Golf Tips - How To Read a Green

Finding The Highest Point

To learn the fall of the green it is essential to find the highest point and follow the flow of the green from there

The easiest way to do this is to imagine pouring a bucket of water onto the highest elevation. Picture the direction the water flows. This sounds strange, but it is reasonably easy to do in practice. This is a wonderful way to determine whether your putt is uphill or downhill and to which side the green falls.

Of course you can always pour an actual cup of water. This is highly illegal in tournament play, but is sometimes used by the caddies of professional players during the practice rounds.

Move Around The Green and Feel The Ground Beneath Your Feet

Try walking around the green with your eyes closed and get a sense of the way it flows from the feel of the ground beneath your feet. Your brain will automatically construct a contoured image of the green in your mind that's not possible with your eyes open.

Look at the Putt From a Different Angle

Sometimes the difference between sliding by the hole and making a birdie can simply be a matter of looking at the putt from a different angle. It doesn't take too much effort and you never know you might see things a little differently - and that could make all the difference.

The more you practice the techniques above the more you will learn the tricks and techniques that will lower your score.

The only way to become a truly expert green reader is true experience and practice, but no matter what it is important to remember that when you do decide on the line of your putt you must take the shot with confidence, knowing that you are right