How do you read grain?

[kafka01]

Something i never considered much
- how do you guys read the grain in the greens?
- What exactly is grain?
- If you figure it out for one green - does grain in general work in the same direction on all the other greens where grain exists?
- Does it change during the day (influenced by the sunlight?) or does it stay the same?

Thx for the input!

[right handed phil mickelson]

-Whichever way the grass is growing, I compensate for it. Example: If it's growing left, and the putt breaks left, then it will grab your ball more, and you will have to aim farther right than normal.

-Grain is the way the grass is growing in relation to the hole.

-Grain generally grows in the same direction on each green, but the difference is which way it's growing in relation to the hole.

-Not necessarily. At least not on my course.

Keep in mind, grain is much more of a factor to consider on bermuda greens. Other greens such as bentgrass, bluegrass, or hybrids don't have grain as too much of a variable in reading a putt.

Hope this helps!

~RHPM

[MiniMoe]

With all else being equal, the grain on bermuda greens will grow to the west/southwest... especially late in the day. There are other factors as well. Sometimes it will grow in the direction of water (creeks, lakes).

When you are on the green, you can check which way the grain is growing by looking at the lip of the cup. One side will be smooth, and one side will be rough and worn out. The grain is growing from smooth side to worn out side. You can also tell which way the grain is growing by the shine on the grass. If you are looking into the grain, the grass will look dull. If you are looking down grain, the grass will have a shine to it.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Minimoe hit on some factors in his post. I think reading the shades of the green was the most important tip. Also, if there is a big tree or body of water nearby, the grass will grow torwards it.

[kafka01]

Thanks for the input guys, i will take it into consideration.

[sethro5hc]

My dad showed me this one the other day. Look at the cup, on one side it will be browner than the other, this is where the roots were cut. Imagine a clock as the cup.. if the grain is brown on the 3 o clock side, it means the grain leans from 9 to 3... therefore the grass on the 9 o clock side is showing the green tops of each blade, while the 3 o clock side is showing the brown or yellow chopped roots first. It's faint, but you can always see which side is brown or yellow on a well manicured course.

The grass is "leaning" from the opposite side of the cup.. TOWARDS the brown or yellow side. So that would be with the grain.