Neilds
Assistant Pro
You say you can't read greens but then you say you rarely get the line wrong. Both these comments cannot be true when used together.
How Do I Improve at Green Reading?
- Thread starter Orikoru
- Start date
Backache
Assistant Pro
I think it depends on what he means by the line. I took it to mean that he consistently hits it on his intended start line, but that is in the wrong place because his green reading is poor. Which is certainly logically consistentYou say you can't read greens but then you say you rarely get the line wrong. Both these comments cannot be true when used together.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
A lot of it will come down to people natural instincts and ability to what they can see , I play with someone who struggles to read greens and even when I tell him the line he still can’t see it until he hits the ball , I seems to be able to read the greens very well , even on away courses , will always look for a focal point on the green and use that
Golfnut1957
Newbie
I can putt, but I can't read greens, I see no slope unless it is severe and so over the years I have done the aim point feet and plumb bobbed, neither of them worked and so at my home course everything is done from memory, at any other course I'm stuffed.
Hoping for a read of PP's putts or chipping and taking the break out (I was only half joking) is a partial solution, however.
I recently went back to the partial aim point, no fingers just the feet. What I found was that I was trying to convince myself that I could feel that shift in weight, but it is so subtle that on most occasions I thought I was imagining it. But with nothing to lose I went with what I was feeling real or not.
The results were relatively positive, I was getting more reads right than wrong, but the real breakthrough came about when I realised that because I was trusting what my body had told me, when I went back for a last look I was starting to see the slope. i.e. once my brain had a fix on it, through this abstract method, it was easier for my brain to work out what my eyes had probably been seeing all along.
If possible I do the feet while others are busy with their putts, or make a point of getting to the green first. If I am putting first they just have to suck it up while I quickly walk down the line. I know it's driving my mate mad, but it only takes a few seconds and is probably quicker than him looking at his putt from multiple angles.
I know you said you feel nothing through your feet, I thought that was me also, only I was feeling something I just didn't know it, and having committed to the process it is becoming more and more reliable.
I had one of my best putting days in years on Tuesday.
Hoping for a read of PP's putts or chipping and taking the break out (I was only half joking) is a partial solution, however.
I recently went back to the partial aim point, no fingers just the feet. What I found was that I was trying to convince myself that I could feel that shift in weight, but it is so subtle that on most occasions I thought I was imagining it. But with nothing to lose I went with what I was feeling real or not.
The results were relatively positive, I was getting more reads right than wrong, but the real breakthrough came about when I realised that because I was trusting what my body had told me, when I went back for a last look I was starting to see the slope. i.e. once my brain had a fix on it, through this abstract method, it was easier for my brain to work out what my eyes had probably been seeing all along.
If possible I do the feet while others are busy with their putts, or make a point of getting to the green first. If I am putting first they just have to suck it up while I quickly walk down the line. I know it's driving my mate mad, but it only takes a few seconds and is probably quicker than him looking at his putt from multiple angles.
I know you said you feel nothing through your feet, I thought that was me also, only I was feeling something I just didn't know it, and having committed to the process it is becoming more and more reliable.
I had one of my best putting days in years on Tuesday.
timd77
Assistant Pro
I can’t read greens in terms of the break without plumb bobbing.You say you can't read greens but then you say you rarely get the line wrong. Both these comments cannot be true when used together.
I can see obvious slopes of course, and feel them. Once I’ve got my line from plumb bobbing I can then tell whether it’s uphill, downhill or flat just from looking at the hole compared to the ball.
Even when it’s a clear break, for example, you get to know the slopes on your own course, I still can’t tell how much break to give. Ok so it’s right to left, but how far right am I aiming? Plumb bobbing gives me an exact spot to aim for and then it’s just a case of getting the speed right.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before. A couple of years ago my club had a ‘golfer non golfer’ evening, the non golfer hits the putts. I took my wife and she was the putter. On the very first hole I left her in a tough spot about 8 feet above the hole and it’s a left to right smelly one. I said to her I’ll tell you where to aim for, she said no it’s ok, she can see it, and holed the putt. The cheek of it! But I do think this illustrates that you can either visualise the line or you can’t.
I did ask a pal of mine to explain green reading to me, he’s a great putter. He pretty much said he doesn’t know how to explain it, he’s just sees where the break is, sees a line the ball will go and that’s it. Yeh, thanks for that!
