Green Reading Techniques?

Opics

I'm curious to know what green reading techniques fellow boards.ie users have? I have always had a problem getting the correct line, especially on putts from around 10 feet.

I'm basically looking for suggestions that I can try to help improve my stuttering putting

Apologies if there's a thread like this already, I didn't spot it.

PRAF

I usually try to get a sense of the green when I'm walking up to it from the fairway (or the rough most days!). I'll then mark my ball and try to gauge the line from behind the ball. Then I'll have a quick look at the putt from the low side. That's about it. I'll have my line picked by then.

My problem is mostly speed control - if I roll a longish putt too far past then I'll usually get too cautious & leave the rest of my putts short.

Kace

My most favoured option for putts of this length is to read the line from behind the ball and then while you're down there select a specific small mark 3-4 feet away. I then make sure that I am aligned to putt directly over this - no matter if it looks wrong when you're actually standing over the ball.

You need to be really specific though, don't choose a 3-4 inch mark, choose a tiny mark. This one really helps me to select (and stick to) the right line.

mags1962

All putts are straight in essence and the only way you can improve is practice and experience in order to judge the amount of break/curve left or right and the speed/how hard to hit it.
Was once also given some advice from a guru that stats prove that most three putts were caused by poor pace, the first putt either too hard or soft so practice this with your eyes closed to develop the feel for different distances.
Always always line up straight and pick a spot on that straight line, judge the pace and pull the trigger.
Remember also the harder you hit it on a certain line the straighter it will stay and is some peoples preferred method on shortish putts, taking the break out.

fatherbuzcagney

For long putts i imagine i see the line it will make on green as it rolls to the hole. i try not to think of pace as i try to let that happen automatically. For shorter putts i try to pick straightest line and putt it solid and keep the breaks to a minimum.

Opics

Thanks for the replies everyone, but I would like to point out that I have no problems hitting the ball on the line I want and generally at the right pace. It's the actual reading of the green that gets me.

I have kept stats for the year, and i average 32.5 putts a round and 2.01 putts per GIR (which is very poor). I also 3 putt 10.2% of the time.

Nerdstrom

Opics wrote: »

I would like to point out that I have no problems hitting the ball on the line I want and generally at the right pace.

Is that you mr Stricker?

Boards.ie has obviously expanded to an ameriacan audience, congrats lads

:cool:

Opics

Nerdstrom wrote: »

Is that you mr Stricker?

Boards.ie has obviously expanded to an ameriacan audience, congrats lads

:cool:

Did Steve Stricker say that in an interview or something?

All I'm saying is that my problem isn't the stroke/set up, it's the actual reading of the putt.

mags1962

Have you ever seen the pro's before a round? They practice hitting along a straight line and getting a feel for the speed of the greens.
The amount of break is dependant on the speed the ball is travelling. Are all your missed 1st putts across slopes and the straight ones pushed or pulled or curving too much or too little. It's about speed/pace and if you don't think so well then I don't think you want help as nobody can tell you how much break is on any putt as it depends on how you hit it, slow,hard,firm, soft etc.

Nerdstrom

Not sure if he did or not

But at the moment he is the only golfer in the world who consistently hits it on line with the right pace...........

Thats how i know its you steve

Opics

mags1962 wrote: »

Have you ever seen the pro's before a round? They practice hitting along a straight line and getting a feel for the speed of the greens.
The amount of break is dependant on the speed the ball is travelling. Are all your missed 1st putts across slopes and the straight ones pushed or pulled or curving too much or too little. It's about speed/pace and if you don't think so well then I don't think you want help as nobody can tell you how much break is on any putt as it depends on how you hit it, slow,hard,firm, soft etc.

But that's not my problem. My problem is reading them. Actually looking at the green and going "Oh yes, 4 inches outside the left". My speed isn't the problem, it's the reading of the putt. They are 2 separate things.

nocal

Opics wrote: »

But that's not my problem. My problem is reading them. Actually looking at the green and going "Oh yes, 4 inches outside the left". My speed isn't the problem, it's the reading of the putt. They are 2 separate things.

