John Graham Golf» aimpoint green reading

AimPoint Golf – Distance Control or Speed Control

John Graham — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:10:00 +0000

One of the most important pieces in becoming a good putter and making putts is distance control. Using the AimPoint model, we prescribe a total distance from 6 inches to 1 foot past the hole when making your read. The big question is, what’s the difference between speed control and distance control? Is there a difference?

For this discussion, I will define speed control as the ability to deliver the same speed of the rolling ball to the hole edge.

I will define distance control as the ability to control the total distance the ball rolls.

They seem pretty similar don’t they? But are they the same? Refresh your memory about how green speed and slope direction affect the speed at which a ball rolls by reading this post on Putting Myths.

When it comes to distance, a ball rolling on a ‘fast’ green or going downhill is rolling slower than a ball on a ‘slow’ green or going uphill. This means that if I arrive at the hole with the same speed, the distance the ball will roll past the hole if I miss will be different from an uphill putt vs a downhill putt.

If I deliver 3 revolutions per second of the ball at the lip of the hole (which will will typically give you a nice size of hole capture width) the variance between the total distance past the hole, if missed, is dramatic. On a 4% slope, stimp 8 the downhill putt will roll 4 times farther than an uphill putt with same 3 rps at the lip delivery speed if the putt is missed. Stimp 10 is 6 times farther for the downhill miss and stimp 12 is a whopping 9 times farther on the downhill miss.

So, you tell me. Is it better to have speed control or distance control?

Seems obvious to me that distance control is King.

AimPoint Golf – Video for Determining the Stimp

John Graham — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:16:03 +0000

Here’s a quick little video showing you how to use AimPoint Charts to find the stimp on the green to add to my written post on the same topic. Please note that 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock represent a position that is 90 degrees to the Zero Line or to put it another way, directly across the slope. 6 o’clock is straight up hill on the Zero Line.

Hope you enjoy it and please leave any comments or questions.

AimPoint Golf Green Reading – How to Determine the Stimp

John Graham — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:21:27 +0000

Here’s a quick little reminder on how to find the stimp. We all know that the stimp on the putting green may be different than the stimp on the course but that shouldn’t be an argument for not trying to find it out. You’ll need your AimPoint Charts, Breakmaster and a digital level.

Go out to the practice green and find a hole location that is on a consistent planar area of the green. Determine the location of the 6 o’clock position at the hole using your breakmaster. Go 5 feet away at 3 o’clock and place a tee in the ground. Use your level and measure the slope in 1 foot increment in the direction of the slope to find the slope percentage.

Take a guess at the stimp you think it is, find the AimPoint from the chart, aim your putt at that location and hit a putt that rolls 6 feet. If this putt goes in center cut, then you know what the stimp is. The charts are so accurate that this is the fastest and easiest way to determine the stimp.

Be honest. If you hit it the wrong speed, try again. If you hit it the right speed and it misses low, try a stimp number that is higher. If you miss high, try a stimp number that is lower. Also pay attention to starting direction to see that you are starting it on line. Having a buddy confirm would be the best way.

AimPoint Golf Green Reading – 3 and 9 O’Clock

John Graham — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:13:12 +0000

I’ve had a couple questions recently on finding where the 3 and 9 o’clock positions are in the AimPoint Golf Green Reading Model. Many are confused and think that 3 and 9 fall directly between 12 and 6. That is only true on a clockface or a green that has a consistent slope percentage and direction. So since we know that almost all greens are not like that, let’s find the real 3 and 9.

AimPoint Golf Green Reading - Planar

Let’s use this picture here. This is a contour map of green that has a planar pin location and is basically a planar shaped green through out. The red line represents the Zero Line where the putts are straight aimed. The contour lines represent places of equal elevation.

The key to remembering 3 and 9 o’clock is that they are level with the hole. When I say that, I mean they are directly across the slope. They are neither uphill or downhill putts. They are at the same elevation as the hole. In this example, you can see the hole is right on that contour line. This means that 3 and 9 o’clock are also on that line. Hopefully, you can see that 9 o’clock is closer to 6 o’clock than it is to 12 o’clock. This means that the putts from 6 to 9 o’clock are more volatile. The amount of break changes quickly.

Now, here are some real world tips. You can see that the 3 and 9 o’clock line also curve. This means the green is changing elevation. If I had my golf ball at the end of the 9 o’clock line, that would break a little less than the same length putt on the 3 o’clock. Why? The answer is because the contour lines on the 9 o’clock side are spaced farther apart. That means the area is flatter. Now the 7 and 8 o’clock areas are real volatile and have more slope farther from the hole than at the hole. I would generally play the 7 and 8 o’clock areas leaning toward the highest amount of break. For example, if I feel like I am at 7:30 I’m going to figure out the estimate and add a couple to deal with the volatility. In either case, these putts will be very hard to make because of the slope and speed sensitivity. You’d also have to estimate the slope % here because it is changing on the way to the hole. It goes from steeper to shallower.

I hope you enjoy and let me know if you have questions.

AimPoint Golf Green Reading, Plano, Texas

John Graham — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:41:10 +0000

Follow the link below to register for the Plano, Texas AimPoint Green Reading Clinic.

It will be held September 26th, 2010 at Glen Eagles CC.

Clinic times are 11am and 4pm.

Cost is $100

Hope to see you there.

John Graham’s US AimPoint Green Reading Clinics