Any Tips on Reading Greens?

Question

I'm not a great putter.. Reading greens is one of my weaknesses.

Answer 1

Putting on the practice green is a good idea to get a feel for the speed of the greens.

On the course I generally look to the edges of the green first, to find the highest point of the green and watch how the green slopes down from there. Of course it's not always that easy, because there may be more than one slope on a green.

Next I try to look at a putt from all angles. Sometimes it looks like the ball will break one way if you're behind your ball, but a look from behind the pin will reveal a different slope. While looking from different angles, keep asking yourself, which side is higher?

Looking to the edges of the green to find which side is higher definitely helps, but in the end, the only slope that matters is the slope between your ball and the hole. After checking which side(s) of the green are higher, follow the slopes down to the area that your ball is going to roll over. Is the slope consistent? Does it flatten out where your ball is going? Etc.

Your feet can give you information as well. When you're standing over your putt you can usually feel which way the green slopes. If after looking at the putt from all angles, I'm still not quite sure about the slope of the green, I usually trust my feet to tell me which way the ball is going to roll.

Some greens also have a grain. The grass bends one way making one way roll smooth and fast, while the other way is slower and rougher (kinda like fish scales). I've found on most courses this is not a factor, but if it is, it can be a major factor. In general, I believe grains run in the direction rain water flows (not sure about this). Some courses will have a general rule about the grain (i.e. runs towards the river). But if not, you can bend down, look close, and stroke the green with your fingers. You should be able to see which way the grass is bent and feel which way is smooth and which way is rough. The ball will tend to roll towards the smooth direction. So, an uphill putt going with the grain (the smooth direction) will roll faster than you would expect.

Finally, for the sake of pace of play, don't wait until it's your turn to putt to do all this. You can start looking at the slope of the green as you are walking up from your approach shot. You can continue to look from different angles while others are chipping and lining up their own putts. I hate watching some guy in the group in front of me just standing while 3 other people chip and putt, then when it's his turn to putt, he starts looking at it from every angle. In the end, you're not playing for a PGA Championship, try to get a good idea of the slope then trust it and putt it.

Answer 2

Perhaps you should use your sense of feel a tad more, instead of relying on your eyes.

Ben Crenshaw used to practice putting barefoot, using his sense of feel to detect slight variances in the shape of the greens.

Answer 3

Reading greens is an art which comes from experience and applying a little common sense.Most important is to determine the direction of the grain( in which direction  the grass is  growing ).The grain will also follow the drainage pattern. If you are looking at the grass and the color is dominant you will be putting against the grain.  You will need to hit the putt a little harder. When above the hole on a sloping green if the surface is shiny you will be putting with the grain making the putt travel a lot faster.You will have to hit the putt with less force. You may also be faced with side to side grain due to drainage or the presence of water.Slopes will also require putts that curve. One has to learn to gauge the amount the ball will break. Just keep practicing using the tips above and you should see the putting improve. Make sure you start with a smooth putting stroke with the follow through equal to the length of your back swing.

Answer 4

Remember that when you first hit the ball it will tend to go straighter as it is rolling faster. As the ball slows down the ball will be affected more by the slope/curve of the green. Get the ball started on the line you want and expect greater changes at the end of it's run.

Besides reading greens you also have to know your distance. Use the same tempo for every putt and change the length of the swing to adjust the distance. Practice putting by swinging the putter from one instep to the other and see the distance. Then from the outside of one foot to the other and see the distance. This way you can better judge where your ball will end up.

Answer 5

Few things you can do:

Check which way the blades of grass on the green are facing. If they are facing away from the ball, the ball will tend to go faster than if you were putting into the grass facing it.

Also, before you take the flag out, you can sometimes look at the way the flag is tilted, which will show if the hole is in a bit of a slope and in which direction.

Also when reading, try to be as close to ground level as possible, even if you have to stand off the green. Always go with your first view of the slope, because it is usually right.

If you can't read it from this, just go by judgment when standing above your ball by seeing if you can feel which way the green is sloping.

Answer 6

Dont forget to watch the grain.....if grain against u your ball will roller slower and opposite if with you....will follow if crossing....

Answer 7

If you ever watch golf on TV, some of the things they say about putting is so silly.  For instance they will say that the putts are going to break towards any water or the setting sun.  What a load of c**p.  The best thing to do is before a round try to get out on the putting green to see how the greens are rolling.  When on the course pay attention to others in your group and how their putts are rolling and when it's your turn pick a spot between the ball and the hole that you want the ball to roll over, paying attention to the slope of the green.  Also, the grain of the grass can have an effect on the speed.  If the grain is towards you hit the putt a little harder.  If it's away from you, hit it a little less.  You want achieve a pendulum effect on your putting stroke, straight back and through the ball.  You gotta practice a lot also, it will make you a better putter.  Hope this helps.

Answer 8

i feel that experience has most to do with reading greens after being on enough greens or putting enough you just have ''the feel'' for green. it also helps to know that most greens with break towards a water source or bunkers.