Gauging grain direction on the greens

[Slab]

I’ll google anyway but who has practical tips to share for gauging the direction of the grain on the greens that doesn’t breach the rules

I'm aware of looking at the edge of the hole to see which side is cut smoothly and which is cut scraggy suggesting its against the grain but sometimes there isn't enough of a difference or if hole location changed after its cut that day

Looking at others putts to see if its traveling more/less than the weight they appeared to use is sometimes useful if you're not putting first

What else can I use? (getting it wrong cost me at least 2 shots yesterday)

 

[Three]

When the grass is shiny you are looking down the grain, the sun is shining on the top of the blades of grass. When the same patch of grass looks darker you are looking into the grain.

You already mentioned looking at the hole which is a great way to see the grain, you should always be able to tell, even when it's just been cut.

 

[delc]

When the grass is shiny you are looking down the grain, the sun is shining on the top of the blades of grass. When the same patch of grass looks darker you are looking into the grain.

You already mentioned looking at the hole which is a great way to see the grain, you should always be able to tell, even when it's just been cut.

If you think about the mowing stripes on a green or fairway, the lighter colour is when you are going down grain and the putt will be a bit faster, and the darker colour is going into grain and the putt will be a bit slower. If putting across the grain, the putt will tend to turn down grain.

 

[Slab]

The light/dark tip is a good one but I've never been able to use it effectively, I often cant see any discernible difference with a strong sunlight nor do I notice mowing in alternate strips on the greens

Do GK's even mow in strips with opposing grain directions on the greens? I didn't think they did

 

[Neilds]

Does this actually make any noticeable difference? How long is the grass on your greens that it slows the ball down to any significant effect?

Is this just another 'excuse' used by golfers for having overblown expectations and thinking they can play like the professionals - Who are also susceptible to dodgy rounds-see Jordan Speith

 

[Slab]

Does this actually make any noticeable difference? How long is the grass on your greens that it slows the ball down to any significant effect?

Is this just another 'excuse' used by golfers for having overblown expectations and thinking they can play like the professionals - Who are also susceptible to dodgy rounds-see Jordan Speith

Yeah I get where you're coming from and on some courses its negligible but two courses I play regularly it can easily make +/- a meter or so difference on a mid range putt

 

[delc]

The light/dark tip is a good one but I've never been able to use it effectively, I often cant see any discernible difference with a strong sunlight nor do I notice mowing in alternate strips on the greens

Do GK's even mow in strips with opposing grain directions on the greens? I didn't think they did

Mowers with rollers on the back tend to flatten the grass in the direction of travel, so this can give a down grain effect. I think greens are usually cut in a criss-cross pattern to minimise grain effects.

 

[Slab]

Mowers with rollers on the back tend to flatten the grass in the direction of travel, so this can give a down grain effect. I think greens are usually cut in a cross-cross pattern to minimise grain effects.

I get how a stripe/grain is made, and its lovely in your garden. I just didn't think it was common practice to mow a golf green in stripes like that


Guys what is your club like: To stripe on not to stripe

 

[delc]

I get how a stripe/grain is made, and its lovely in your garden. I just didn't think it was common practice to mow a golf green in stripes like that


Guys what is your club like: To stripe on not to stripe

Greens have to be cut and rolled on a regular basis, probably every day in the summer. At our course they use quite big sit on mowers, and as I said cut them in a criss-cross pattern (not stripes). The grass used on our greens is quite fine and does not seem to be particularly grainy, but can become more so later in the day when the grass has grown a bit longer.

 

[USER1999]

Does this actually make any noticeable difference? How long is the grass on your greens that it slows the ball down to any significant effect?

Is this just another 'excuse' used by golfers for having overblown expectations and thinking they can play like the professionals - Who are also susceptible to dodgy rounds-see Jordan Speith

In the UK, it makes little difference, mainly due to the general lack of sunshine, and the types of green we have.

