Many putts are missed before the player even strokes the ball
because he has not taken the time to
”
read
”
the green or has read it improperly.
Many putts are missed before the player even strokes the ball because he has not taken the time to “read” the green or has read it improperly.
If a putt breaks left to right 5 inches and you aim straight at the cup, guess what, you will miss the putt by 5 inches to the right even if you stroked the ball like Tiger Woods.
There are several “keys” to look for when trying to determine the slope of a certain green. If you put them all together, you have an almost sure-fire way to know which way your putt is going to break.
WATCH THE CHIP SHOTS
On most holes, you or your fellow playing partner will have chipped up to the hole. Watch how the ball reacts around the hole as it slows down. This will give you an indication of what the putt will do as well.
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE
Most players get too wrapped up in the 15 or 20 feet of grass between the ball and the hole. Take in the big picture of the entire green and what surrounds it. This will make it easier for you to read the putt. If the green has a hill on one side and drops off to a slope on the other, chances are it will break off the hill towards the slope.
LOOK FOR WATER
Water will always seek the low spot. So if there is a puddle or the entire pacific ocean, the putt will tend to break towards that. If you have played your course after a recent rain or irrigation, you can even check the green out for low spots as water may still be evident in low spots on the green. Try to remember those the next time you play the hole.
CHECK OUT THE OTHER PUTTS
The most certain way to see what your putt will do is by watching another ball rolling on the green. If you have another player putting before you – pay attention – what that putt does around the hole is a preview of what yours will do. It can make a difference of the ball going in or not.
Remember when all else fails take a lesson. You’ll be surprised how much we can help.
To schedule a lesson with PGA-certified instructor Don DeLorenzo, call Gilroy GC at 848-0490.
