Class Notes

Thank you for taking the AimPoint Express 1 & 2 Class with a Certified Instructor. This class is the beginning of your green-reading education and these concepts require supervised practice and follow-up instruction in order to be mastered. As an AimPoint Student you can also request to join the private AimPoint Golf Students Facebook page for more information:

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Lesson 1: Tilt

The ball breaks on its way to the hole because it is tilted to the side. The more it’s tilted, the more it breaks. In order to apply the Express process correctly we have to put a value on the amount of side tilt that we feel.

We are only putting a value on the amount of tilt side-to-side, not front-to-back.
Under practical circumstances the slope value will rarely exceed 7.
Most putts will have between 0% and 3% tilt.

Lesson 2: Reading Short Putts

The process for an AimPoint Express Read on short putts (3-5 feet) should be to feel your slope value in the middle area of the putt while facing the hole.

Stand directly facing the hole and choose a slope value.
On “1” slope values, play just inside the hole on the high side.
On “2” slope values, play 1 inch on the high side.
On “3” slope values, play 3 inches on the high side.
Increase these break amounts slightly as green speeds increase to 10 or higher.

Lesson 3: Single Breaking Putts

On single breaking putts longer than 6 feet, we always get the biggest slope value in the middle section of the putt. This is because the slope can begin to change on longer putts and the middle section has the biggest influence on the overall break. Align your hand so that it is aligned with the center of the hole.

Walk either on the low side of the putt or straddle your line and check the slope 1/3 and 2/3 of the way to the hole. Use the biggest value.
Align you hand to the center of the hole and your AimPoint will be the outside edge of your finger on the high side.

Lesson 4: Green Speed Calibration

As green speed increases the break will increase. In order to account for this in the Express Read we bend our arm more at faster green speeds. Remember we are calibrating to break, so adjust arm bend as necessary after hitting your putt. If the ball breaks more than expected, bend your arm more, if it breaks less than expected, straighten your arm.

Lesson 5: Double Breaking Putts

When reading a double-breaking putt, the simplest method is to take the slope value from one step closer to the hole than exactly halfway between the ball and the hole, and play that number. There is still some room for feel on this read if one slope seems dramatically bigger than the other, but this reading is very reliable.

Visually determine where the exact center of the putt is and go one step close to the hole.
Determine the slope value at that point.
Play that slope value for the whole putt, reading from the ball.

Appendix: Tools