You now know the basics of green reading. You check the slope, look from behind the ball, and maybe even crouch down like the pros do. But if you're still missing birdie putts or seeing balls mysteriously lip out, it's time to improve your green reading skills.
The following are the advanced skills that set weekend warriors apart from players who regularly make clutch putts.
Begin Reading From 50 Feet Away
Most amateurs miss something important: the best read is often before you even step on the green. Take a moment to look at the big picture as you approach the putting green. How does the green lean as a whole? What is the natural slope of the land?
A long time ago, a caddie told me, "Water doesn't lie." Greens are made with drainage in mind. Knowing the macro-slope helps you make sense of everything else. That tiny break from right to left that you can see up close? It could be working against a bigger tilt from left to right. Your putt might not break as much as you think. It could even go straight. Learn how to understand and manage the course to help you on the green.
Learn the AimPoint Express Method
Image Credit: © Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK
To become proficient in advanced green reading, you need to learn how to feel the slope with your feet. The AimPoint method has changed the way tour pros read greens for good. Everyone can get the express version.
Stand halfway between your ball and the hole, with your feet on either side of the line. Shut your eyes. You can feel the slope in your feet. Is it pulling you to the left or the right? How much? A little or a lot? This tells you the slope in percent, which is the same as the number of fingers you should hold up at arm's length to find your target.
The best thing about this system is that it takes away the need to guess. Your feet can feel slopes that your eyes can't see. Those annoying one-percenters that make the difference between making a 15-footer and leaving it on the lip? Your feet will find them.
Read Greens in Three Parts
Don't think of your putt as a straight line. Split it into three parts: the first part is close to your ball, the second part is in the middle, and the last part is close to the hole.
What does this mean? Break is greatly affected by the speed of the ball. Your ball will move the fastest and stay on its line better in the first third, when it is going against the slope. Most of your break happens in the middle third. And that last third? The ball is more likely to roll off the slope as it slows down. This is where small breaks turn into big ones.
Pay close attention to the last three feet. I've seen a lot of putts go perfectly straight for 20 feet and then turn hard at the end. The ball is dying. The force of gravity takes over. Even small slopes can make a big difference.
Look Past the Line
Amateur green readers look at the line that separates the ball from the hole. Advanced readers look at the whole green.
Look at the areas around your line. Are there any nearby ridges, valleys, or tiers? These things affect the small changes in the surface along your actual putting line.
Watch how other players putt, especially those who are putting in areas that are similar to yours. Every putt is a chance to learn. I once saw three players putt from different angles on the same green. I knew exactly how my 30-footer would break by the time it was my turn. It really did dive into the middle of the cup.
Factor in Grain and Green Speed
You're not just reading slope on Bermuda or grainy greens. You're looking at the direction of the grass. Putts that go into the grain will be slower and not break as much. Putts that go down the grain will be faster and break more. You can tell the difference between shiny and dull grass, or you can see which way the grass grows around the cup.
Green speed makes a big difference. A one-degree slope on stimp 13 greens could mean a break of six inches. That same slope might only give you two inches on slower greens. Always get a sense of how fast your practice putts are.
Believe What You Read and Act On It
Trust what you've done once you've done it. Bad reads kill more putts than indecision.
Choose your line. Choose your speed. Make a strong stroke. You'll learn something useful for next time, even if you miss.
Green reading at a higher level isn't magic. It's a combination of systematic observation and experience. Start implementing these techniques, and watch your putting stats transform.
