Why Your AimPoint Reads Are Wrong (and How to Make Them Perfect)

You’ve invested time in learning AimPoint, diligently practicing your “foot feel” and finger calibration, yet your putts still aren’t breaking as expected. It’s frustrating to execute a seemingly perfect read only to watch the ball stray. To troubleshoot these accuracy issues and help you perfect your AimPoint reads, we asked Oakville’s PGA Certified Golf Instructor and AimPoint Putting Coach, Sean Carlino, for his expert advice.

“The most common reason an AimPoint read feels ‘wrong’ isn’t necessarily because the system is flawed, but because there’s a subtle breakdown in the application,” explains Coach Carlino. “It’s about pinpointing where that disconnect is happening.”

1. Calibration Drift: Your “Foot Feel” is Off “Your ability to accurately feel the slope percentage is paramount,” Carlino emphasizes. “Over time, your internal calibration can drift. What felt like 1% a month ago might feel like 1.5% now.”

• Fix: Regularly re-calibrate using a digital level. Dedicate 5-10 minutes before each practice session to verify your foot feel against known slope percentages. This is a quick yet crucial step.

2. Incorrect Body Alignment During the Read: “Even a slight tilt of your body or head during the finger calibration can throw off your aim point by inches,” Carlino notes. “Your eyes need to be directly over the ball, and your body perpendicular to the putt line for an accurate read.”

• Fix: Practice your AimPoint read in front of a mirror or have a playing partner observe you. Ensure your eyes are level and your body posture is consistent each time.

3. Misjudging Green Speed (Stimp): “AimPoint reads are relative to green speed,” Carlino states. “If you think the greens are a 10 on the stimpmeter but they’re actually an 8, your read will be off.”

• Fix: Always gauge the green speed by rolling a few practice putts on a flat section before your round. Pay attention to how far a ball rolls from a consistent stroke. This helps you apply the correct AimPoint chart or adjust your visual.

4. Neglecting Double Breaks or Slope Changes: “Many putts aren’t a single, consistent slope,” explains Carlino. “For putts with two distinct breaks or significant changes in slope, you need to segment your read.”

• Fix: Focus on the “Segmented Read” drill. Identify where the primary break changes or where a new slope begins, and apply AimPoint to each section independently, then blend the result.

5. Speed Control is Masking the Read: “Often, the AimPoint read is correct, but your speed control is inconsistent,” Carlino points out. “A putt that’s hit too hard or too soft won’t follow the intended break.”

• Fix: Separate your practice. Work on your speed control drills independently of AimPoint reads to ensure your stroke is reliable.

“Perfecting AimPoint is an ongoing process,” Carlino concludes. “By meticulously troubleshooting these common areas, you’ll gain the precision and confidence needed to make those seemingly impossible putts on the beautiful greens here in Oakville.”