope. With the 1cm stripe thats a feel of 2%. the 5cm + 1cm is going to be 3% and two 1cm strips is 4% - all of the strips is 5%.
You just need the break-per-foot matrix to do the calculations. at stimp 7 the break at 1% is about 3/8ths of an inch per foot so that makes a 10 foot putt at 1% a 10x 3/8 = 30/8 = just under 4". Geoff Mangum has all the numbers on his website.
@@robertbaldwin177 Put your feet about 2 foot apart - then 2% looks like your centre of balance is 2/3rds of the distance between your feet when you look down, 3% looks like 3/4qtrs and 4% is like 7.8ths. You'll get it with practice. Try my foot size strips method to practice strips under one foot of 5mm 1 cm .
Great video. I had a lesson in using aimpoint. Use it in my putting routine but only the feet not the fingers. I am convinced that using your feet is more reliable than using only your eyes in determing what the break of the putt is. Your eyes can indeed be deceiving😇🧐
Hi Raymond. It is a great system for sure. For the majority of golfers we feel it would be a big benefit and would give them a fast, more accurate read.
I had a lesson with Jamie a year ago on aimpoint, once you get it, it changes your game completely. Hole so many more puts, so much more confidence on courses I haven't played before etc. Very worthwhile investment. For those confused about slope numbers, its pretty simple just how severe it feels, slight slope = 1 more severe = 4 etc. But it takes practice it isn't a magic solution and isn't for everyone.
Funny how this is becoming a huge resource in the golf world and you guys covered it 4 years ago!! The real ogs!!!
I can’t believe you guys wore different outfits this day!! M4 Andy. M3 piers
After watching this video I went out and played 9 holes to test it out. I 2 putted 8 holes and 1 putted the other and I’ve never done the before!
Thanks guys!
Great work. Glad this was a useful
If you like it definitely get a lesson from a certified instructor. You need to dial in what the feel for each percent of slope. 1 thru 5 percent of slope. And nuances such as when to line up the side of your fingers at the middle of the cup or low side. Plus how to adjust your arm length to adjust for the green speed.
Just completed this course with Jamie at Woburn.. folks if you have the time it really is amazing to learn.2hr course But you have it for life and it works
This is great. Gave me a standard to use, and my lag putting has dramatically improved.
That was really insightful; I asked Peter Finch were to look fro Aim Point input and I found this... Didn't get the numbers piece 1 2 3 4 etc> I assume degree of slope but what criteria between 1 and a 2??
Thank you
Love AimPoint!!!! I average now 25.7 Putts per round. I’m teaching it with my students because there’s no pro in my area that does it nor they want to understand it.
How does it work what is the scale too howd he know three is it one to 5 obviously 5 fingers? And when he said we talked about the speed point talking about how far away his hand is from his face so whats that?
Bryce Smith it’s hard to tell you, but it easy to teach it in person because then things make sense
Eric Hurt sounds a little like you don’t entirely know or, you dont have all the info. I don’t understand how you couldn’t articulate it on a keyboard but you could articulate it vocally in person??
Eric Hurt you need to show me?
Bryce Smith when you go to the teaching of it they thought us how to feel the green with our feet while because visually you can’t see everything, you get a scale on what each point is based off of. Now this is of course based on course conditions and green speeds. When I play I always ask what scale are the speed of the greens.....no does every golfer ask that....heck no.....they’re loading up for beer and on there way. So like I said there’s a lot of factors involved and scale training. Go to a class close to you and they will get more involved and you’ll see how putting is way more involved then you think.
How do you determine if it's 1,2 or 3? You did't say that part.
@Darrell Johnson That's the hardest part to learn. Feeling the slope.
Here is what I did to learn how to feel the slope.
I purchased a digital carpenter's level at Lowes that can measure incline in percent. Cost was under $20. Percent incline is simply a measurement of how much the surface goes uphill or downhill in a given distance.
Example: From ball to hole is 100 inches, From ball to hole the green rises 1 inch. 1 inch is 1 percent of 100 inches, so hence the slope is a 1 percent slope. 4 inch rise in 100 inches would be a 4 percent slope etc.
