Aimpoint Express

[wtodd]

I have heard a lot about it, but I'm skeptical. For those who have tried it, is it a gimmick or legit deal?

I'm an 8 handicap that averages 25 putts around. Thanks.

 

Sorry 35 not 25

[4Par]

Legit

[Schnee]

It's legit. You'll be surprised how effective it is. Totally worth the price of admission.

[wtodd]

So is it best to take class or get the dvd? Not sure if there's any in my area (Aiken, SC)

[AndrewKaleta]

[url="http://www.aimpointgolf.com/clinics.asp"]http://www.aimpointgolf.com/clinics.asp[/url]

According to the website, there's a clinic in Prosperity, SC on the 18th.

I took a Aimpoint class but don't have the DVD. The biggest thing I took out of our class was that our teacher set up 5 stations on the green showing us what the slope number should feel like. I'm sure you can probably get the overall idea of Aimpoint from the DVD but it would take some extra practice to figure out what things should feel like (or you can buy a digital level like most people suggest). I would imagine that you would get the same information from either a class or the DVD, it's just that you might be more ready to apply it faster after taking a class instead of figuring things out yourself if you buy the DVD.

[wtodd]

Thanks for the link. Aiken is pretty centrally located between atlanta (2 hrs) and Columbia (1hr) I think I'll get the dvd to have a leg up then try to attend a class. I'm ready to get that putt average in the mid 20s I'm willing to do anything lol.

[b.helts]

OK. Let me start off by saying my coach uses and teaches Aimpoint Express. He LOVES it! I'm not so sure.

So please flame away if you choose, but just so I'm clear, I am not trying to instigate anything here. (kind of like saying "don't take this the wrong way" LOL)

Obviously for a long time players putted great without Aimpoint Express reading greens in the traditional way, which of course does use feet in addition to the eyes. So what does Aimpoint Express fix or is it really just for poor green readers (for whatever reason)?

Also, are there any good putters that use it? Mahan and Scott are the two that come to mind as being the highest profile and let's be honest, they aren't posterboys for rolling the rock.

[AndrewKaleta]

[quote name='b.helts' timestamp='1444881708' post='12458440']
OK. Let me start off by saying my coach uses and teaches Aimpoint Express. He LOVES it! I'm not so sure.

So please flame away if you choose, but just so I'm clear, I am not trying to instigate anything here. (kind of like saying "don't take this the wrong way" LOL)

Obviously for a long time players putted great without Aimpoint Express reading greens in the traditional way, which of course does use feet in addition to the eyes. So what does Aimpoint Express fix or is it really just for poor green readers (for whatever reason)?

Also, are there any good putters that use it? Mahan and Scott are the two that come to mind as being the highest profile and let's be honest, they aren't posterboys for rolling the rock.
[/quote]


I'm not an expert on Aimpoint so I can really only base it off my experience with it. It helped me create a constant in green reading. My old routine was just reading putts with my eyes and basically guessing at how much break to play. I really struggle with visualizing a line or curve on a green, just have never been very good at it. On greens that I was familiar with it was fine, but when I went to other courses I struggled. Aimpoint takes my guess work out for the most part. I know how much a certain slope feels and I can get a pretty consistent read off of that when before it was guessing at how much break it should be and then my read would just get complicated. A lot of my putting improvement this year is probably confidence but the confidence came from knowing a read is right (or close) and then just being able to focus on speed instead of standing over the ball and thinking whether or not my read is right.

I know Justin Rose has talked about Aimpoint so that's another PGA tour guy that uses it, and there's a ton of LPGA players that use it too. I'll agree that top putters on tour probably don't use it because they were able to get where they are today by reading greens more conventionally but I won't be surprised if Aimpoint comes into play with most players in the next 10 years.

[mws92]

Honestly I thought I was a decent green reader before Aimpoint but truly understanding break, especially after the ball goes past the hole, was really eye opening. It really helps practice too because when you miss putts you now know how to practice green reading. If you estimation skills are good (and green reading is def a skill), then you can move on to line or speed.

I haven't taken the Express class but it's def worth it if you are tired of guessing. It instantly made my stroke better because I could trust my read.

[dornstar]

100% legit.

That said, I HIGHLY recommend not trying to learn it on your own through other posts and videos. I tried and while I understood a lot of elements, I really wasn't close. Likewise, I would get private instruction. My first go around, I did an 8 person clinic and while I knew it well enough to put it into practice, I didn't really "own" it. My second time getting Aimpoint instruction, I signed up for another clinic, but the other 7 people had either showed up at another time or cancelled, so I got a 2 hour private lesson with Bernie Najar and we literally went through a million different putts and I came out the other end of that lesson a complete changed putter. It was an amazing experience and I can't recommend the solo experience enough. Like Justin Rose says, "Aimpoint is like poker. It's easy to learn, but hard to master". There's just so many small nuances with it that unless you go through different scenarios, it's hard to truly master at a high, high level on your own.