Slab isn't UK based, so it's more relevant to him.

I have played a lot in Florida, and grain can be a big issue on putting speed, and borrow.

 

[Tashyboy]

Does this actually make any noticeable difference? How long is the grass on your greens that it slows the ball down to any significant effect?

Is this just another 'excuse' used by golfers for having overblown expectations and thinking they can play like the professionals - Who are also susceptible to dodgy rounds-see Jordan Speith

I have played on a couple of the courses that slab may be referring to and they are world class, I had heard of the saying " it's like putting on a billiard table" but until I played his home courses I had never actually putted on them, that includes brabazon and the old course. So I would imagine, yeah it would make a difference.

 

[Ethan]

In the UK, it makes little difference, mainly due to the general lack of sunshine, and the types of green we have.

Slab isn't UK based, so it's more relevant to him.

I have played a lot in Florida, and grain can be a big issue on putting speed, and borrow.

Wot he said. Never look at grain in the UK.

Played in Barbados at a course with a caddie and on the first, across a slope he said to me straight putt. But I didn't believe him so allowed for break, but he was spot on. Some putts down grain like on ice, some into grain needed a whack.

 

[Slab]

I have played on a couple of the courses that slab may be referring to and they are world class, I had heard of the saying " it's like putting on a billiard table" but until I played his home courses I had never actually putted on them, that includes brabazon and the old course. So I would imagine, yeah it would make a difference.

Hows it Tash?

Yeah we have a new toy to play with, Avalon GC, only opened 8 weeks ago and while the infrastructure of roads/paths etc have still to be finished the course is playable and they've already managed to get a huge variance putting with/against the grain. After a hand-full of rounds I'm not much wiser how they're going to go. I can feel it with the putter head easy enough but cant do that in a comp
Playing down south tomorrow on Heritage which is also very 'grainy' so thought I'd refresh myself on what to look out for (although someone once told me that the grain is always towards the clubhouse on that course so I might even try that approach)

 

[Three]

The light/dark tip is a good one but I've never been able to use it effectively, I often cant see any discernible difference with a strong sunlight nor do I notice mowing in alternate strips on the greens

Do GK's even mow in strips with opposing grain directions on the greens? I didn't think they did

Where are you?

 

[Slab]

Where are you?

In Mauritius

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Never really worried about grain in the UK.

 

[macca64]

Yeah I get where you're coming from and on some courses its negligible but two courses I play regularly it can easily make +/- a meter or so difference on a mid range putt

Wot courses are they as I'm out there in sept, just so I know 👍

 

[Tashyboy]

Hows it Tash?

Yeah we have a new toy to play with, Avalon GC, only opened 8 weeks ago and while the infrastructure of roads/paths etc have still to be finished the course is playable and they've already managed to get a huge variance putting with/against the grain. After a hand-full of rounds I'm not much wiser how they're going to go. I can feel it with the putter head easy enough but cant do that in a comp
Playing down south tomorrow on Heritage which is also very 'grainy' so thought I'd refresh myself on what to look out for (although someone once told me that the grain is always towards the clubhouse on that course so I might even try that approach)

If ever there was a blog that wound me up its that one, a new toy. In paradise, whilst the rest of Blighty struggles on through storm after storm. listening to the misery of dodgy Daves new dodgy eu deal. Joking aside yeah I am Bob on thanks Slab, hope Alls well down there. What part of the world is Avalon. If they were going to build a new course in Mauritus, is has got be be good to get to some of the standards already set.

 

[Tashyboy]

Wot courses are they as I'm out there in sept, just so I know 

Macca I was there in Dec 2015 and you are in for a treat, what part of Mauritius you staying at.

 

[macca64]

Macca I was there in Dec 2015 and you are in for a treat, what part of Mauritius you staying at.

Going to Belle mar Plarge, went to the Heritage a couple of years ago, lovely place where abouts were you ?