Anyway, as I say, it’s not for everyone and I don’t want to hijack Oriku’s thread, so I’ll leave it at that.
Troymcclure
Medal Winner
So you can feel it and understand the concept. That puts you ahead of the many that dismiss it out of hand.
When you can’t immediately feel it as the slope is too subtle I’ve had success with very gently and slowly (imperceptibly so to onlookers so no embarrassment) swaying/shifting your weight from one side to the other. You’ll feel your body naturally trying to equilibrate and “fall” to one side. That’s the low side.
Give it a try tinkerman.
Troymcclure
Medal Winner
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Line and pace, no use getting one without the other.
Not sure if you can teach this.
Practice rolling a ball with your hand [like bowls] just might help with 'touch'.
Not sure if you can teach this.
Practice rolling a ball with your hand [like bowls] just might help with 'touch'.
2blue
Journeyman Pro
In the words of our late, great, short-game coach, Bill Ferguson, "Best way to improve your putting..... chip it closer!!"
Backache
Assistant Pro
My own suggestion for what it's worth is that you can improve most things with practice and accurate feedback.
I would get a digital spirit level a putter and a couple of balls and a couple of tee pegs and go out to a putting green.
Randomly pick a spot and a hole, the hole can be a disc that you can move around to make many different 'holes'
Put your ball down , try and read the slope and the putt .
Pick your target and put your tee pegs down to form a gate on that line and then take your putt.
If you don't go through the gate you know your start line is bad.
Then get out your spirit level. Did you get the direction of the break right or wrong?. Was the degree of break higher or lower than you were expecting ? Go back have a look at the break again and see if you can marry it up with the reading from the spirit level..
Rinse and repeat.
I would get a digital spirit level a putter and a couple of balls and a couple of tee pegs and go out to a putting green.
Randomly pick a spot and a hole, the hole can be a disc that you can move around to make many different 'holes'
Put your ball down , try and read the slope and the putt .
Pick your target and put your tee pegs down to form a gate on that line and then take your putt.
If you don't go through the gate you know your start line is bad.
Then get out your spirit level. Did you get the direction of the break right or wrong?. Was the degree of break higher or lower than you were expecting ? Go back have a look at the break again and see if you can marry it up with the reading from the spirit level..
Rinse and repeat.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Yeah, there is definitely an element of having the gift of being able to see it or not, and I certainly don't have it.
I think another thing holding me back is that I don't spend any time over it either. People at my club have said to me I'm one of the fastest players they've played with - as in I don't stand over the ball for very long I just hit (think Ryan Fox). But on the greens I need to make myself take longer. I read the Bob Rotella books and he advocates not taking too long over a read because it frees up your stroke, which I think is true, but at the same time doesn't help you if you're not able to read the green accurately at first glance.
KenL
Tour Rookie
I am not great at reading greens but don’t 3-putt much.
My mantra is, if a break isn’t obvious, aim for the hole.
My mantra is, if a break isn’t obvious, aim for the hole.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Stating the bleedin obvious but taking 'more time over a putt' is only useful if the time is used productively. If a player is just re-hashing the same actions/Q’s/decisions over and over or taking time but with no real purpose/aims, its not gonna work
Springveldt
Well-known member
After my last 3 rounds putting I was considering taking a week or two off golf. It came to ahead on Saturday, after missing my 6th putt from inside 5 foot on the 12th, I did a hammer twirl and launched my putter about 35 yards. Felt like a bit of a *** after it and had to do the walk of shame to collect the putter. Played last night and putted brilliantly. So I think you don't really need to learn how to read a green, just throw your putter 35 yards to let it know that it is on it's last warning and suddenly it will start behaving itself.
In all seriousness I really struggle to read greens with my eyes as well. I don't really have any other spatial awareness issues, I can reverse park fine, guestimate how many people are in a crowd, guess how far the pin is etc I just really struggle to see subtle slopes for some reason. It's why I use aimpoint, I can feel a 1% slope with my body (usually my hips, not really my feet) but I can't for the life of me see it with my eyes. There are times I'll aimpoint and it's 1% right to left, I'll try reading it with my eyes and I'll see it going the other way. I think I get influenced by how the cup has been cut sometimes, I'll see one side of the cup slightly higher than the other and assume that's the way the ball will break only to realise it's just not been cut great.