Anyways, I took the digital level to the practice green at my local course and laid the level down and read the slope. Then tried to feel that slope with my feet. Then found another spot that was steeper and compared what that felt like. Soon I could feel the slope confidently enough to challenge myself by picking a spot on the green to stand on, then guessing the slope , then laying down the level to see how close my guess was. Got to the point that I could guess within 1 percent .
Keep in mind that Aiming point works best for putts where the ball rolls an a constant slope to the hole. That means relatively short putts on most greens (under 10 feet).
If it's a long putt , with slopes that go in several different directions, the system becomes much more difficult . You have to break the putt into 3 sections and figure out what the ball will do in each section, then somehow average it out.
Really enjoyed his point about the landscape and to remember that the ball only knows what it touches. The green is manmade and they can do anything they want.
How ironic, I just inadvertently used this technique today several times, I never knew this already "was a thing". It works, and I learned more about my putting in just 30 minutes of practicing than I've learned in 30+ years of putting. I am using this technique from now on, especially after I thought I came up with it. Lol..
Great stuff! I've been using it (somewhat incorrectly, arm length to predict green speed - should have realized that) and it def works as advertised.
Great Brian. Glad this was useful. Hope it continues to work.
I have taken aim point express 1&2. It flat out works. Great video
One thing that has improved my putting is grip. Feeling the stroke is so key. A friend told me that I should grip the club with my right hand (since I’m right handed) and let the left hand just rest to guide the club. After making this change I began making 10-20ft puts on a regular basis, probably 5 of 10, up from 1 of 10. The control with the right hand helped me feel how hard I was hitting the ball.
NB: Tour pros on the best greens in the world average 50% from around 7 feet. Your right hand tip is a very good one, but you don't make half of your 10-20 footers.
Daniel Leonard you don’t make 5/10 of 10-20 foot putts
I’m not saying I make 50% of those shots every time I golf... let me rephrase what i was trying to say. If I were to put it into a percentage basis, I would say that it would be 30-50%. All depends on how Im golfing, and the condition of the greens. All I’m saying is that it greatly improved my accuracy. I would love to learn the aimpoint system and refine my putting even more. Where once I was three and four putting, I’m now 1 and two putting the same distances, just by changing my grip. This year in a round of 18 holes I’ve maybe had 2 triple putts a round. Before I would have 6 or 7 triple putts. That’s all I’m saying.
I was taught aimpoint in around 2016, absoloutely amazing.
A few points.
1. Trust your instincts.
2. Always use a line on the ball to aim the ball at the aimpoint. That way , once you setup to the ball and square the club face and body to the line, aim no longer should be part of the thinking process.
Another benefit of having a line on the ball is that you get instant feedback regarding the quality of your stroke. If the line rolls end over end without any wobble you had a square club face at impact and a down the line stroke at impact. So if you then missed the hole, you don't have to wonder if it was because your aim or stroke was bad. It means your read or speed, or both, have to take the blame.
If the line wobbles on the ball, the severity of the wobble will tell you how bad your stroke was.
I laugh when announcers on TV proclaim when a golfer misses a putt left or right, that he "pulled it" or "pushed" it, yet the line on his ball rolled nicely end over end. You can't pull or push a putt without the line wobbling all over the place. Actually it will wobble so much that you can't even make out a line because it becomes a blurr. Try it next time .
Finally, something I rarely hear mentioned and I get laughed at whenever I mention it. SPIN YOUR BALLS!!!
If you don't you are basically putting with a mud ball. No ball is perfectly balanced. At least I have never found one to be.
True top spin you are spot on with comments.
Number 4! My coach actually taught me this good method!
Great video. Just one question. Where do you get the initial scale numbers to start the read. ie 1, 2, or whatever.?
Trial and error in practice. I taught this to myself with no instruction. Whatever my feet feel is the number I give it. This could be something different to everyone.
Once u know where the putt ended up adjust it from there.
