Putting on two-tier or multi tier greens

So, every once in a while I play on greens that have two tiers and this Sunday I'll be playing in one of them.

The thing is, I don't really know what line to start the putt on if it's not a straight downhill (or uphill) putt.  I'm just wondering if anyone would be willing to share some insight as to where one should be aiming if it's not a straight downhill (or uphill) putt.

Okay, 29 HC - Your first objective on these is not to land your ball on the wrong tier because it really sucks if you do. If the hole is on the top tier, play your shot long even it means you have to chip onto the green for an up and down. If the hole is on the front tier and there are bunkers in the front, it's best to lay up and chip for up and down if you can't be accurate with your approach.

In fact on this hole you might want to just lay up and chip on if your short game is decent just to make sure you don't end up in the wrong place. If it's a par 4 play for bogey. If you get a good chip you could still make par.

I've been able to get really close putting on them. It's feel. If the hole is below you and on a diagonal putt to the side and wait for the drop down at the last second. But be prepared for a six footer coming back. If you're on the lower tier and the hole on the upper, make sure you get to the upper tier with your putt. I figure it's a three putt if i'm on the wrong tier.

Some putts are actually two putts in one. Multi tiered, and putts that have multiple breaks fit into this category.  What I do is read the putt backwards. I then start the ball on a line that will end where the second part of the putt will start, which should end up in, or near the hole. In other words to get to point "C" (the cup), you roll the ball to from point "A" to point "B". The ball will then roll, on it's own, from point "B"  to point "C". If the putt has three breaks then roll the ball from point "A" so that it will roll through points "B" and "C" finishing up near, or in point "D".

Credit for this info goes to Jug McSpadden who was quite the golfer during his own era of golf.

Well, my point is, for your example of A, B, and C, how do you figure out where Point B is. If it's not straight downhill, then you can't just aim at the cup.  That's kind of where I get a bit confused.

Haha, I do, but I've never really been clear on this point.

Im imagining your scenario here when you're putting DOWN from a top tier and I'm also picturing it as the type of delicate putt where it's steep enough that it'll work its way to the hole with no extra help. In that case, point "b" is basically the top crest of the tier that is straight uphill from the hole. No matter where you are on the upper tier, your goal is to hit that spot so it just barely falls over the crest. (Of course you have to cheat on the conservative side because the worst thing you can do is leave it on top) Any type of putt where the tier is less severe or the hole is further from the bottom such that it'll need a little push, then you just cut the angle down a bit. Not sure how much sense all of that makes but hopefully it helps. Putting up tiers is a lot trickier for me. I just make my best guess and hit it.

Sweet!  Thanks, folks!  I can't wait to try this on the course that I'll be playing on Sunday!

Reading the fall line of the tier.

Tiers will have slopes like any part of the green, they cause a more severe curve (arc) going across them, when hitting up the hill.

Down hill, the ball just rolls down the slope and the path is determined by a term used "down the fall line"

Reading if it is going left or right can be tricky when it is subtle and they sometimes will have dips or other variations.

A good method to test a surface (a practice green) or at a course which you play often.

Take a pitcher of water and pour the water at the top of the ridge and watch the flow.

Sometimes, if you have time, watch a green keeper watering a green.

I also, look at water flowing on greens when waiting out a heavy rain.

And, if the putt is up a really severe slope with a long run out across the green,

I've give it a hard wack and the ball skips up the slope and through the break, the rolls out as a putt would normal.

And when you play on tiers, remembering which way the break is, certainly helps when you play the same course often.

Speed is the key on upslope putts.

Club Rat