In all seriousness I really struggle to read greens with my eyes as well. I don't really have any other spatial awareness issues, I can reverse park fine, guestimate how many people are in a crowd, guess how far the pin is etc I just really struggle to see subtle slopes for some reason. It's why I use aimpoint, I can feel a 1% slope with my body (usually my hips, not really my feet) but I can't for the life of me see it with my eyes. There are times I'll aimpoint and it's 1% right to left, I'll try reading it with my eyes and I'll see it going the other way. I think I get influenced by how the cup has been cut sometimes, I'll see one side of the cup slightly higher than the other and assume that's the way the ball will break only to realise it's just not been cut great.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
On my home course there are no straight putts other than maybe two of the greens - this has given me PTSD so I never trust a straight putt on any course. Even one that looks dead straight I'll think "it must break a little bit" and I'll just miss it by an inch.
Well, yes. I'm probably not taking much time because I just give up trying to read it and hit it. I would like to find a process that works so I can actually take the time and read it properly.
Maybe if I was taught Aimpoint properly I could figure it out, but that's another load of expense. I do wear quite thick-soled shoes (Puma GS Fast) so maybe I should do a Lucas Glover and take my shoes off and see if I have more luck feeling the break that way.
WGCRider
Newbie
Green reading is by far the worst part of my game. I know my putting stroke is good. On a perfectly flat surface (mat) I sink 6 footer after 6 footer. These are things that moved me from a 1/10 green reader to a 4/10.
1) When I practice use 1 ball. The 2nd ball may help improve pace but it's basically cheating in terms of green reading.
2) Read everyone else's putt and see if you are right.
3) Always read from side on - at least I'll know if it's up or down.
4) "Dustbin lid" is nonsense. In fact don't even aim for the hole - aim for a specific spot on the hole. Aim to sink everything - don't plan to miss.
1) When I practice use 1 ball. The 2nd ball may help improve pace but it's basically cheating in terms of green reading.
2) Read everyone else's putt and see if you are right.
3) Always read from side on - at least I'll know if it's up or down.
4) "Dustbin lid" is nonsense. In fact don't even aim for the hole - aim for a specific spot on the hole. Aim to sink everything - don't plan to miss.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
On my home course there are no straight putts other than maybe two of the greens - this has given me PTSD so I never trust a straight putt on any course. Even one that looks dead straight I'll think "it must break a little bit" and I'll just miss it by an inch.
Isn't there a golf saying, something about all putts are straight putts ? (maybe I dreamt that)
Yeah, to me at least, my wife rushes her putts especially the 2nd one and i'm sure she'd hole out more if she used a process for putt 2
Springveldt
Well-known member
Honestly, I taught myself in an hour in the back garden. I have stepping slabs going from the house out to the garage and my back garden has a slope to it. By sheer luck I found slabs that have a 1,2 and 3% slope to them (used my iPhone to measure) and then I just stood on them with my eyes shut to see if I could feel anything. At first I was like "this is crap, can't feel a thing" but then I did a few sways side to side and noticed my body would level out and I could feel pressure on one side. I just got used to feeling that pressure on each slab and went from there.Maybe if I was taught Aimpoint properly I could figure it out, but that's another load of expense. I do wear quite thick-soled shoes (Puma GS Fast) so maybe I should do a Lucas Glover and take my shoes off and see if I have more luck feeling the break that way.
I very rarely get a break wrong as in it will break the way I expect. Obviously it's not perfect and sometimes I'll read it as a 1% and it breaks more like a 2% but the main issue is usually either pace or I miss my start line. I've also went back to putting a line on the ball and watching how it rolls, the putts I miss the line isn't going end over end.
Mel Smooth
Hacker
If you're reading from both sides is causing you indecision, I'd stop that first and try reading just from behind the ball.
Pace out the putt every time it's over the length of 1 stride.
Line your ball up and visualise the roll.
Hit with confidence.
Pace out the putt every time it's over the length of 1 stride.
Line your ball up and visualise the roll.
Hit with confidence.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I already do number 1. Exactly as you say, people who hit 2 or 3 balls don't read the putt they just hit the first ball and see what it does. I only use one ball on the practice green.
I always mean to read others' putts and/or watch where they go when they putt or chip onto the green etc - but concentrating is hard and so often I forget to pay any attention.
Agree with number 4 as well, I always want to go as close to the hole as possible with a chance of holing it ideally.
I'm sure that just means, once you have the line, you hit a straight putt to where you are aiming.
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