Golf Tip of the Day - Reading the Green

Let's face it, you could have the best putting stroke on the PGA Tour, but if you can't read the greens, it won't matter much. Still, I think we make this out to be more difficult than it needs to be. For instance, if you look at a putt from both sides of the hole and can't figure out which way it will break, it is likely a straight putt. So, just go straight at the hole. If you have good speed, you will likely have a chance to make the putt.

Here is a tip for you though for putts of 10 feet or longer. The most important part of the putt for you to read is the last third. This is when the ball is slowing down. Therefore, it will curve more than at any other time during the putt. Try to figure out what the break will be in the last third of the putt, then worry about the remainder of the putt after that.

Now, if you have a putt that breaks right to left, visualize the ball rolling into the top half of the hole, because that will actually be the center of your LINE. Then focus on having good speed and you will have a better chance to make a putt.

If you are having trouble reading the putt from behind the ball, walk to the other side of the hole and look at the line from there. Still no idea? It's likely a pretty straight putt. If you are more advanced at reading greens, then you can worry about how the grain may affect the putt as it dies at the hole.

Remember though, focus most of your attention on the last third, and visualize the ball rolling in the high side. One other comment, most golfers tend to miss to the low side, so that means they underestimate the break more often than not. With that in mind, learn to play a little more break than what your eyes are telling you.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com