Ex: oh crap what I felt was a 3 really was a 4. Ok. Eventually you will have your own feel to the number you pick.
It’s not really rocket science tbh.
I think in a lesson you learn it more in depth. They want you to see the process, understand it a little, and find someone to get a lesson.
Interesting.Nicely done lads. Thoughts,use only 1 flag and hole location. It was challenging at times to be certain which hole you were putting to.I also thought that upon determining slope percentage the number of fingers held up were from the center of the hole or the flagstick .As distance changed it would sometimes be from the edge ,on the high side of the cup.That indicated AimPoint distance in the video seemed to be a much larger break than I believe the number 3 would actually indicate as your reference ,it looked to be 5 plus .Again perhaps the camera.Excellent point made about the acceptable distance past the hole.With understanding it must pass on the high side. I could not agree more once a part of your Pre shot routine and a successful putt.This is a very quick and accurate way to increase makable putts.Continued success ⛳️ Thanks
Agree
Jamie is a genius. Believe me. He’s made me a decent putter, and that’s with just one eye that works. If I can do, you can too.
Tried this on a billiard table and the results were incredible. Got to be careful not to kick balls out of the way. I now read books with my feet to make sure I read them correctly...Barnum and bollocks come to mind...😂👍
Never a truer saying than golf is a game played in the short space between our ears LOL. Great vid guys thanks.
I've been walking near my line this year, it has helped, I must do it more often with chip and runs......
Personally I like to use quantum electrodynamics to calculate the probability of the trajectory. By using Richard Feynman’s complex mathematical diagrams I can predict not only where the golf ball will be in relation to the hole but also where it is in the universe. Yes it slows down play but time is relative.
😂
I find using legs to measure slope being great.
What do you actually 'feel' when lining up? I don't understand how you would feel the slope on a putt that moves only 2 ft over a 20ft putt
Ian Barnes on a really gentle slope try closing your eyes and shifting your weight very gently left and right - you’d be shocked how sensitive your internal gyroscope is when you put all focus on balance. Narrowing and relaxing the feet can also increase sensitivity.
Ian Barnes if a picture is slightly off kilter, you just know - when you can “see” with your feet it is almost the same.
Is there limitations on Aimpoint? Like putts with severe break (over ridges) and double breaks
When you use the fingers should the pointer finger be lined with the center of the hole?
Super amazing. Ty guys. Off to a local teacher soon🙏
Amazing...That is unbelievable...at first change feels strange but overtime it is routine. Ive got to try this.
Hope it helps. Please ket us know.
Enjoyed the Video, but you have not explained anything about how many fingers to use, how far to hold the hand away from your eyes or how to evaluate the feel you get from your feet. Do you have any Information about that?
Aim point don’t want to give that away for free otherwise no one would pay for courses
You actually have to go to an aim point clinic or express to learn it. It's a feel method so it's best if it's shown directly on a slope. Basically it everything depends on the slope of the green you feel with your feet - so they show you - this feel = 1 finger, this feel = 2... if you are X meters away from the hole and the feel is 2 fingers you need to either - stretch your hand out, bend it etc. I don't think it can be taught online, so I'm probably going to a clinic this summer.
@@rokstern7042 I bought the DVD and taught myself, its been fantastic for my putting especially big breaking lag putts
How many takes did you do for that opening?
Thank you for this video however it is very confusing when you have not removed all the other pins around the hole that you’re aiming at.
I like the concept, because it seems right that our feet are more reliable than our eyes in green-reading, but my buddies would be frustrated, time-wise, if someone used AimPoint.
It's actually very fast. It only takes 1o seconds and you can do that while your partners putt.
What is the number rating based on? Gradient? Out of 10?
I use plumb bobbing and it works for me, for double breakers too. I am a decent putter.
Truth f-k off
Excellent video. I make more putts, and way last three putts with AimPoint.