How are you 3 putting 10% of the time if your speed is not a problem???

mags1962

Ok, I will try to draw you a picture;
15 footer across a 15 degree slope in Augusta, which is more important speed or line? Before you answer think of the same putt at your local course, will it have the same amount of break if you hit it at the same pace on the same line.
The answer is NO, why? because both putts are of a different speed.

This is my last try.

cackhanded

Opics wrote: »

But that's not my problem. My problem is reading them. Actually looking at the green and going "Oh yes, 4 inches outside the left". My speed isn't the problem, it's the reading of the putt. They are 2 separate things.

Perhaps a trip to the opticians might be the best answer.

Opics

mags1962 wrote: »

Ok, I will try to draw you a picture;
15 footer across a 15 degree slope in Augusta, which is more important speed or line? Before you answer think of the same putt at your local course, will it have the same amount of break if you hit it at the same pace on the same line.
The answer is NO, why? because both putts are of a different speed.

This is my last try.

Perhaps you should read my posts again.

I'm on about reading putts. Not hitting the correct speed to meet the line I have read. I know that different speed greens results in more/less break. I repeat.. This Is Not My Problem.

My original question was how do fellow board.ie members read greens. I was not asking does speed affect line, because that is obvious.

Opics

nocal wrote: »

How are you 3 putting 10% of the time if your speed is not a problem???

Speed isn't my main problem. I'm usually good with my speed. 10% means 1-2 3 putts a round. It's not like I'm constantly doing it.

Getting the line wrong on a 50 foot putt can result in missing the hole by a fair bit. Enough to miss the next putt. It's not uncommon for an amateur to 3 putt every 10 holes or so, so it's not a terrible stat.

Opics

cackhanded wrote: »

Perhaps a trip to the opticians might be the best answer.

Thank you. Best response in this thread so far (due to it being the only one that actually responds to the problem I actually have). Perhaps I should get that laser eye surgery Harrington got from that ad...oh wait :P

mags1962

It is so so true that the 6" or so between the ears are the most important in golf. THE AMOUNT OF BREAK DEPENDS ON THE SPEED.

nocal

1) look at the green and the lie of the land as you approach it.
2) look at the putt from the low side - very important.
3) look at the putt from behind the ball and look closely at the last 30% of it.
4) pick your line and commit to it.

Steps 3 and 4 should only take 4-5 seconds maximum - you have to trust your instinct as opposed to rationalising the line. If I get confused during this part I look again.

The only "science" that I apply is that downhill putts break a little more than uphill putts so I'll allow a little more break for these.

Sometimes after a round I think that my ability to read the line of a putt has let me down badly but in the last month have learned that is probably my putting stroke that really lets me down.

So OP - how do you currently read the line?

Opics

mags1962 wrote: »

It is so so true that the 6" or so between the ears are the most important in golf. THE AMOUNT OF BREAK DEPENDS ON THE SPEED.

I know it does.

And like I have said, that isn't my problem. Try not to insult my intelligence, please. I'm not the one posting obvious things in a thread. You're yet to write a post in this thread that is actually about my original question, yet then you proceed to question the " 6" between my ears " when I tell you this.

Opics

nocal wrote: »

So OP - how do you currently read the line?

I basically do what you posted. Perhaps my legs aren't the same length meaning I'm sideways myself

nocal

Opics wrote: »

I basically do what you posted. Perhaps my legs aren't the same length meaning I'm sideways myself

Damn -I had not considered that myself. Now I have to go off and measure my legs!!! Anyone got a measuring tape???

mags1962

I will respectfully decline to answer or post on your "problem" and leave you to your own devices to figure out your next putt and if it is 6" or 12".
Best of Luck.

Opics

mags1962 wrote: »

I will respectfully decline to answer or post on your "problem" and leave you to your own devices to figure out your next putt and if it is 6" or 12".
Best of Luck.

I'm glad you came to your senses and realised you weren't making any sense. Good luck to you too.

nocal

There is actually one other thing that I do - when behind the ball I hold the putter in one hand and line the shaft up to hide the ball (or most of it). Then I look at the spot beside the hole that the shaft is lined up against. For a 10 foot putt my line is just inside that or just outside it depending on the slope and what else I have seen.

