La Méthode AimPoint : Lecture Précise des Greens, Avantages, Limites et Alternatives pour Améliorer Votre Putting

1. AimPoint: A Scientific Reading of Greens

Created in 2003 by Mark Sweeney, the AimPoint method introduced an analytical and sensory approach to reading greens. Unlike traditional methods based on instinct or visual observation, AimPoint structures the information gathering for a reliable and reproducible read.

The world’s best players, such as Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, and Lydia Ko, use it to optimize their putts under pressure. But what exactly does this method involve?

2. How Does the AimPoint Method Work?

The AimPoint method relies on a combination of sensations and visual markers to determine the ideal putting line. Unlike a purely instinctive reading of the green, this approach structures information gathering in three steps: feeling the slope, identifying the putting line, and executing the stroke with confidence.

Here is a detailed guide to applying the AimPoint method effectively.

1️⃣ Feel the slope beneath your feet

The first step is to assess the green’s incline using your bodily sensations.

• Position yourself midway between your ball and the hole, on the putting line.
• Slightly spread your feet and feel how your weight is distributed.
• Determine if the slope leans left or right and its intensity.

How to estimate the slope percentage?

The AimPoint method generally classifies a green’s slope between 1% and 4%:

• 1% → Very slight slope, barely perceptible under your feet.
• 2% → Moderate slope, a slight imbalance is felt.
• 3% → Pronounced slope, your weight is clearly more on one side.
• 4% → Steep incline, the sensation is obvious and can affect your balance.

💡 Tip: The more you practice feeling these differences, the more accurate your assessment becomes.

2️⃣ Identify the ideal line with your fingers

Once the slope is estimated, it’s time to determine where to aim to compensate for its effect. This step uses a simple system based on your fingers:

1. Stand behind your ball, facing the hole.
2. Close one eye and extend your arm in front of you.
3. Raise a number of fingers corresponding to the estimated slope percentage.
4. Align your last raised finger with the hole: this is the ideal line for your putt.

Concrete examples:

✅ If the slope is 1% → Raise 1 finger. The ball should start slightly outside the hole to compensate for the slope.
✅ If the slope is 2% → Raise 2 fingers. The putting line moves slightly further away from the hole.
✅ If the slope is 3% → Raise 3 fingers. The correction becomes more significant.

Why does this method work?
It is based on a statistical analysis of greens and how the ball reacts to slopes. This visual marker allows you to precisely quantify the correction to apply without having to guess.

💡 Tip: Practice on different greens to develop your feel and refine your calibration.

3️⃣ Putt with confidence

Once the putting line is determined, all that's left is to execute your stroke with assurance:

✔️ Align your ball on the identified line.
✔️ Focus on the speed and direction of the putt.
✔️ Play smoothly, confident in your green reading.

The idea behind AimPoint is to eliminate hesitation and doubt by offering a reliable and reproducible method. By systematically applying this process, you can increase the consistency and effectiveness of your putts.

Why is AimPoint an effective approach?

• Proven method → Used by many players on the professional tour.
• Scientific approach → Based on the analysis of slopes and ball roll.
• Improved consistency → Less reliance on instinct alone.

However, it requires some time to master. Training is essential to sharpen your feel and gain speed in execution.

⛳ Practice regularly and compare your feel with the ball’s observation to perfect your green reading!

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3. AimPoint: Why Does This Method Spark Debate?

Despite its advantages, AimPoint divides the golf community.

⏳ A Slowing Down of Play

Some professional players, like Lucas Glover, feel that this technique slows down the game excessively. On the pro tour, every second counts, and AimPoint can sometimes lengthen the pre-putt routine.

👣 A Risk of Damaging the Green

Walking on the putting line to feel the slope can damage the surface and affect partners’ shots, especially on fragile or wet greens.

🤯 An Approach That’s Too Mechanical

Some golfers prefer a more instinctive approach, finding AimPoint too technical and sometimes unsettling under pressure.

4. What Alternatives to AimPoint?

If AimPoint doesn’t suit you, here are three alternative methods:

⏰ "Clock-Face" Method

This approach imagines the hole as the center of a clock:

• The straight putt is aligned on the 12-6 o’clock axis.
• Identifying this axis helps better understand the green’s slope.

👀 Natural Visual Reading

Some golfers simply prefer to observe the green from various angles and trust their instinct.

Advantages:
✔️ Fast and intuitive.
✔️ Avoids complex calculations.

Disadvantages:
❌ Less reliable on subtle greens.
❌ Strongly depends on experience.

📱 Course Notebooks and Apps

Course guides or some mobile applications provide detailed analyses of green slopes.

Advantages:
✔️ Precise and objective data.
✔️ Useful complement to sensory reading.

Disadvantages:
❌ Less effective in real time.

5. Should You Adopt AimPoint?

Is AimPoint right for you? It all depends on your playing style:

✅ If you’re looking for a rigorous and scientific method, AimPoint can transform your putting.
❌ If you prefer to play instinctively, a more natural approach might suit you better.

🔑 The essential thing is to find a technique that gives you confidence and consistency on the greens. Whatever the method, the goal remains to rack up birdies! 🐥

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