AimPoint seems to be one of the topics in golf which divides players and fans, with many calling for the practice to be banned.

Of course, most golfers will trust what their eyes tell them when they get onto the green and prepare to hit a putt. They may subsequently adjust slightly once they are over the putt.

What is AimPoint?

AimPoint has provided an alternative way for golfers to read their putts over the last couple of decades. Rather than read the green with their eyes, players will straddle the line of their putt and use their feet to assess the amount of break.

Once they have calculated the severity of the slope, they will stand behind the putt and determine the line they need to start the ball on.

The likes of Keegan Bradley, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood have used AimPoint at the highest level. Bradley even claimed AimPoint will be pivotal to how people are taught to read greens within a decade.

AimPoint has come in for plenty of criticism

Some are not as convinced that it is good for the game. Lucas Glover said those who use AimPoint are rude to their playing partners.

There is a perception that the practice takes considerably longer than reading a putt in a more conventional manner. Meanwhile, players have to walk much closer to the hole to make their readings.On social media, it was put to Brandel Chamblee that few amateur golfers are using AimPoint. And the pundit explained the reason why it is not more popular.

He wrote: “If there were objective concrete evidence that AimPoint worked, the proponents of it, it seems to me, would have produced a detailed before and after from every distance for EVERY tour pro that started using it… barring that objective evidence it looks like an utter waste of time to me. And I’ve done my best to find evidence that it works to no avail.“

The other reason amateurs are not regularly using AimPoint amid Brandel Chamblee criticism

In fairness to those who use AimPoint, there is another significant reason why more amateurs are not trying it out.

AimPoint is a much more matter-of-fact way of reading greens. With that, there are courses and clinics available where the practice is taught.

Of course, anyone can probably learn to use their feet to get an idea of the break. But clearly, there are particular points on the line of the putt which provide more information than others, so understanding where to take readings is critical.

And how to use that information to decide on the starting line is clearly a skill.

Most amateur golfers do not have the time or motivation to learn AimPoint, particularly as the large majority will not play on greens that are as severe as the putting surfaces in PGA Tour events.

That does not necessarily mean that AimPoint is not beneficial. Much like anchored putters, there are some players who think the world of the technique, while others simply cannot make it work for them.

Despite that, there are clearly plenty of people who want to see AimPoint outlawed altogether.