Perfect Aim Instructor Certification

Golf instructors are invited to become certified instructors of the Perfect Aim Green Reading System.

Benefits of becoming a certified instructor includes a 25% discount on the purchase of Perfect Aim markers. There is also a 35% discount available to certified instructors who purchase more than 10 sets of markers. Upon certification an instructor will confidently be able to deliver green reading classes which include Perfect Aim product for participants. Upon successful completion of the certification assessment participants will receive Instructor Certification and will be entitled to conduct green reading classes using the Perfect Aim product.  The Perfect Aim system is quite easy for participants to gain an understanding of in a short period of time with quick returns in improved outcomes.
We will also include a lesson plan to help instructors to deliver the class covering all of the most important aspects including trouble shooting.

The Perfect Aim Green Reading System can be learned and implemented by all levels of players from beginners through to professional.

The basis for the Perfect Aim system is the marked lines on each of the ball markers which relate to estimated slope amounts. Each of the ball markers relates to a different green speed ranging from MEDIUM (Stimp Speed 8-9), FAST (Stimp Speed 10-11) and TOUR (Stimp speed 12-13). Each marker has four different angled lines which relate to varying slope amounts ranging from SLIGHT (Around 1% slope), MODERATE (Around 2% Slope), STEEP (Around 3% slope) and SEVERE (4% slope and above).

The Perfect Aim Ball Marker and Green Reading System helps provide a reference baseline for improved putting outcomes improving consistency of aim and ball start direction.

Please see below for content of certification course –

 PERFECT AIM GREEN READING SYSTEM

The Perfect Aim Ball Marker and Green Reading System has been developed to help golfers to estimate the slope and its effect on any given putt and to aim the putter face accurately and with consistency.                                           

It is necessary for players to use a ball that has a straight marked line on it which is then aimed via reference to a ball marker that has lines on it. The player then aims the putter face relative to the line on the ball which can greatly improve face angle aim and consistency. The aim lines have been calculated for accuracy with a speed that would have the ball roll somewhere between 300mm to 400mm  or 12 to 15 inches past the hole.                                             

The PERFECT AIM system has three different ball markers that are relatable to three different green speeds –  MEDIUM, FAST and TOUR. This can also be defined as a MEDIUM green speed to a Stimp speed of 8-9, a FAST green relating to a measured Stimp speed of 10-11 and a TOUR defined marker relating to green speeds of 12-13 Stimp.    

Each of the small Perfect Aim markers are allowable for use in competitive play as defined by the rules of golf. There is no limit to how many players in a group can use a Perfect Aim marker.                                                        There are also three oversized poker chip style markers that are available in the complete package which are suitable for social play and practice, however they are not legal for use in competitions.

The markers have been designed for use on all the green speeds ranging from MEDIUM through to TOUR fast and are ideal for an introduction to the system, for training and for social play.                          

  If there is a posted speed of the greens at your local course measured by a Stimp meter the selection of the marker for use on that day is very straight forward. However if there are no Stimp measurements available a player can determine by a process of elimination  which marker will be suitable based on experience.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Firstly eliminate one of the choices by reckoning if the practice green or greens to be played on are perhaps neither one of the extreme speeds. So if it’s definitely not TOUR speed then it’s either MEDIUM OR FAST and final determination can come from practically hitting putts.                                                                   

The amount of slope on a golf putting surface is almost always referred to as a percentage determined by rise over run. Generally speaking a hole on a putting green would not be positioned on a slope of greater than 3% if the greens were running at a speed of around 11-12 Stimp. The risk being that the ball would not stop rolling at the hole especially if there was also the possibility of strong winds. Certainly a 4% slope around the hole with green speeds of 13-14 Stimp would render the green unplayable. There may be parts of a green that have slopes up to 6% or higher but these areas are not suitable for hole locations.  In order to be able to estimate slope percentages with a greater degree of accuracy it would helpful to either purchase a digital spirit level and set the measurement mode to percentage. Also there are many apps available for mobile phones that can measure slope percentages when the phone is placed on the green in the last third of the putt. 

Training with a digital spirit level or mobile phone Inclinometer app from different positions and slope amounts on a practice putting green will make it much easier to be able to estimate the amount of side slope for any given putt on course. Many putts will have combinations of slopes that could include uphill right to left or downhill left to right but what the player is mostly looking to ascertain is the amount of side slope to account for. Sometimes it can be useful to consider the area around the hole to be like a clock face.   

