Reading The Golf Greens

A good putting game, as every golfer knows, is what makes the difference between winning and losing. Developing a well-honed ability to read the green is a crucial part of that putting game.

Part Physics, Part Art

Being able to judge the territory and predict the speed and path of a golf ball makes the master putter great at their game. Developing precise control and aim requires both physics and art -- and is useless if you can't tell what the ball is rolling over!

How Low Can You Go

The master putter knows that you can't tell what the green is like when you're standing up gazing over 20 feet of grass. Judgment errors as to the roughness and contour of the surface, the density and wetness of the grass, and even the distance increase the farther away you are and the higher up you stand.

To get a really good look at what's between the ball and the cup, you'll need to get down on your knees, lay a club down in the direction of the hole and get even closer to the ground to look along the shaft of the club.

Hills Or Valleys

Next you will need to estimate how much downhill versus uphill lies between you and your goal, get a feel for just how wet the grass is, and look for any bumps, left or right curve, and hills or valleys. Remember, even a small amount of moisture can alter the travel distance of your ball by 8 to 14 inches over that of a stroke across dry grass.

Mow Height

Judging the mow height and whether or not it has been double cut is equally important. Double-cutting takes place when the maintenance man cuts the grass in one direction, then again perpendicular to the first cut. Double-cutting can change ball travel distance anywhere from 6 to 12 inches for the same impact. Also, lowering mow height by one-sixteenth of an inch can increase roll by 6 to 10 inches.

It is very difficult to judge whether the green has been rolled. If so, this compacts the soil and the resulting increased ground hardness affects the roll of the golf ball by 4 to 10 inches.

Curve

The amount and direction of curve is another factor to be considered when reading the green. Sometimes just plain intuition is enough to tell you that the force and angle of your shot will vary considerably whether you are downhill or up, and how much to the left or right the green breaks.

Measuring Up

Of course, all these factors have an effect on your game and really can't be quantified without advanced measuring devices. However, most of us don't carry these around, so you'll need to use the "tool" that is attached to your neck! The factors above are important; however, relying on experience and practice will also make a difference.

Hit That Ball

When you're not actually playing the game, take lots of practice shots on both practice and real greens. Watch your partner's putts and be sure to look from the opposite side of the flagstick to get another point of view -- that of the hole's.

Take Your Time

When others aren't waiting, take the time to do the things mentioned above to enable you to read the green. Use a slow day on the golf course to discover the details of each hole and don't be afraid to take notes. Use that information to judge how to putt that hole the next time you play.

Doesn't every golfer want to decrease their golf score by several strokes? Well, by properly reading the green, you will be able to do just that!