
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 to read a golf green?
Examine the ball’s path to the green to make any final adjustments to your approach. To visualize the ball’s path, imagine what it will do if you hit it straight at the hole. From analyzing the green from so many angles, you should be able to figure out where the ball would go. Take your time when reading greens.
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 I know if I am putting into the grain?
A good way to see if you are putting into the grain or down grain is by looking at the overall green. Does it look shiny or dark? If it looks shiny, you are putting or chipping down grain and the ball will roll faster.

How do you read grain on greens?
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. The old saying goes, “Where the water flows the grain will grow.” This usually overrides the effect of the grass growing towards the West.
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.
How do you read a greens slope?
Look for general slopes and try to imagine the line the ball will need to travel on to end up at the bottom of the cup. Keep it simple and understand if it's uphill or downhill and if it breaks right to left or left to right. If you can't figure something out, then go behind the hole if you aren't sure.
What is grain on the 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 putts with your feet?
0:473:06System is going to kind of lie to you so you've got to rely on your. Feet. Really easy to feel theMoreSystem is going to kind of lie to you so you've got to rely on your. Feet. Really easy to feel the side tilt. So right here on this putt i feel a little bit more weight on my lead left leg.
Which way do uphill putts break?
If your ball is to the right of the line, your uphill putt will break to the left; if it's to the left, your putt will break right -- just as the law of gravitation says it must.
What is the best way to read 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 the greens on a scorecard?
First, the small numbers to the left of each circle are the hole numbers, so we are looking (clockwise) at holes 1, 7, 8, 2. The handwritten number to the left of each green is the depth of the green in paces. Hole 7 (upper right) is 42 paces deep from front to back.
How do you read your fingers green?
4:058:40They 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 do you read against the grain?
A good reader moves from reading a text “with the grain” to reading “against the grain.” As you read “against the grain,” you again enact a text with the writer, walking alongside her, questioning, exploring, and closely examining her points, ideas, ways of seeing and articulating her ideas.
How do you read the grain on Bermuda grass?
3:134:20And the grass looked lighter going to the hole. Then it's going to be a little faster putt. If itMoreAnd the grass looked lighter going to the hole. Then it's going to be a little faster putt. If it looked darker green then it'd be into the grain and be a little bit slower putt.
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.
How to tell if you are putting into the grain or down grain?
A good way to see if you are putting into the grain or down grain is by looking at the overall green. Does it look shiny or dark? If it looks shiny, you are putting or chipping down grain and the ball will roll faster.
Why is grass bent greens easier to read?
Bent grass greens are usually easier to read because the putt will hold its line for the entirety of its roll.
Where does grain grow on Bermuda greens?
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 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 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.
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 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.