 The zero break line is defined as a straight line that goes from above the hole (Here shown as 12 O’clock through to 6 O’clock).  A straight uphill putt would be from the 6 O’clock position and straight downhill as 12 O’clock.  If the slope was planar and was 3% or you regarded it as steep, the putt would break most just above the 9 O’clock and 3 O’clock positions. At 10 O’clock and 2 O’clock the putts would be downhill left to right and downhill right to left respectively and would have 2% or moderate side slope. At 8 O’clock and 4 O’clock  the putts would play as 2% side slope but they would also be slightly uphill. At 11, 1, 5 and 7 O’clock positions the putts would play as 1% or slight slopes with downhill in the case of 11 and 1 and uphill in the case of 5 and 7 O’clock. Using a clock face type methodology for estimating the amount of side slope helps many players in determining where to aim a putt.

The slope on any putt will usually have the greatest effect after it has passed the apex and in the last third of the putt. The apex of a putt will usually occur at a point around 66% of the putt distance while the aim point should be a further 25% higher than the apex. This is for all putts regardless of distance and amount of slope.                                                          

  Each of the ball markers has a series of lines on either side which relate to the amount of slope for any given putt. These are defined as SLIGHT on one side and STEEP on the opposite side. Each marker also has a solid black line directly underneath the writing PERFECT AIM.  This line in the centre should always be aimed directly at the hole no matter whatever length of putt or the amount of slope. If the putt has an equal amount of slope from where it is played from to the hole or on average slope amount can be determined the aim point angle will be the same regardless of the length of the putt.                                                            

 In the case of a straight putt the player would align the solid black middle line directly at the hole. In the interests of greater accuracy in regards to lining up the ball marker, a player may choose to place the marker behind the ball, then aim the line on the ball directly at the hole. Because of the line on the ball being bigger than the line on the ball marker it is for many players easier to aim the ball accurately and then adjust the ball marker to the line on the ball to get a zeroed out start position. Thereafter the line on the ball can then be angled according to the estimated amount of slope. 

 A SLIGHT slope can also be defined as having around 1% slope and a MODERATE slope at around 2%. The opposing side also has two dashed lines which relate to either STEEP slopes, or SEVERE slopes. A STEEP slope can also be defined as around 3% with three dashes and a SEVERE slope 4% with four dashes.

In order to use the Perfect Aim system on course a player must have done some training with the marker/markers on a practice putting green, getting used to estimating the amount of slope.  This can be done practically in hitting putts but also  by using a feedback tool that provides information such as a digital spirit level or slope measuring app.  The Tour Read Golf app can help provide feedback on slope amounts and also suggests aim points. From experience players are then able to take a best guess of what the slope amount is relating to either a percentage or slight through to severe slope range.

For many players just by being able to identify the direction of a slope that it is either slight or steep can mean greatly improved outcomes. Lining the ball up just on either the slight or steep lines can help reduce three putts and the overall number of putts.

Once on course a player needs to assess how much side slope they think is in effect for their putts. This can be done by surveying the area around their ball and the hole by seeing with their own eyes or feeling it with their feet.    This can be also in the form of straddling the line of their putt and deciding if one foot feels like it is in a higher position than the other or feeling it in other parts of their body such as legs, hips or upper body.                                 

In some cases there will be green reading charts available for the course which may also have notations on slope percentages in different parts of the green. Players can also take their own notes however these notes and green reading charts may be restricted in their size as set out by the USGA and R&A.
There are some other factors which may influence the estimation of the amount of break to allow for using the markers. If there is any grain occurring because of the direction of the grass blades a player may have to allow for up to 10% more break. The grain will usually go downhill or towards the setting sun or sometimes towards a body of water.

The Perfect Aim Ball Marker and Green Reading System is easy to learn and offers great accuracy and precision for all level of players. Having undertaken classes or instruction with other green reading systems will definitely be beneficial as identifying slope amounts is a vital component of accurate green reading.

Golf professionals who complete the Certified Instructor Assessment are able to purchase Perfect Aim kits at a 25% discounted rate for a purchase of five units and 35% discount upon the purchase of ten or more.                           

The cost of Certification is AUD$75.00.

To complete the Instructor Certification Assessment please fill out the questionaire below –