Itās well worth it, which Iāve said many times on here. There are few āsystemsā in golf I would ever tell most people to subscribe to, but this is one of them. I wouldnāt guarantee that everyone would save strokes with AimPoint, but if you really learn it properly (clinic is best), and commit to using it, youāre stacking big odds in your favor that your putting will improve over time.
Same. Head coach at my club is AP certified. I asked her protege about it 2-3 years ago - he says something like itās too technical, too much to think about, you need to be more intuitive. So I went with that (being more intuitive). Putting has improved massively this past 12 months primarily through practice, analysis and concluding that commitment through the stroke was my main issue.
Reading this whole thread for the first time has convinced me AP is worth a look (In the same way the Tempo thread convinced me to buy Tour Tempo tones - which is working out really well!).
Also Iām fairly sure it was David Mackenzie who says in his putting programme something about correlation between Apex / creative vs Line / analytical minded people. So as I am highly analytical then AP MUST work for me
Iāll add AP to my development list. Can only take on so much at once.
Not sure its utility is only for analytical types ā¦ tho I also consider myself one ā¦ but for anyone it can give you another tool on the green to help give you more confidence that youāve chosen a good line. Now just get the speed right and kaboom
Iāve heard this before, and I couldnāt disagree more. The problem is that most golfersā āintuitionā when it comes to green reading is horribly wrong. Itās not something that is usually ever taught. If anything, AP has made me think about a lot less when I read greens. I literally step up to the slope, feel it, and Iām done within 10-15 seconds. In the past, I might spend way more time than that hemming and hawing over what I think I may, or may not see.
But you do have to take some time to learn it, practice it, and then trust it. So I donāt recommend diving in until you have some time to devote to the project.
Yes! ^That^ is really the key point! Take the reading and go with it.
Walk around behind the hole? Maybe youāll āseeā something different and change your mind / your read.
Walk around to the low side and look again? Maybe youāll āseeā something different and change your mind / your read.
Hmm.
A couple of the other guys have said this too, AimPoint has helped me to commit to a specific line. Iāll get a couple of āmeasurementsā depending on the distance tot he hole, determine a number, use my fingers to define my start line, and Iām ready. Thereās no question that there are a number of potential adjustments, for multi-breaking putts, for uphill and downhill, but these are probably less complicated than the process I went through before AP on those same putts.
Iām interested in one thing, though. You mentioned that the top instructor at your club is an AimPoint instructor, but you took the advice of a subordinate to avoid AimPoint. Can I ask why?
All I can say is, this thread has been a learning experience in many ways. Always take more than one point of view before accepting/dismissing an idea!
Another reminder why @jonās forum is a great resource and community
A lot of information here (and I confess I didnāt read it all). I took an AimPoint class about 4-5 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Now I have a routine and a system. Determining the slope of the green, its severity and applying it (1, 2, fingers in break), has helped me immensely.
Took an AimPoint Express class a couple days ago. It was eye opening and I think it will be VERY valuable for my game. Couple more weeks before giving it a first run in AZ.
Aimpoint is awesome. I traveled to SoCal from Utah to work with a teacher and a year later, right before Covid really hit last March I took an advanced class with him in Vegas. It is really helpful, especially for most non-pros who just donāt have the practice time to grind like Bryson. Combine it with the clock system and if you can get your speed right, you will put a lot better most days.
Do you know the name of the coach? Does he live in Vegas? The AimPoint page never has any classes in Vegas.
Sean Lanyi. Based out of Washington, but goes to Monarch Beach in SoCal and then Red Rock in Vegas. Great guy and will probably look at your fundamentals as well while youāre doing some of the stuff. Seanlanyigolf.com and you can see his stuff on Instagram as well. If you look him up tell him I sent ya. Youāll have fun and learn.
Another reason the teacher may have said that, is that he/she may have taken it early in the development. Not sure when Jon took his, but there was a lot involved if you just look at old videos of someone teaching it. Now, after refining it through the years, they call it Aimpoint Express. Much less technical with the aids they use in teaching you on the particular day. I took a beginners class and a year later an advanced session.
I learned AimPoint Express. I really think I could teach someone how to use it within 10 minutes, and theyād get around 70-80% of the benefit. Itās that simple IMO.
FWIW, the dvd version of it is pretty good at explaining the basics. Iād love to go through the course to get the feedback on how to judge grades, etc, but after watching the video, you get the basic framework of how and what people are doing.
I just watched the DVD and have one question - when making the read, do you use both eyes or close one and only use your dominant eye?
I use one eye. If both eyes are open, and you focus on your fingers, you see ātwo holesā. If you focus on the hole with both eyes, you see your fingers in two different places. I suppose if one eye is totally dominant it could work, but for me I find closing one eye is necessary.
I close one eye and use my dominant one (right)
Great thread everyone, I was trying to find an instructor around me but was having trouble scheduling. I think Iām going to get the video course. Didnāt know I needed a level. Cool excited to try it out.
Very helpful when starting out; then for occasional refresher practice after.
Hope it works out well for you, good luck!!