Have to honest, for the first 10 mins, I thought they were talking about aiming at the flag on the left, then he putts to a hole I never saw, so kinda screwed me up😂
Dude I’m right there with ya
I was like “that seems a lot longer than 20 feet I reckon”😂
Died laughing because i had the same problem
Brilliant video guys! Think I might pay a visit to Woburn 😀👍🏻
Hi Mark. Hope you're well? AimPoint was actually very good. Woburn definitely worth a visit too.👍
Great stuff!
Awesome vid lads!
How can you feel the break when you aren't standing on your line? 🤔
I purchased the Aim Point Express DVD a few years ago, and no matter how much times I spent on the practice green I could *never* properly estimate the "degree of slope" that you *must* be able to do. I even purchased TWO electronic levels (large one for practice sessions and a smaller one to keep in the golf bag), and it was comical how much I was unable to come up with the proper degree of slope. As they say in the auto commercials, "your mileage may vary."
Joe Perez pworks great on tour when you have a slope map in your pocket.
Or on courses with absolutely pristine tour-like greens,as opposed to the bumpy greens at the local muni.
I did the course with Jamie, it transformed my putting, I'd say it's something you need to have taught face to face.
Fair enough, makes perfect sense. Trouble with face-to-face instruction, is that the Aim Point's own web site has a map of the USA with instructors, but they are labeled as Level 1 (most instructors) to Level 5 (Mark Sweeny in Orlando, who I think is the creator of the system). Nowhere on the web site that I can find details what the difference in "Level" instruction is. The only instructor listed in the Myrtle Beach area where I live is at the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and is a Level 1. Is a Level 1 instructor going to teach me anything I won't already know from watching the DVD? I'm guessing that Level 1 is "basic intro" stuff.
I'd drop Mark Sweeny a line, ask when he, or someone top notch is in the area. Jamie was very approachable.
If you want to get a feel for percentages you can always stand on a treadmill and increase the incline. It works in percentages. Little hack for ya.
Works great. Every weekend golfer just needs to purchase a stimpmeter and carry it around with them at all times so you know the proper green speed.
I don't have any trouble reading the greens. My issue is getting the ball started on the selected path with the proper speed. And that's a practice thing. JM2C
As a full-time caddie I learned something
Another winner Guys still loving the content, looking forward to the next one..
Thanks Tony. Glad you enjoyed it and hope you are doing well and playing some good golf.
Please explain how he got a 3 rating in the very beginning …. What is a 3 rating ? Is that 3 cups 3 feet and how is that defined ?
im a quick putter I don't have practice swings I have a quick look at my putting line then I put I found taking out practise swings improved my putting I just make sure the club face is square to where I want too put and judge the pace and that's it I use the kiss method kiss stands for keep it simple silly
How does it work on greens with subtle breaks. The greens i play on have the most subtle breaks and the greens have no discernible indicators. Such as back to front slope or grain or falls toward the water. They are mostly flat and feeling slope is extremely difficult
How do you reduce self pressure on match play?
Garv Chadha never change something if you do a routine in training when theres No pressure. Then you Will do the same under pressure( just My thoughs)
Reduce the expectations of your performance to zero, nil, nothing (Note: this is *not the same* as thinking you're going to play badly!). If you have high expectations of how you are going to play you have already mentally played the round in your head and shot a good score - yet you haven't actually hit a single ball! That brings pressure and pressure brings tension and tension brings poor shots and poor shots bring disappointment in your expectations. So go out with a clear mind (and maybe a couple of swing thoughts you know help you) and just execute each shot the best you can. If it's a bad one, let it go and move on - no amount of anger or wishful thinking will change it. If it's a good one your confidence will grow for the next shot. With a bit of golfing luck and skill you 'll get in the zone and be hitting balls pressure free, not expecting good shots, just hitting them as they happen.
My tip for match play is always play your shot before you opponent. You need to make your opponent chase you not the other way around.
Garv Chadha 7
1) play more matches to get accustomed to the pressure and more importantly 2) remember it’s just a game and have FUN!!!!
Hurray number 1!!
Thanks for the input. A suggestion on the production of the video...don't bore the audience before you (actually) hit the ball. Consider video production in reverse order.
I follow the merit of establishing degree of slope but the path of a ball due to grain and/or wind may be contrary to degree of slope to left or right.
