How to effectively read greens? What works best?

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by michaeljames92

Yeah I am the same. The straight(ish) putts are the ones I don't like because you only have half a cup of error, whereas a putt you know that breaks a couple of inches you have the whole cup as a margin for error.

Nothing like a straight putt to highlight errors in a putting stroke. Half a cup times two = a whole cup in my book.

[RayG]

hmmm, just watched a few highlight videos. Guess what? It turns out that's kind of what I do to begin with. But another thing I came across was on one of the videos you can hear the instructor say something along the lines of: "... just takes that extra 2 minutes to be sure" (or something like that). 2 minutes? to make a putt that might win you a quarter? If all 4 guys took that extra "2 minutes" to size up a putt on every hole- that's over an hour a round. Because you KNOW not everyone's doing it at the same time and won't start until it's his or her turn. You get some guy watching from the fairway who has some anger issues, then you guys take your 2 minutes "to be sure", and THEN all 4 of you pull out your putting charts? the carnage would be tremendous. Especially if that guy just watched you take 7 shots to get to the green in the first place. I'm not saying it's wrong- if it works for you, that's great. It seems to work for me and I didn't even realize I was using some/most of the concepts. But PLEASE don't make things worse out there then they already are. I obviously have picked up a lot of information over the years and using it has become second nature, I suppose. If I were on some kind of tour and my life depended on making a putt to survive another week out there, sure, I'll try anything because you seem to get unlimited time to read your putts out on tour. Don't bring that to the local on a Saturday. oh- I know if you are using this system and have learned to use it well, it doesn't take more time as some have said. But for those that are learning and need to refer to the charts, etc... make it quick, ok?:-D

[iacas]

Originally Posted by RayG

hmmm, just watched a few highlight videos. Guess what? It turns out that's kind of what I do to begin with. But another thing I came across was on one of the videos you can hear the instructor say something along the lines of: "... just takes that extra 2 minutes to be sure" (or something like that). 2 minutes? to make a putt that might win you a quarter? If all 4 guys took that extra "2 minutes" to size up a putt on every hole- that's over an hour a round. Because you KNOW not everyone's doing it at the same time and won't start until it's his or her turn.

I don't know what video you're talking about. Takes me about 15-20 seconds. PM it to me if you'd like, it's really not on topic here, but in no way does it take two minutes.

[Clambake]

Originally Posted by iacas

They trust the numbers, and the numbers are right because physics is pretty much the same anywhere on earth.

Erik, since the physics are only "pretty much the same", would you mind pointing out some of the places where it's different?  I'd really like to go play there a few times to see how my ball flight is when unshackled from the physics of my bad ball contact.    Ah, to be able to hit it where I want regardless of face angle!     And 350 yard drives (like everyone else on the internet) would be no problem due to relaxed wind resistance physics!     :-)

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Clambake

Erik, since the physics are only "pretty much the same", would you mind pointing out some of the places where it's different?  I'd really like to go play there a few times to see how my ball flight is when unshackled from the physics of my bad ball contact.    Ah, to be able to hit it where I want regardless of face angle!     And 350 yard drives (like everyone else on the internet) would be no problem due to relaxed wind resistance physics!     :-)

I hear what you're saying. Heh heh.

For others... "Pretty much the same" = Gravity is, what, 0.001% weaker in Denver than on the beach in Florida.