Golf Tip

The Best Way to Read the Greens for Golfers

Reading the Green

It’s no secret that putting is a very important part of golf. Many of the mistakes that lead to missed putts stem from inaccurately reading the green. Golfers tend to judge a putt simply by glancing at the hole and determining how much power to put behind the ball to get it to the cup. This is especially true for younger golfers looking to hone their skills as they develop. They forget to check the slope of the green and accurately see the distance of the putt so they can best visualize the line needed to make the shot.

As previously mentioned, the two largest components that factor into a putt are distance and slope. Without the ability to gauge both you will have trouble finding consistency on the green. There are a few methods used by professional golfers to judge distance and break. First, it is important to get the best vantage point when determining how far you are from the hole. A good tip to remember is to always look into the slope, which means that you should see a downhill putt from behind the hole and stand behind the ball if the putt is going uphill. This allows your mind to better process the true distance between the ball and cup.

For slope, you can place coins halfway between the ball and hole on either side and scan the green horizontally to see the direction of the break. This will allow you to reduce guesswork as you prepare to take your shot. Some golfers are visual learners and can see the perfect line just by walking onto the green. For others, they must rely on the techniques we discuss in this article.

Practice Makes Perfect!

The best way to improve your putting mechanics is by working with your golf team coach or trainer regularly. Doing so will help you get into a routine for approaching each shot. In a tournament setting, it can be difficult to stay calm and eliminate distractions, so knowing what to do before you find yourself in the situation will help keep your focus on putting. Many players will focus on improving their long game, but the short game drastically improves your score. Each green will have a different shape, speed, and break. Establishing a routine will help standardize the process, and help you sink more putts.

If you follow these steps, you may notice a large improvement in your overall game. For tips like this and more, check out our Nike Junior Golf Camps!