Breaking new ground
The beginnings of AimPoint can
be traced back to 2009 when Mark
Sweeney, a computer whizz from Texas,
was watching golf on TV. It occurred to
him how cool it would be if the audience
could see the correct line of a putt
before the player hit it.
He developed a three-dimensional
laser scan that could plot every break
and nuance on a green so that the TV
broadcasters could do exactly that. His
program was accurate to a 32nd-of-an-
inch and delivered a one percent error
rating in eight years on TV.
The success of this project taught
Sweeney that putting was predictable.
He created a chart that looked like
four dartboards, each relating to a
percentage of slope, and it had 600
numbers on it. It was possible to
calculate using the angle that you’re
crossing the slope, plus the distance,
what the break would be. With the help
of American coach John Graham, the
data was turned into the green-reading
process that was to become AimPoint.
“When I saw this thing, I realised it
was complex but it got me interested,
very quickly, ” Donaldson recalls. “At
that time, you had to identify green
shapes and understand the topography.
There were patterns that would happen
and you needed to recognise them
visually. Once you were able to do that
then there was a way of calculating
break. It was very technical at fi rst.”
Eventually, Sweeney and Donaldson
met up. “I told him, ‘This product is
incredible but it’s too hard to understand’,”
says Donaldson.“But I was able to apply
my understanding of coaching to Mark’s
system to make it easier to follow. We took
a very technical system and, in two years,
turned it into something we can teach
eight-year-olds.
“I think that AimPoint is a game
changer. We teach the express read so
you can cope with any putt you might
face. I’d say helping players get
a perfect read every time will be right
up there in the game’s history.”
Use weight to gauge
the slope
Stand a pace behind the ball with your feet
slightly apart so you can judge which foot
carries most of your weight. Focus on the
horizon and feel your weight distribution. Give
the amount of slope you feel a grade between
one and six – two is about average. Repeat this
process halfway towards the hole for greater
accuracy on longer putts.Place a tee peg on your
AimPoint in practice
The outside of your fi nger gives you the precise
point where you need to aim in order to hole
the putt when hit with the correct speed to go
nine inches past the hole. You can place a tee
peg in the ground at your AimPoint to help you
in practice. Most amateurs under-read putts so
you’ll be amazed at the true amount of break.Line up your fingers to
find the AimPoint
Return to your spot a pace or so behind the
ball to decipher a precise point on the green
at which to aim. This is done using the grade
of the slope and your fi ngers. Stretch your arm
out in front of you and hold up the number of
fi ngers that corresponds to the grade you gave
the slope. Line up the edge of your fi nger with
the hole.Start your putt at
the AimPoint
Set up at the AimPoint and start your putt on line,
safe in the knowledge that the read is 99 percent
accurate. Confi dence in an accurate read will
improve your technique because you won’t feel the
need to make adjustments or manipulations during
your stroke. You can learn to subtly adjust the read
for different conditions at an AimPoint class.I
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FOUR
STEPS TO A
BETTER REA
Jamie Donaldson show
you how to read gree
like Adam Scott