A topic/subject that never seems to pop up.....on Putting

[nomadpaul]

Ok , now i may be wrong here but i've seen loads of topics and questions on here about putters , putter grips and putting strokes but can't recall a post on something which i feel is as important , if not more , than any of the above pointers. Its the reading of greens !!!

My question is....."Can it be taught ?"....or is it something that comes naturally to some ?

I've never seen anyone advised on the matter and i know it must be very difficult to recieve tips over the internet on the subject but do PGA golf tutors actually physically take golfers out to the greens to try and show how greens can differ ?

It's been bouncing round my head for a while and i came to the personal opinion that it may just be the most important part of putting....but it never seems to get a mention.

Any thoughts ?

Paul

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I had a putting lesson several years ago and we spent 45 minutes of the hour on the mechanics and the last 15 looking at break and reading the green. The pro started to get me to look at the putt from all around the hole and it really does give you a different perspective on the contours. He also said I should line up at least 10 feet behind my ball to give me a true sense of depth and to fully visualise the line.

I'm not sure how useful it was as my putting only marginally improved following the lesson. However after spending more time on practicing this season my average has come down for 2008 from 36.35 to 33.45 and in the last 4 months I am actually averaging 31.75.

I think if I played o a grainy surface there would be a need to learn a lot more about how a ball reacts. However my putting greens are pretty true and not scarily quick and I tend to see the line pretty well. I think it is an art that definitely can be taught but whether we actually take enough time when there is a 4 ball chasing up behind in the weekend roll up is a different thread.

 

[flandango]

I would love to spend more time on the greens reading them (obviously only when i'm playing) but time always seems to be an issue.

I tend to just go for the dustbin lid technique (put to within a dustbin lid of the pin) however this requires a little green reading also.

Before I start any round I always make a consious decision to take my time over my putts, it never works out though!

 

[theeaglehunter]

This is where I find I suffer in my lack of golfing experience. Those who have played for years are always going to be better at reading greens, its all in experience I believe.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think most players who play the same course regularly will get a pretty good feel for the way a green rolls over time even if they can't pick the exact line. There is the obvious tip about a green running towards water but mostly it is about seeing the contours. I think a lot of players would actually benefit and make life easier if they actually looked at the contours on the green as they are walking towards it and as they put their bags to the side. They would at least get a read on the main slopes.

At the end of the day it is a knack to read greens properly and I have been made to look an idiot on many greens over the years particularly links courses (and for some reason Royal Wimbledon but thats a different topic

 

[Imurg]

Experience and practice - simple as that.

 

[SammmeBee]

Very general rule - look for the highest point on the surround of the green and that will show you general slope.....

the dustbin lid method is great.....as long as you're outside 20ft......

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

I've just been bought 3 lessons from my good lady for Xmas and I will be using of one those as a putting lesson.

It's an old addage but it's the most used club in the bag so why not improve that area too! I will report back after my lesson but wont be having it for a while.

 

[AliB]

I think a lot of players would actually benefit and make life easier if they actually looked at the contours on the green as they are walking towards it and as they put their bags to the side. They would at least get a read on the main slopes.

I agree with this one - taught to me on a beginner's lesson - looking at the whole green from a distance really helps before you get down to the finer points. On a course that's familiar yu tend to miss this bit out, then forget to do it when you really need to.

Alib

 

[viscount17]

I think you can get a pretty good idea of how a ball should roll on a green but it's the combination of pace and slope that usually combine to defeat the read.

I have though, very, very occasionally, had that magic read when you just see a line all the way to the hole and you know that if you just push the ball along it it will go in. And they did.