Any tips to get better at finding the speed of greens?

Question

my major problem with my game is putting, and my problem with putting is finding the correct speed for my putts. obviously, the best way to get better at this is to practice more, but to you have any tips that would help me get the correct speed on my putts?

Answer 1

A device called a stimpmeter is used to measure the speed of greens. this is used by professionals, however there is quite a bit of debate as to whether or not it is helpful or even reliable/accurate. Also the speed of greens changes daily, and even hourly! I have spent the better part of 5 years on world class greens and can say that the speed of greens is variable and dependent largely on environmental factors, and can change from one part of the green to another. If you take a stimpmeter reading right before your putt, it might help you, but be advised that it not fool proof but should give you a general idea the speed of the green your on.

Answer 2

Go to the practice green of the course you're about to play.

Pace of 10 strides and hit putts to the hole and count of flag-football counts: one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand.

This will give you the amount of full seconds it takes for a ball to get to a hole on a specific green for 10 paces.

Next try 5 paces, try 15 paces, try 20 paces.

Now you'll have a good gauge as to finding the correct speed for your putts.

Another major leak with putt speed is not hitting the ball with the sweet spot. For this, form a "gate" with two tees, three feet from the hole. Just focus on the gate and hitting putts through the "gate". You'll quickly see that you hit the sweet spot without even trying and you'll end up making 3-4 footers without even realizing it.

Answer 3

Before I play a round I go to the practice green as others have noted.  On the practice green, I like to do the "ladder drill".  Place a ball 1 foot from the cup, another 2 feet, another 3 feet, etc....

Start with the one foot putt.  Once you make it, go to the 2 foot putt. Once you make the 2 foot putt, go to the 3 footer.  And so on...  I've seen some golfers do this drill and they start over if they miss a putt.  Myself, I don't move on until I've made the putt.  Sometimes I'll say I have to make the same putt 3 times before I move on.

It only takes about 10 or 15 minutes.  In that time you will have learned the speed of the greens from several distances from the hole.

Answer 4

Before you start your round, try to get on the practice green, and that should give you a general feel for the speed for that day.

And on the first hole you play, you should really study how that one feels, and that should be how all of them are.

Of course, they will vary a tiny bit from hole to hole, and as the round goes on, but by then you should have a good feel of the course.

I hope I helped.

Answer 5

Hey, I could be wrong but so far they have not even come close to answering the question you have asked (I think).

I am assuming you are asking how to get better at controlling your distance.

When practicing put to the edge of the green not to a hole, try to get the ball to stop as close to the edge without going off. That is the way I used to practice.

Oh, and on your putts, pick a distance like 1 foot or 18 inches as a distance you want to roll the ball beyond the hole if you miss, and always try to hit it that far by. This will help you reading the greens and becoming a more consistant putter.

Answer 6

well like the first guy try to get out on the putting green for the feel of the course and that may also change on each hole to

Answer 7

Most greens are mowed in a manner facilitated by bunkering, open fronts and slopes beyond the collar. As a result, mowing in one direction will cause the grass to bend toward the down slope and usually in the direction where water  drains. If you are looking from the bottom, the green will show a darker color than looking from the top. So putting from below the pin will be quite a bit slower than putting from above the pin. Check this out on any green which slopes or even  on a green which has a partial slope to test the theory.

Answer 8

All of the other answers are very good, but also the grain of the grass on the green has something to do with it also.  If you look at the way the blades of grass are facing on the green that will sometimes tell you if you need to putt a little harder or less.  If the grain is towards the ball you might need to hit it a little harder and if the green is away from the ball it will roll a little more.  Sounds pretty technical but it is true.

Answer 9

I do not agree with the practice green to get the speed.This the first green to get mowed in the morning.Not to mention everyone has been walking there and putting.To get the speed of the greens it may cost you a shot but that is the first hole. 3 putt damm. but now you have 17 holes to get it back.

Answer 10

There are a bunch of ways to control the speed of the putt, so I am not about to begin to tell you how. Could you imagine if Jim Furyk bought into the notion throughout the golf world that Ben Crenshaw has the perfect stroke. Or could you imagine if Gentle Ben saw Jim Furyk and said to himself, "I'm going to get cross handed and quick like him." They are polar opposite, but both great putters.

The point is that the way you control your speed is the way that is right for you. Maybe you are long and fluid. Maybe you are short and jabby. It's all about what makes you feel comfortable and confident.

This is also why practicing the speed of your putts is so important. You need to find the optimum distance you stroke the club, and what degree of force you hit the ball with. This will allow for you to gauge the situation a lot easier when presented with different length putts.

It different for everybody. There is no one right way. It takes practice. Get out there. Speed is king. Find yours.