Green reading

[Robobum]

Seen many replies to putting threads suggesting a trip to the Pro for a green reading lesson.

Has anyone actually done just that?

What did the lesson consist of?

 

[3565]

Seen many replies to putting threads suggesting a trip to the Pro for a green reading lesson.

Has anyone actually done just that?

What did the lesson consist of?

i asked our club Pro the other week who has won on the European tour, played in the senior tour and is now the county coach, of all the lessons he has given how many have been green reading lessons, the answer a big fat zero.

 

[Birchy]

Im curious as to what people would imagine the pro would tell them?

Most of the time reading the green is common sense. You will always get the odd one that fools you but that's natural.

It's hitting the ball on the intended line with the correct pace that's the tricky bit!

 

[Robobum]

i asked our club Pro the other week who has won on the European tour, played in the senior tour and is now the county coach, of all the lessons he has given how many have been green reading lessons, the answer a big fat zero.

I can see why and That's kind of the point of the question.

Understanding break is just grasping physics - so why is a Pro the right person to teach that?

 

[garyinderry]

Green reading comes from practice and experience. There isn't really a short cut unless you use the aim point method.

I don't think you can really tell someone. They just need to see how the ball reacts and learn from it to make an improved judgement the next time.

 

[3565]

I can see why and That's kind of the point of the question.

Understanding break is just grasping physics - so why is a Pro the right person to teach that?

Well id of thought an ex european touring pro who's played all over on differing greens and the knowledge he's gained from it would be ideal to learn from. But like most things in golf you have experts in their chosen field in golf, you have biomechanics specialist, golfing machine specialist, putter fitting specialist Phillip Kenyon and Andy Gorman, Aimpoint, club fitting, fitness, the list is endless. Does the 'normal' type pro deal in all of those subjects? Possibly not, but they are out there for you to seek if you so wish to.

 

[Robobum]

Well id of thought an ex european touring pro who's played all over on differing greens and the knowledge he's gained from it would be ideal to learn from. But like most things in golf you have experts in their chosen field in golf, you have biomechanics specialist, golfing machine specialist, putter fitting specialist Phillip Kenyon and Andy Gorman, Aimpoint, club fitting, fitness, the list is endless. Does the 'normal' type pro deal in all of those subjects? Possibly not, but they are out there for you to seek if you so wish to.

He could be a multiple major winner.....the question still remains the same - what can he tell you about how a ball will roll on a green that is specific to golf rather than the application of basic laws of physics?

The only thing I see him adding is regarding grain and different grass types?????

 

[JustOne]

He could be a multiple major winner.....the question still remains the same - what can he tell you about how a ball will roll on a green that is specific to golf rather than the application of basic laws of physics?

The only thing I see him adding is regarding grain and different grass types?????

Maybe it depends on what level you are at, some people really struggle reading greens (aimpoint makes a living from it) just as some people can't even line up properly.

 

[Region3]

I don't think it's a case of learning that a ball rolls towards the low side due to gravity, it's how to spot the breaks themselves.

I wouldn't say I'm particularly good at it. I've played my course now for almost 6 years and I still have multiple putts every round where I either can't see the break, or read it the wrong way.

When the break is obvious I'm pretty good at judging how much, but spotting the ones that aren't obvious has always been a problem.

 

[Robobum]

I don't think it's a case of learning that a ball rolls towards the low side due to gravity, it's how to spot the breaks themselves.

I wouldn't say I'm particularly good at it. I've played my course now for almost 6 years and I still have multiple putts every round where I either can't see the break, or read it the wrong way.

When the break is obvious I'm pretty good at judging how much, but spotting the ones that aren't obvious has always been a problem.

I don't see how that can be taught??

Generalisation of tips to spot optical illusions and the likes maybe - but it would be impossible to cover all (or even a number of) scenarios.

After a green reading lesson you will be the king of the practise green and not one to take on in a putting comp. Can't see much value out on the course, or other courses for sure.

 

[SGC001]

Seen many replies to putting threads suggesting a trip to the Pro for a green reading lesson.

