Aimpoint knee pop method

[Hen Bogan]

Has anybody tried the new "knee pop" method of reading the slope for Aimpoint Express? I love the aimpoint reads but gotta admit it's tricky to get a good feel of the slope with the feet. This looks much more simple. Having already paid to take a class, Id rather not pay again to learn their updated technique. Perhaps there could be a good discussion here as to how you go about dialing in this technique.

 

It seems you just need to calibrate different slopes with different markings on your shoes and once you get that dialed in you just check your shoe for what the slope is. I read somewhere that you put your feet together but saw the video with Lydia Ko and she had her feet shoulder width apart. Anybody here that uses it, could you talk about some of the steps involved. I think I got it figured out but would be nice to hear others thoughts.

[dornstar]

Yep. Absolutely love it.

I couldn't read the slope at all with my feet, but have uncanny accuracy with the knee pop.

Face the hole in the middle third of the putt. Lock out the low side knee. Let the high side knee pop out. Look down and see how far it has popped out using your shoe as a reference. Example... 2nd lace = 2, end of laces = 4, end of shoe = 8, etc. Pretty simple, but hard if you change shoes a lot. The reference on the shoe is different for my Nike and Adidas shoes.

I pretty much only wear one style of shoes now.

[4pillars]

Tried this, but you need tight trousers to get it to work. (or shorts I guess)

[AlecEmersonGolf]

ive never tried it but it sounds decent. Im pretty good at getting the right number with my feet, so im gonna stick with that. just practice with a level that shows percent slope, (I have a husky 9" level, like $40 at home depot), and eventually youll get it.

[dornstar]

[quote name='4pillars' timestamp='1435693143' post='11864094'] Tried this, but you need tight trousers to get it to work. (or shorts I guess) [/quote]
Just slightly pull your pants or shorts back tighter on the knee you're using to read.

[dornstar]

[quote name='AlecEmersonGolf' timestamp='1435698046' post='11864594'] ive never tried it but it sounds decent. Im pretty good at getting the right number with my feet, so im gonna stick with that. just practice with a level that shows percent slope, (I have a husky 9" level, like $40 at home depot), and eventually youll get it. [/quote]I tried and tried and tried to get the read with my feet and couldn't get it even practicing with the level. With the knee pop method, I don't even have to practice it.

[RichieHunt]

I use it (it's called the Baillie Read, IIRC) and really like it.






RH

[Squicker]

Dornstar...thank you for your posts and experience. So...is the objective when allowing the high side knee to kick out to attain equal weight distribution and/or a level eyeline?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

[dornstar]

[quote name='Squicker' timestamp='1435788537' post='11872040']
Dornstar...thank you for your posts and experience. So...is the objective when allowing the high side knee to kick out to attain equal weight distribution and/or a level eyeline?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
[/quote]
Honestly, I'm not sure exactly the mechanics behind the process. I just try to stand upright and look out to the horizon before I do the knee pop. The more the slope, the more it pops out. Bigger breaks are usually easier than subtle breaks. If there is an issue with this method, it's trying to create break when none is there, but you can do that with the feet read method as well.

[goatbarn]

IT sounds like the idea is to use your body's inherent awareness for being level to gravity.

Like the above guy said though, if the break is subtle enough you could second guess your instincts.

[SixtySomePing]

Sounds like a quicker way to figure a double breaker too.

[SixtySomePing]

I wonder if it would help for anyone who is at home and has a treadmill to practice the kneepop method by setting the treadmill elevation %'s to 1, 2, 3, 4 % etc. just to get the feel for those %'s and see what the kneepop feels like? Just thinking outloud...

[Hen Bogan]

thats not a bad idea. i dont have a treadmill but i do have a digital level so if i set a piece of plywood up with a block underneath for different slopes it should give the same feel. nice thinking!

[dornstar]

[quote name='SixtySomePing' timestamp='1436820325' post='11941416']
I wonder if it would help for anyone who is at home and has a treadmill to practice the kneepop method by setting the treadmill elevation %'s to 1, 2, 3, 4 % etc. just to get the feel for those %'s and see what the kneepop feels like? Just thinking outloud...
[/quote]
Holy crap... great post.

I have one of those collecting dust in my garage that I might actually get some use out of.

[SixtySomePing]

I tried it last night (with golf shoes on of course) and I thought it really helped a lot.

[Zaddn]

I used a piano hinge and a couple 1/2 in boards and made my own adjustable slope stand. I was lazy and didn't want to machine any sort of specific gauges so I have 1.5, 3, and 4.5 percent slopes. Works nicely.

As far as the knee pop goes, any insight on how to stand so you have consistent readings? Also, if your shorts overhang your knees slightly, is this going to throw things off?

[clintwilli23]

Older thread but wondering if people are still using this & how this has been going over the long term?

[Santiago Golf]

ive never tried it but it sounds decent. Im pretty good at getting the right number with my feet, so im gonna stick with that. just practice with a level that shows percent slope, (I have a husky 9" level, like $40 at home depot), and eventually youll get it.

 

There are some good apps for phones. This what I use.