Reading Putting Greens Grain

If you want to improve your golf game by reading greens take some time before putting to view the green s slope.

Reading putting greens grain.

The break is the direction the green will try and pull your golf ball. Once you have assessed whether the putt is uphill or downhill to help you determine the pace and initial starting line then focus on the area around the hole where the ball will die to gain an understanding of the. Look at the cup to find out which way the grass is growing. When you are approaching a green from a distance it can be easier to see how the green tilts and if there is an obvious tilt.

Use this grain reading technique on shorter putts where there are not multiple grain direction changes. Something that is highly likely on longer putts on sloping green complexes. Reading a putting green means determining the slope of the green and which way it will cause the ball will turn as it travels toward the hole called the break of the putt. This is typical among golfers and in fact green reading is one of the fundamentals of putting that we teach at all of our short game golf schools.

Andrew redington getty images it is important to note that putts hit across any side slope are uphill on the first part of the putt and downhill on the second part of the putt. Putts downgrain in the same direction the grass is growing go faster than putts into the grain in the opposite direction from the grass growth. For example if you re putting on a completely flat green and hit it perfectly straight ha and the green has a grain that pulls your golf ball to the right your ball will go right. Golfers also should look at the direction in which the grass is growing referred to as the grain of the green.

Bernhard langer reveals keys to reading grain on greens. For example aim slightly to the left when you putt if a slope forces your ball curve right. Break is mostly influenced by the grain and topography of the green. It s your first thought for how to get your ball close or into the hole but if your green reading is really a bunch of guessing and you re rushing through it you re in for a long.

It also requires determining the speed of the putting surface or how fast the ball will travel on its path. Imagine a line tracing how the ball will roll into the hole after you hit it and consider how any slopes will affect your ball s trajectory. So pay attention as you approach the putting surface from the fairway.