Has anyone actually done just that?

What did the lesson consist of?

I suppose I sort of have.

I was on a group short game lesson with a former tour pro and he took us to the putting green.

Just took us all to a hole and asked each of to pick a straight 10 foot putt to that hole and place a ball there. He then hit the putts and discussed.

He suggested 1 method to help read greens is find the fall line as it would help understand how much putts other than this would break on different angles (Slightly simplified).

He then gave us some of the drills he practiced with.

I think this, coupled with the clock drill, on different gradients of slopes on different paced greens isn't that far off giving you qualitative practice similar to aimpoints semi quantitative approach teaching you to feel slope to within +/- .25%, getting u to think about and practice and improve pacing distances (not an issue for me played cricket) and its charts showing break from different angles at different stimps. As well as calculating stimp within 1 putt on new courses.

Its easy enough to isolate your putting issue, its line, pace or read and some may find it useful to know. Pelz argues a lot under read and have to miss hit leading to inconsistencies.

If someone had an issue, may be worth looking at. If you're holing putts might be better to not know.

I did aimpoint as I was curious of how and if green reading could be taught more efficiently. I suspect aimpoints 2 hour course and 3 weeks of practice to develop greater sensitivity to slope could shorten the process of developing feel naturally over time and that a non golfer could read greens well within a 3 week period.

I grew up on slopey greens so tended to read greens ok, did have a tendancy to overread on slow greens.

I agree it's physics and practice but think green reading can be taught and learned very quickly to new players (and old) despite a preference for discovery learning.

 

[FairwayDodger]

The problem I have reading greens is spotting the small breaks or trusting when a putt is actually straight. I'm trying to hit those ones more firmly to take out any break rather than dribbling them in but haven't quite got my head ready to commit to that....

 

[Bratty]

just as some people can't even line up properly.

Anyone particular in mind, James?

 

[Leereed]

Very hard to teach.It is very subjective I like to lag putts in so the breaks in my putts will be bigger then someone who hits firm putts and takes the break out.you can play in doubles and you both see the putt differently.

 

[ScienceBoy]

The only green reading lesson I had was the pro giving me his method, which I still use today. I consider myself a good reader of greens thanks to his advice.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure. Having come from Aimpoint I can see how many people do under read the putts but whether the pro is actually any good at reading greens himself I guess is the crux.

 

[farfaeforfar]

When I started out playing I got a course playing lesson. Part of this was to help reading greens (bearing in mind I was a junior), but all it really consisted of looking for breaks from behind the ball towards the hole. Walking the putt out at a distance (assuming its a longer putt), read from behind the hole to the ball. Does it help? I think it helps me although I am aware it can slow play down so try to manage when I get to have a sneaky look from a couple of angles.

 

[3565]

When I started out playing I got a course playing lesson. Part of this was to help reading greens (bearing in mind I was a junior), but all it really consisted of looking for breaks from behind the ball towards the hole. Walking the putt out at a distance (assuming its a longer putt), read from behind the hole to the ball. Does it help? I think it helps me although I am aware it can slow play down so try to manage when I get to have a sneaky look from a couple of angles.

Exactly what I used to do in reading putts, but now thru Aimpoint Express I don't even look at any sides or angles.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Exactly what I used to do in reading putts, but now thru Aimpoint Express I don't even look at any sides or angles.

I'm getting more confused by the minute

 

[JohnnyDee]

I believe the ability to read a green cannot really be taught any more than solving quadratic equations can be without first having a good knowledge of basic mathematical concepts.

If you can't stand on a green and see that your ball will turn from right to left across its overall line of travel towards the hole, then I believe that you're up a certain creek without a paddle.

Having then assimilated this information you need to apply your knowledge of the speed of the greens correlated with other factors such as moisture, hardness of the putting surface, length and grain of the grass and other variables. What could be simpler?

Putting really is a game within a game and some are able to handle it better than others. I don't really feel that a teachable panacea is available outside gained experience, a modicum of natural ability and a bit of hard earned experience.