For me I would say missing on the low side is better as then you always have an uphill 2nd putt, you won't hole as many putts, but over 20 foot I would much rather 2 putt every time than get the occasional one putt and have tricky downhill 2nd putt
If you miss the line low, the ball will NEVER go in. If you miss the line on the high side you still have a chance if you get the pace wrong. Hit it a fraction slow and it might go in.
Great video, thanks lads
Really interesting video.
Thanks Gaz
Bring a hula hoop and place it right behind the hole. If you don’t finish in the hole you should finish in the hula hoop.
Most amateur 3 putts (I’ve seen) are more about pace than break.
to use this aimpoint do i need the chart book??
No. Aim Point is an easy to learn system. Nothing else needed.
Aimpoint reduced my 3putts but unless you take the time to dial it in with the stimp/speed then it is easy to become too reliant on it within scoring range and burn too many edges
I never hear any mention of aimpoint talking about uphill vs downhill, which effects how much break you will get.
Please elaborate on "arm location for green speed" and the number chart for break levels?
The closer you bring the arm, the more break this gives you so this would be on faster greens. Hope that helps?
Can you guys do a video on how to play par 3's? I found your videos to be easier for me to understand. I really like how you guys break down the game.
Lads, thanks for this show.
I fully realise that you are making someone elses work known, Bravo.
If a Golfer takes (say) 10 even 20 seconds and sinks the putt (or has a gimme), how is that slow ?
3 Putting HAS to be slower than sinking fewer putts. Especially if the group in front is a 3 or 4 ball.......
I'm returning to playing again having retired at 62 (sadly My broad chest and narrow hips have swapped places) having not played to any measurable degree for 25yrs.
My short game was (I stress WAS) always pretty tidy.
But.
Short game is a confidence game, so I've been wondering if My reliable touch will have deserted Me.
Then I watched this.
Bingo.
Doesn't matter if I'm rubbish around the greens tomorrow, because I have a "Caddy in The Head" not a "devil in The Brainbox" (Peter Aliss term that) and My Brane Caddy will help Me get better. I'll get better at AimPoint just and it's results will encourage Me.
There are two faults with aimpoint. First, your fingers distance from your eyes. I was told to adjust my fingers distance on different green speeds and courses, but it is highly inaccurate and ineffective to do so. Second, measuring slope with your feet will never make an accurate calculation of the slope. Not to mention finger thicknesses, green elevation, and different speed for different lines.
I sticked to Tiger’s method: walk the putt 360 degrees and imagine the line. Way more drained putts and lower scores!
By my surprise there isn’t any instructors for the aimpoint system in Las Vegas, so which one of you is going to fly down and teach me🏌🏼😃👍
Isn’t aim point a bit like posh plumb bobbing with your putter?
Where can I go to learn aimpoint?
Check out Jamie's details in the description.
So how are you guys getting the numbers on the green? When you were feeling the slope with your feet 3-4, 3 and 2? Or did I miss something?
That's explained in the class. They don't give it away on camera as then no one would pay for the classes. I took AimPoint thinking that I'd cannibalize the best bits from it into my routine but now it's 95% of my putting routine. This video makes it sound more complicated then it really is.
Thank you, David Cullen. Makes sense
@@chrisd5986 I do recommend the 1st two classes but I'm not convinced on their 3rd class on Speed. I think they'll refine that better (over to you Mark and Jamie)
USED AIMPOINT TODAY AND HAD ONLY ONE PUTT IN 18 HOLES !!! EVERYTHING ELSE WAS OB!
What kind of shoes are those?
Jamie Donaldson :D
No mention of the grain on the green !
Think one thing is trying to maintain a reasonable pace of play, don’t often take time to read greens……especially since I can’t read em anyway
Why do you 'finger measure' from the center of the hole
how do you know what number to "point"?
You feel with slope with your feet and rate it.
