To see the grain, look at the tips of the grass blades and notice which way they are pointing. If the blades point towards your ball, they will resist it and slow down its movement. With slower greens, you may wish to get a second read to make sure your approach is right.
What is the direction of the grain on a putt?
Grain is the direction that grass grows flat on a green. [Slope of the green (or gravity) has a much greater effect on a putt than the direction of the grain but grain direction will slow down putts when putting into the grain or speed up putts when putting with the grain.]
How do you read the grain of the grass?
To see the grain, look at the tips of the grass blades and notice which way they are pointing. If the blades point towards your ball, they will resist it and slow down its movement. With slower greens, you may wish to get a second read to make sure your approach is right.
How can you tell if a golf ball has grass grain?
By walking around the putting line of your ball to the hole, you can see lighter green areas where the grain is running away from you and darker areas where the grain in running toward you. Grass grain flows to the clean cut side of the cup.
How do you evaluate a golf green?
When you evaluate a golf green that you're going to play, you need to consider the break and the grain of the course. The break is the amount a putt moves from right to left, or left to right, on a green. The grass of the course can affect the ball's break. The grain of grass refers to when grass grows in a particular direction.

How do you know which way the grain goes on greens?
Read the cup: The condition of the grass around the cup can tell you in which direction the grain is lying. Typically the side of the cup where the grass is a little more broken and the edge of the cup is slightly more damaged will indicate the side of the cup towards which the grain is growing.
How do you read the greens on a golf course?
3:166:24The Easy GOLF PUTTING LESSON to Help You Read Break - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere left to right left to right left to right left to right left to right. Straight.MoreHere left to right left to right left to right left to right left to right. Straight.
How do you read the grain on Bermuda greens?
If you play golf on Bermuda greens, it is important to know where West is, or where the sun sets. On a relatively flat green, the grain will almost always grow toward the West. If the greens have a lot of slope, then the grain typically grows in the direction of the slope.
What is grain on a golf green?
Golf announcers will sometimes comment that a player is putting into the grain or has a slippery putt down grain. What exactly is grain on a putting green and how does it affect ball roll? Grain is the tendency of turf leaves and stems to grow horizontally in one or more directions rather than vertically (Beard, 1973).
How do you read greens with your fingers?
3:408:40Does AimPoint Work? And How To Read Greens with ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey line it up put their one finger dead center on the cup. And then they add the number of fingersMoreThey line it up put their one finger dead center on the cup. And then they add the number of fingers for the degrees of slope. And that gives them an aiming.
How can I read better greens?
10 Rules For Reading GreensFirst sight is best sight. ... Read with your feet, too. ... Speed doesn't always kill. ... Develop an insurance read. ... One read for bent, two for Bermuda. ... Your partner must love the read. ... The best look: behind the hole. ... Be wary of plumb-bobbing.More items...•
How do you read golf greens for speed and break?
5 Ways to Read The Green For Speed and BreakStep 1 – Find the straight putt. ... Step 2 – Gauge the slope of the green. ... Step 3 – View the green from around the hole. ... Step 4 – View the green from where you are going to hit the ball. ... Step 5 – Visualize the path of the ball.
What is the difference between bent grass and Bermuda grass?
The two most common types of grass for greens are Bentgrass and Bermuda. Bentgrass thrives in cooler climates and is typically seen more in northern states, while Bermuda loves the heat and is more commonly seen in the South. There are many exceptions to this rule, but it is generally a good guideline to keep in mind.
What is bentgrass greens?
Bent grass greens are usually smoother, faster and hold their line due to the finer blades of grass. Play more break on the bent greens and expect the greens to roll quicker than Bermuda greens. Poa Anna greens are normally the bumpiest and require the most patience. They are most common on theist coast.
How do you know which way the grain goes on wood?
1:443:12Reading Wood Grain Direction - 2 Minute Tuesday - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou would look at the side grain. So you can see here that the grain goes off like this you're goingMoreYou would look at the side grain. So you can see here that the grain goes off like this you're going to want to pet the cat this way. So you're gonna run your plane. This way on your face of the barn.
What is reading against the grain?
In reading against the grain students analyze the dominant reading of a text and engage in alternative or "resistant" readings. Resistant readings scrutinize the beliefs and attitudes that typically go unexamined in a text, drawing attention to the gaps, silences and contradictions.
How do you read a break?
3:096:24The Best Putting Green Tip to Read Breaks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight to left right to left right to left right to left all. The way back down to the straight putt.MoreRight to left right to left right to left right to left all. The way back down to the straight putt.
How do you read grass on greens?
0:121:18Golf Instruction Zone: Reading the Grain on the Greens - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe ball is then going to fall towards the green. So if I put this ball right here I know that myMoreThe ball is then going to fall towards the green. So if I put this ball right here I know that my ball is going to fall towards that green right there.
How do you read a golf scorecard?
0:062:38How to Read a Golf Scorecard - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then anyMoreIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then any handicap that you have subtracted from your total would be the net.
How to know which way your golf ball rolls?
Walk along the lower side of the hole as you return to your ball. Once you have identified which part of the green is lowest, you know which way your ball will roll after you hit it. Stroll back to your ball, taking plenty of time to examine how the green changes.
How to improve your golf ball read?
Get multiple reads until you have a good feel for the green. Try walking to the higher side of the green and imagining how you want to hit the ball. If you still aren’t sure, walk back to the midpoint between the ball and hole.
What does reading a green mean?
Reading a green is about anticipating how your golf ball will move from your putter to the hole. No green is perfectly flat, so you always need to take a close look at the slope to do this. Any hills or divots will also change the speed of your ball and, sometimes, its trajectory.
How to hit a putter in golf?
Hit the ball firmly towards the hole. Shake out your arms to loosen yourself up if you need to. Keep a firm grip on your putter, take a deep breath, and hit cleanly through the ball. Avoid stopping your swing short, or else your ball will end up short of the hole.
What is the difference between a good score and a great score?
The difference between a good score and a great score out on the golf course may be the result of effective putting. Sinking balls in a single stroke involves reading greens accurately, a skill any golfer can learn. Effective golfers study the green from many angles before settling on a shot.
How to adjust strokes on golf ball?
You can adjust your stroke by hitting the ball towards your right foot. Squat behind the ball to finalize your read. Complete your read with a worm’s-eye view of the ball’s path to the hole.
How to visualize reading a golf ball?
To visualize the read, imagine pouring water into the hole. Ask yourself which way the water would spill out if it were to overflow. You expect the water to spill out towards the lower end of a slope. The last stretch of green before the hole has the most impact on your ball.
How to tell if a putt has grain?
If there is any noticeable grain you will spot it as you compare your views from behind the ball or the hole or the left or right of the line.
What to do if you hit a breaking putt with the grain running in the same direction as the slope?
On the flip side, if you happen to face a breaking putt with the grain running in the same direction as the slope, play a little extra borrow to allow for the combined efforts of gravity and grain on the roll of your putt. Finally, strike putts solidly on grainy greens.
What does it mean when a putt is down grain?
If your putt is down-grain (the grass laying in the same direction as which your putt is running) the putting surface will typically have a sheen to it and the color will be a lighter shade of green. Conversely, if the putt is into the grain, the surface will look darker and the grass will have a coarser look to it.
