Golf term
Aim Point
An aim point is a specific target on the course a golfer is considering hitting to when comparing shot options, as distinct from wherever the ball actually finishes.
Every shot starts with choosing an aim point — a spot on the fairway, a section of the green, a bail-out area short of a hazard — before a club is even swung. Comparing aim points is a different exercise from comparing outcomes: an aim point is a decision made in advance, while proximity to hole and strokes gained describe what happened after the swing.
Because a shot rarely finishes exactly at the aim point chosen — some dispersion around the target is part of every swing — judging an aim point means weighing the full range of likely outcomes it produces, not just the best case. A pin tucked next to a bunker can be the most direct aim point and still a poor one, once a golfer's typical shot distribution around it is priced in.
A more conservative aim point, played away from the flag toward the safer side of the green, usually trades a little proximity for a lower chance of an expensive miss. See short-siding and the fat side for how that trade-off is typically framed.
Related terms & guides
Glossary
Short-Siding
Short-siding is missing an approach shot on the side of the green with the least room between the ball and the hole, leaving little green to work with on the next shot.
Glossary
Fat Side
The fat side of a green, relative to a given pin position, is whichever side has more room between the edge of the putting surface and the hole — the safer side to miss on.
Glossary
Shot Dispersion
Dispersion is how far a golfer's shots with a given club typically spread from their intended target, in both distance and direction.
Glossary
Proximity to Hole
Proximity to the hole is the average distance your shots finish from the cup, usually measured for approach shots from a given range.
Guide
Strokes Gained Approach