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AimPoint Express is designed to have golfers read greens with their feet, assign a value of 1 to 5 for the slope and use that number of fingers to determine the break.
AimPoint Express is designed to have golfers read greens with their feet, assign a value of 1 to 5 for the slope and use that number of fingers to determine the break.
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We read most things with our eyes, such as books, signs and words on screens. Most golfers also read greens with their eyes, but that could change if AimPoint Express catches on.

To me it’s the future of putting because it helps players trust their feet more than their eyes. And since there’s no aspect of the game that impacts scores more quickly than making putts, I think it’s the best way to shave strokes and gain confidence on the greens in the shortest period of time.

The system is all about determining slope value and incorporating it into your routine. Doing so will help you figure the exact amount a ball will break at the speed you want to roll it. Each golfer reads putts differently based on preferred speed, which is why most golfers go through a calibration process.

AimPoint Express green-reading sessions teach players the most reliable way to make putts by understanding how to use their feet to determine the percentage of slope for their putt. Once you incorporate the approach into your routine you can walk up to your next putt, assess the slope value, determine a path and roll more balls into the hole.

Here’s a quick primer on how it works:

Feel the slope with your feet by walking to a point halfway between your ball and the hole. While looking at the hole, move the focus to your feet to get a feel for the slope of the green. You’ll quickly be able to tell which side is higher and which is lower.

Give the slope you feel a rating from 1 to 5, with 1 being relatively flat and 5 being severe. The pressure you feel under each foot is your determining factor. If there’s more pressure under your right foot, for example, the green for your putt slopes left to right.

If you’ve given the slope a 2, hold two fingers in front of your face and align them against the high side of the cup (the left if you felt more pressure under your right foot). If you’ve given the slope a 4, hold up four fingers, etc. Aim your putter at the outside edge of your fingers, and that’s your read. For faster greens, hold your fingers closer to your face; on slower greens, use more arm extension.

Since our eyes often play tricks on us for reasons such as depth perception, this method of putting is virtually foolproof because you’re “feeling” the break instead of guessing the line based on what you think you see. If you’re struggling on the greens, AimPoint Express could be the ticket for putting you on the right path.

Sean Lanyi is director of instruction at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda and an AimPoint Express certified instructor. To find a certified instructor at a course near you, visit AimPointGolf.com.