Reading greens

[golfaddiction]

Last round I had immense difficulty reading greens and ended up with 21 putts in 9 holes. Sometimes I will imagine a break on a straight putt because I don't think any putt can be straight. A lot of times I play way too much break and leave the ball too high. And the worst is when I look at the putt from all angles, decide it's going one way, and it actually breaks the complete opposite direction!

Are there some tried and true methods for reading greens better? This year, I added to my putting routing pacing out the putt and looking directly down at the hole to see where it breaks when it gets close to the hole. But still, I'm having trouble figuring this stuff out.

Thanks.

[mdvaldosta]

I consider myself a decent putter... and this is what I do (used to have trouble reading breaks also). For my routine, I'll stand behind the ball 5-10 feet depending on distance and get a read. If I'm unsure, or it's an important putt, I'll get a better read looking at the break from behind the hole as well. With a typical 6-7 foot putt, I'll rarely go farther than a ball outside the cup - since when I miss it's usually because I played too much break. If I'm unsure about the break, I'll hit it firm and go for center cup (which will lessen the break). If I miss, I'll get a good read as it moves past the hole for the comebacker.

Some other things to consider, namely if it's uphill it won't break as much and if it's a touchy downhiller it'll break alot. I don't go so far as to reading the grain or anything, I'm not that good. The 10 footers are the best practice in my opinion, when it comes to testing/practicing your green reading ability. I like to play hole/hole putting one ball on the practice green all over it - trying to one putt or worse case two putt (keeping score, which makes it fun).

[umpiremark]

"Are there some tried and true methods for reading greens better? "

Always, always leave your ball inside someone elses and watch them putt first!! HAHAHA
I'm being a wise-guy, sorry ...

If I knew, I'd be a better putter too. It just takes a lot of practice and feel - two elements I lack!!! When in doubt, aim for the center of the hole and try to leave the second putt short and up the hill, not down it. That's the tiny bit of advice I have.

Good luck and let me know if you hit upon a secret!!!

[billm408]

IMO, there are only two parts to putting- speed and direction. Of these, speed is the most important because it will effect direction and the amount of break.

Start reading the green as you walk up to it. The one common design feature of all putting greens is that they are built to drain water. Where's the high point/low point? Hills/valleys? Very seldom will you ever see a putt break towards a bunker (again for water drainage reasons). Looking from a macro view of the surface should offer a good starting point.

Some other things to consider, namely if it's uphill it won't break as much and if it's a touchy downhiller it'll break alot.

Not really true. An uphill putt will break a lot once it starts to lose speed. A downhill putt breaks less as it gains speed.

[Cooker]

Heard a good tip off the golf channel, pretend that you've poured a bucket of water on the green and visualize which way the water will flow off the green.
Actually works pretty good, especially for those long snaking putts with multiple breaks.

[Leftygolfer]

I over read putts alot too. My newest idea (I always have lots) is to KISS. I feel like the more I read it, the worse that read becomes. I always like to look from putts on the low side so I can really see it. I play on some crazy greens that have huge mounds in them but I know them now. I play the same places usually so I know the putt before I read them generally.

Another thing that helps or verifies if it is a read or stroke problem is the line on the ball. If I get it started correctly it will go end over end and then I know if I read it well or hit it bad. Just a thought.

[MiniMoe]

IMO, there are only two parts to putting- speed and direction. Of these, speed is the most important because it will effect direction and the amount of break.

I am in 100% agreement. If your speed is not correct, it is very easy to leave a putt 4 ft short or hit it 4 ft long, but if the speed is correct, hitting a putt 4 ft right or left does not happen all that often. Maybe if there is a real big slope, but most of the time you will not miss a putt that far right or left.

[PiKapp23]

One little trick I started doing last year after seeing something Jim Furyk said is to walk towards the hole and stop about halfway and stand as if putting at hole. You'd be amazed how many times you can 'feel' the break with your feet and body more than you can see it. I really only do this when I'm not exactly sure about the break. Another thing to do is on putts you know are going to break, play more break than you normally would. Us amateurs usually miss putts on the low side and those have 0% chance of going in. If you are above the hole and speed is relatively good sometimes the ball will dive in. You at least have some chance if the putt is above the hole a little bit.

[$2 Nassau]

Putting is the strongest part of my game. Not like that is saying a whole lot, but I have the most confidence with the putter in my hand than any other club. I take all of 5-10 seconds to read any putt. Probably not ideal I'm sure, but when I sit there and contemplate and change my mind 5 times, the results are terrible. I pick my line, line it up using the aim-line on the ball and then trust it. It's easy to talk yourself out of the perfect read because when you actually address the ball everything looks different. Trust it!

[golfaddiction]

One little trick I started doing last year after seeing something Jim Furyk said is to walk towards the hole and stop about halfway and stand as if putting at hole. You'd be amazed how many times you can 'feel' the break with your feet and body more than you can see it.

Thanks I like this advice. I always pace my putts out, so on my way back next time I'll stop halfway and pretend to putt.

Some other good thoughts so far from this thread: Read the putts from below (looking uphill) and hitting the putt more softly if I'm going to play a lot of break. I enjoy playing as many different public courses as I can, so with every new course I get new greens that I haven't seen and different speeds that I'm not used to.

[Bauer]

Putting is the strongest part of my game. Not like that is saying a whole lot, but I have the most confidence with the putter in my hand than any other club. I take all of 5-10 seconds to read any putt. Probably not ideal I'm sure, but when I sit there and contemplate and change my mind 5 times, the results are terrible. I pick my line, line it up using the aim-line on the ball and then trust it. It's easy to talk yourself out of the perfect read because when you actually address the ball everything looks different. Trust it!

This is pretty much the same way I putt. And if I am within 10ft and I can't find a perfect read, I go for the back of the hole with a firm stroke. Like he said, it's real easy constantly change your mind. I find it easier to just go hit the ball and at the very least, give it a chance to go in the hole.