Look folks, 1st find the fall line.Then imagine the line running thru the middle of cup. So now your ether putting down hill, up hill or putting across the the fall lone in some manner. Look at the terrain pick a line and putt towards the fall line. NOTE ..If you putt past the fall line you'll miss the putt. NOTE 2.. The more the slope the more the break....NOTE 3. 1 Finger for 1 percent, 2 fingers for 2 percent, so on and so on..Now look at run line to the fall point and putt a good stroke.....It not that hard, just takes patients and good speed control to keep ball on line......Try it, let me know
I still don't know how to do it!
I really didn’t understand the first couple mins of this guy explaining how it all works (I get it, they want you to buy the system, not get it on a freee UA-cam channel), but would have helped if you guys gave a bit more info...”we ran through the ratings earlier”?? Not much help here ...”its was kinda like a 3 or a 4 here”...huh? Kinda feel like I came in on the middle of the movie here.
On my end, I do a modified version of Aimpoint which is I simply use my feet and walk the line to determine a) slope uphill or downhill and how much and b) which way the putt breaks and how severely. This has greatly improved my putting over the years.
Once got DQ’d using the aimpoint book in a competition, they said it was a “device”
Should have protested that. Its a picture book, literally all it is.
If pro’s only make 14% of there 20’ putts ,an average amateur would never get close to this percentage ever !
Aim point is awesome and improves putting by eliminating 3 putting for amateurs .
Great video.I played this week with a young kid who used it and was disappointed with his 82. Two points. Next time take out that flag in the background, very irritating. Two: If you're not allowed to stand on your putt line, on a big breaking putt when you are taking your stance over the line to measure your number, wouldn't it be easy to accidentally stand on your line? You don't know the break until you get back to the ball and measure your 3 or 4. The kid I played with had his feet about 8 inches apart as he made his two measurements, and I'm sure he was on top of the line once or twice, although I didn't call it. Comments?
Adam Scott uses aimpoint.......case closed
Adam Scott is close to worst on tour in 3 putt avoidance.
So does Justin Rose....hes done pretty well
Adam Scott can't putt worth shit.....he's lost a lot of tournaments 'only' because of his putting. His one only Masters win was the only time he putted good....a fluke. You can love his swing but his putting and chipping holds him back
What's holding you back Keith?
Sorry to bring the facts up. Adam Scott is the worst putter are we as good as the worse putter on tour?
i got 2
Why didn't Andy "measure/feel" the break at hole level? "Rating 2" was still about 2 yards in front. In my experience the slope effects most at the end of the putt, when the ball runs slowly.
"You can misread and make putts - does that make you a good putter?" If your misreads allow for a stroke flaw and cause you to make more putts you could be a good putter! The goal is to get the ball in the hole not to be better at reading greens, unless you want to be a caddy...
Sorry guys, but you need to explain the 3 finger thing, the rest of it i get!
I have more questions than answers. How do I know if slope is 1, 2, 3, etc.
It's just a feel. A slight slope is 1. Progress as you feel it increase.
Be nice if WE learned how he arrived at a 1, 2 or 3 etc. Surely everything hinges on that with this theory..?
That's what you pay money to go to a aim point clinic for!!!!! This video is pretty much just a sales pitch.
Nope not having this. Nicklaus, Woods, Faldo none used this. Putting for me is my biggest strength and from start out I was taught distance control not line. Feel your distance. Work way back from hole and ball entry into hole. Break into thirds and then you'll be back at your ball with your line. Most amateurs do not correctly putt and deliever the putter consistently which should be the first thing they work on, so many pull and pushes then blame the green
Why are people so offended? Even if you don't use AimPoint there's still good takeaway info here.
Very little point to this video unless you explain and quantify the slope ratings. No good to say “feels like a 3”. Good for you! Wanna explain how you got to that?
Haha thought the samething, ok wtf does a 3 feel like and what's the range cat.1-5 like hurricanes? Don't forget the coriolis effect for putts greater than 30ft.
More power to AP if they can consolidate variables into a repeatable movement and charge 200$ for it. Proof is in the pudding I suppose.
Can I use the middle finger when playing with my buddies? LOL
Simple? Designed for kids?
Pros use it