Slow play in golf has often been a point of frustration, and lately, the AimPoint green-reading method has been adding fuel to the fire. The controversy initially gained attention when LPGA player A Lim Kim used the technique during the third round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. She read the green using AimPoint for a birdie putt on the par-3 fourth hole. Her putt rolled just past the hole, setting up an easy tap-in. Though she ultimately finished in sixth place, her method sparked debate.
The conversation didn’t stop there. Recently, Min Woo Lee also used AimPoint on an extremely short 8-inch par putt on the 18th hole. Though he sank the putt and won the match, the act didn’t sit well with many—including veteran broadcaster Jim Nantz. Nantz, speaking on the Talk Birdie To Me Podcast, expressed his disapproval. Referring to an instance where Gary Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little, used AimPoint, Nantz said he was fine with one person doing it—but when both the player and caddie get involved, it becomes excessive. He acknowledged that while the player may be asking the caddie for input, the whole process has gotten out of control.
Should Aim Point be banned? Is it cheating? @nickohern and @MarkAllenGolf discuss on the latest @TalkBirdie_ToMe feedback vodcast live here: https://t.co/2agVzJmL1o pic.twitter.com/4O77qcNQWs
— TalkBirdieToMe (@TalkBirdie_ToMe) April 4, 2025
Co-host Mark Allen chimed in, saying that if caddies are using AimPoint on the PGA Tour, it should be banned immediately. The pair questioned whether this violated any rules, but concluded that it doesn’t—because the method ultimately relies on the player’s own judgment. This legal gray area has allowed AimPoint to remain in the game, even as its use becomes more widespread and controversial.
One notable moment showing how time-consuming the method can be came during the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Will Zalatoris and his caddie Ryan Goble spent around three minutes using AimPoint. Zalatoris crouched to examine the green, while Goble stood between him and the hole, moving his feet and using his fingers to gauge the slope. After the lengthy routine, Zalatoris successfully made the putt.
Jim Nantz has been vocal about his disdain for AimPoint for a while. In a 2024 comment, he criticized how players turn their backs to the hole, walk several feet, and use AimPoint to feel the slope. “Where’s the feel in that?” he asked. The core of the criticism lies in how much it slows down the game. Even after all that effort, players still occasionally miss the putt—further frustrating fans and viewers.
Despite this backlash, some golfers still support the method. One of the most high-profile defenders is Phil Mickelson. While competing in a LIV Golf event in Hong Kong, he credited his caddie, Jon Yarbrough, for his improved putting using AimPoint. Mickelson explained that Yarbrough is skilled at interpreting the green and tells him details like the slope value and grain direction. That insight has helped Mickelson judge his putts more accurately.
Mickelson noted that both his improved putting and a new putter have made a difference. He also praised Yarbrough, who took over caddie duties after Tim Mickelson retired, saying he was excited to keep working with someone so skilled at reading greens.
So the debate rages on: Is AimPoint merely a clever strategic tool, or is it hurting the pace and tradition of golf? The opinions are divided—but one thing is clear: the discussion isn’t going away anytime soon.