What Do We Think About Aim Point? Jim Nantz Isn’t a Fan

Not this again.

Let’s not act like walking all around the green doesn’t take a lot of time.

Just hurry up and use whatever system works best for you.

Lyle said:
Not this again.

Let’s not act like walking all around the green doesn’t take a lot of time.

Just hurry up and use whatever system works best for you.

The difference is you can read your putt with traditional reading while others are putting. You can’t use Aimpoint until it’s your turn because it involves walking around and getting in people’s lines.

@Taylor
That’s not true at all.

I really dislike it. Watching players straddle the line over five-foot putts or worse, doing it five times over a 30-footer was painful during the Presidents Cup.

It goes along with my belief that we need a 30-second shot clock in golf. From the time it’s your turn, you have 30 seconds to make your shot. Do all your reading and decision-making while others are away.

@Wade
If they’ve successfully used a shot clock in pool and snooker, they can easily do it in golf. The PGA TOUR has some rules in place, but they aren’t enforced well.

Winter said:
@Wade
If they’ve successfully used a shot clock in pool and snooker, they can easily do it in golf. The PGA TOUR has some rules in place, but they aren’t enforced well.

How would that even work? A shot clock in pool and snooker is easy because it’s played by two players on a table in a room. How do you enforce that with 100+ players over 150+ acres?

@Shay
If you’re standing at your ball and ready to hit, you have 40 seconds to do it. That’s the rule for the PGA Tour, but it’s rarely enforced. They have people with each group; it wouldn’t be that hard for them to time everyone.

@Shay
They have walking standard bearers with each group and a lot of rules officials on the course. They just need to have a walking rules official with each group to manage and enforce the shot clock. They would only need about 36 for the weekend and 55 for Thursday and Friday.

@Wade
When hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake, why do we care how long it takes for them to play? Sure, a guy at your local muni taking forever with Aimpoint is annoying, but at the highest levels of competition, I don’t see how it’s a big deal.

@Zorion
They can do whatever they want; they’re pros. But I honestly watch less when they’re slow.

Baseball added a pitch clock, and it has made the game much more enjoyable to watch in my opinion.

@Zorion
TV audiences disagree. It’s a major turnoff for casual viewers when they are channel surfing.

@Wade

Absolutely despise it. Players straddling the line over 5-foot putts,

Putts in the 4-12 foot range are the ones where you really need to know the break perfectly. They’re the putts you’re trying to make, and the ones that should take the most time.

or worse doing it 5 times over a 30-footer.

I agree here; once you’re outside 15-20 feet, you shouldn’t need to check five times. You’re probably not making that putt.

I know someone who does it, sort of a shortened version of the full Aimpoint routine. He’s naturally a fast player, so he does it in a way that doesn’t slow down the others on the green. However, most random people I play with who use it tend to slow things down and aren’t ready when it’s their turn to putt because of it.

@Dale
Exactly. You can do it quickly and not waste time.

I try to be as fast as possible, and it’s quicker and more accurate for me than reading the greens.

Also, I don’t take five practice putts before actually putting.

@Dale
I use it, but like your friend, I’m really quick with it. I love having a line to putt with confidence.

@Dale

I have a friend who does it, sort of an abbreviated version of the full Aimpoint routine.

Me too. I use a method similar to Aimpoint that involves straddling the line, and I can finish my rounds in 1 hour and 45 minutes to get home in time for work.

The issue isn’t Aimpoint itself; it’s that the shot time limits aren’t enforced consistently on tour. If they started handing out one-stroke penalties every time someone exceeds the limit, everyone would adjust their routines.

I don’t mind the pros using it, but I recently played with someone who was using it and ended up scoring a 105. It was painful to watch.

Devin said:
I don’t mind the pros using it, but I recently played with someone who was using it and ended up scoring a 105. It was painful to watch.

Why does his score matter?

When I shoot a 77, I feel bad about it. My 77 is the same to me as 107 is to someone who usually scores in the 90s.