I honestly believe that the above exercise is actually useless from a scientific point of view but I think it taps into my "subconscious" reading of the line. Sometimes it gives me a point on the opposite side of the hole to what I expected and that is when I back off and look at it again.

sinabhfuil

Right. I don't know if this will be of any help to you but here goes.
I look at my line from the side when walking onto the green and I know from that if it's a downhill or uphill putt.
I then look at my line from behind the ball. Usually, if I am waiting on someone else to putt first, I take a quick look at the line from behind the hole.
From behind the ball I have a look along the line, looking for small bumps or slight slopes that might send the ball to the left or right along on route to the hole. For example if I see a slight break, first to the left and another one to the right (depends on severity) then I know that it might be close to a straight putt.
I will always look at the hole itself and see if one side of the hole is higher that the other. This will tell you which side the ball will break to when it gets to near the hole.
Don't know if this is any help to ya but I can say it works well enough for me as putting would be one of the strongest parts of my game. Give me a ten-fifteen footer any day!

Opics

nocal wrote: »

There is actually one other thing that I do - when behind the ball I hold the putter in one hand and line the shaft up to hide the ball (or most of it). Then I look at the spot beside the hole that the shaft is lined up against. For a 10 foot putt my line is just inside that or just outside it depending on the slope and what else I have seen.

I honestly believe that the above exercise is actually useless from a scientific point of view but I think it taps into my "subconscious" reading of the line. Sometimes it gives me a point on the opposite side of the hole to what I expected and that is when I back off and look at it again.

You talking about Plum bobbing? I've also experimented with that. It's something I started trying recently. It appears to be great for getting a general idea of the line...unless it's windy (The putter blows off in the wind so it's not going straight down with gravity)

nocal

Opics wrote: »

You talking about Plum bobbing? I've also experimented with that. It's something I started trying recently. It appears to be great for getting a general idea of the line...unless it's windy (The putter blows off in the wind so it's not going straight down with gravity)

Yup - then I re-adjust the line slightly based on whether it is uphill or downhill.
The wind makes it a nightmare but then when the wind is that strong putting itself is a nightmare.
I do not use it as a be all and end all but if it re-asserts what I am already thinking then it gives me confidence to go for it.

I would love also love to hear what other techniques, tricks, tips and confidence boosters other people use to line up their putts.

Webbs

I think we can also way over analyse our putts.
If I head out to the practice green throw down a few balls from 15-25 feet and just concentrate on a good stroke and make a guess at the line just standing over the ball I am never that far away.
Yet when I faff around on the green too much you can guarantee I wont get it in.
I think its more about getting a pure strike, you just know when you have hit a good smooth strike that it is heading into the cup

Miley Byrne

I had a habit of reading too much into putts. Like I was looking for a break that wasn't there. So now if I have a 10 footer and I'm not sure if there is a break, then i decide to play it as a straight putt. I pick a spot about halfway between the ball and the hole in a straight line and try to roll the ball over that spot. If it breaks and misses the hole I don't worry about it as long as I hit it on the line that I wanted.

When I'm approaching the green I'll look at the green and try to pick out the highest & lowest point. This should give you an instant idea of which way your putt should break. Try not to change your mind. Your first impression is very often right.

Don't know if this will help you OP.

Par72

Hi Opics. My advice for what it's worth is to get out on your practice green - hopefully it's not a flat practice green and you can find some putts like the ones you have difficulty reading - and practice hitting putts from different angles whilst looking at the hole. Look at the hole and not the ball when you are putting, watch how the ball breaks after you hit it. You can just hit the putts straight at the hole, or where you think they will break, but by watching the putt and not keeping your head down you will start to get a feel for how putts are breaking, you will probably find you will get a much better feel for the pace of putts too by looking at the hole. I actually hit most of my long putts on the course by looking at the hole now, I have found it has made a big difference.

A tip for reading the breaks better is to imagine pouring a jug of water on to the green in the area around the hole. Look at the green and imagine what way the water would drain off and this will tell you where the break is.