[dg_1983]

Legit.
I managed to get down to a UK 3 handicap on a SS course of 67. Regular scores of under 71 - not matter what course you play shooting less than 4s on every hole is good going. This was before aim point at the tail end of this season. How good I was at putting and reading greens is all relative but come on, I didn't 3 putt very often and was solid enough from 6 feet in.
It was game changing for me. Given me a consistent approach that works and because of this I can trust it. There is no doubt about it - it works. I don't hole everything but I'd go as far to say that my reads are within an inch of centre cup 90% of the time now. It has highlighted my poor face aim at address which i'm working on with using the aim line on the ball.
Where my putting is now I reckon its going to be worth at least 1 shot maybe 2. That’s 66% of my handicap - which is difficult to translate as 2 shots I know is a lot less of a change for a 20 handicapper.

I feel that confident in my reads, and face aim now I’d wager someone that I’d shave a shot off the handicap – providing I keep my wedges and driving on the same level!

[SixtySomePing]

Legit, worth your time and effort, a game changer on the greens, makes you a ton more confident with your putting, brings down your scores and handicap... other than that, no big deal I guess

[b.helts]

This place is great. Thoughtful, passionate answers.

Very Nice!

[Shipwreck]

100% legit. Unfortunately, due to back surgery, I have not been able to apply it on the actual course, but it really does take the guess work out of putting, especially tricky putts. Before my surgery I went out and practiced it at least 3-4 hours every week, finding the craziest breakers I could just to try and disprove the theory, which (fortunately) is mathematically sound. Did I make every single putt? Not a chance, but so long as I trusted the line and gave it a solid stroke, I was never in a position where I felt nervous for a 3 putt.

At one of our courses practice greens, they have pretty good undulations, most in the 2-4% range with a few 6 and 7%'ers. So I put my ball probably 20 feet or so from the hole, but at the base of one of the slopes. So I had to go up and down a slope (which broke left to right), then back up another to get the hole. I walked it out in thirds (you will learn about this), felt the largest slope of 6, walked back to my ball, stood behind it and measured with my fingers, which put me a good 6-8 feet LEFT of the hole to a patch of grass out in the rough, lined up and actually made it like I knew what I was doing. I hit a few more putts from that location and each one ended within 1-2 feet of the hole. If it wasn't for aimpoint, I wouldn't have even begun to guess where my aim would have put me.

But if you are serious about it, you really have to commit to it and believe in it. It will take some time and you MUST go out and get a digital level that allows %. This is the greatest tool in your putting practice arsenal. Give it a shot though. I sincerely doubt you will be disappointed.

[wtodd]

Just ordered DVD. Figured it would give me something to study the next few months (I know SC has decent golf weather year round but another 4 legged creature, aka deer, get my attention from now through January �). I see where that have an iPhone app that supposed to help with showing break etc etc. anyone used the app? Before I spend another $25 want to make sure it's worth it or just go to lowes and get a level.

[4Par]

[quote name='wtodd' timestamp='1444935546' post='12461050']
Just ordered DVD. Figured it would give me something to study the next few months (I know SC has decent golf weather year round but another 4 legged creature, aka deer, get my attention from now through January �). I see where that have an iPhone app that supposed to help with showing break etc etc. anyone used the app? Before I spend another $25 want to make sure it's worth it or just go to lowes and get a level.
[/quote]

I use the Clinometer app for iPhone....think it was a free app...... just make sure you set it to %grade...... determining the slope is the key but in reality even if you're off a degree you'll still be around the hole (given that even single digit hcps don't often start the ball on their intended line and certainly don't have precise speed control you may even be IN THE HOLE! even with an imperfect read) .....

Since I've been using Aimpoint Express my preshot routine has been pretty good, you can often get the read while others are putting, then just Trust it and Roll it......

[IowaGolfPro]

[quote name='wtodd' timestamp='1444878167' post='12458224']
I have heard a lot about it, but I'm skeptical. For those who have tried it, is it a gimmick or legit deal?
I'm an 8 handicap that averages 25 putts around. Thanks.

Sorry 35 not 25
[/quote]

Worth the time to go to the clinic and learn. Even if you dont fully adopt it there are a lot of things that will help. For sure learn the 3 putt avoidance portion. Great stuff.

[jbw749]

Legit

The class is highly recommended. I spent 4 or 5 hours working on it the day after the class. It's amazing when you make putts practice is actually fun.