Golf0clock

Over the past decade, the AimPoint putting method has gained traction among professional and amateur golfers alike. Promising a scientific approach to reading greens, it’s been heralded by some as a game-changer. But does AimPoint actually improve scoring, or is it just another gimmick slowing down the game?

The Theory Behind AimPoint

AimPoint is designed to help players read greens more accurately by using their feet to assess slope, assigning a percentage value, and then using a finger-measuring system to determine the correct aiming line. The concept is intriguing, and it certainly has its proponents. But when it comes to actual results, the numbers suggest that the benefits may be marginal at best.

The Time Cost: A Detriment to Pace of Play

One of the biggest complaints about AimPoint is the amount of time it takes to execute. Golf already struggles with slow play, and adding an extra process to every putt only exacerbates the issue. Players have to stop, feel the ground with their feet, calculate slope percentages, and then go through a separate aiming routine before finally making a stroke.

For example, in recent PGA Tour rounds, players who use AimPoint have been observed taking up to 15-20 seconds longer per putt compared to their traditional green-reading counterparts. Over the course of a full round, this can add minutes of unnecessary delay. In professional events where every second is scrutinized, slowing the game down is not just an annoyance—it can impact competitors and viewers alike.

Minimal Gains in Strokes Gained Putting

The central argument for AimPoint is that it improves putting accuracy, leading to better scoring. However, recent data does not show overwhelming proof of its effectiveness. In fact, many top AimPoint users have seen little to no significant increase in their Strokes Gained: Putting (SGP) metric.

• Collin Morikawa adopted AimPoint but saw just a 0.5 stroke gain per round—marginal at best.
• Justin Rose recorded a 0.7 stroke gain, but those numbers do not guarantee overall scoring improvements.
• Keegan Bradley, one of the more vocal AimPoint supporters, improved by 1.2 strokes gained—but his scoring average has remained nearly the same.

Compare these minor gains to players who rely on feel-based green reading—like Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy—who routinely rank high in putting without the extra complexity. In many cases, traditional methods produce the same or better results without adding time to the routine.

The Illusion of Control

Many golfers turn to AimPoint because it provides a sense of control over an unpredictable variable: green reading. But in reality, golf is inherently uncertain. There are countless factors beyond slope—green speed, grass grain, wind, and putter face alignment—that no amount of numerical calculations can completely solve.

Some pros have even abandoned AimPoint after realizing that, despite the process, they still faced misreads and speed miscalculations. Others have argued that over-reliance on the method removes natural feel, which is often the most important component of putting.

A Solution Looking for a Problem?

Before AimPoint, great putters existed. Ben Crenshaw, Tiger Woods, and Brad Faxon mastered the art of green reading without using their fingers or calculating percentages. The argument that golfers need a structured process for something that has historically been an intuitive skill seems unnecessary.

Golf is already complicated. Adding another layer of mental processing only increases doubt, hesitation, and over-analysis—things that rarely lead to better putting.

Conclusion: Putting for Douches

The AimPoint method may work for some players, but the marginal benefits do not justify the added time and complexity, especially at the professional level where every second matters. If it truly provided a significant advantage, we would see dominant putting statistics among its users. But the reality is, AimPoint users see only slight gains—if any—while slowing down the game.

For the average golfer, time spent on AimPoint might be better spent on improving speed control, stroke mechanics, or confidence over short putts. In a sport that already struggles with pace of play issues, the last thing we need is another reason to take longer on the greens for little reward.

Don’t be a douche, don’t aimpoint unless you are on tour.