There are many things that can affect the outcome of a game of golf but many golfers will tell you that putting is the crucial part of any game and truly sorts the “men from the boys” or the “ladies from the girls”.
How well you can read the green is crucial to your ability in sinking a putt. It takes practice and time, as well as a lot of skill.
First, you must realize that the only way to read the green is to stand at its perimeter and look out over the area of 10 to 15 feet. You will not see as much if you stand higher than you should and you can’t see the entire green from farther away. To get closer to the green, you need to crouch down, or better yet, your knees.
Look closely at the distance between the ball and cup from your low position. You can lay a line along the cup’s line and then look carefully.
You should look for hills, valleys or signs of curves either to the right or left. Calculate how steep the hill (uphill or downhill) is between your ball & cup. Get a sense of how damp the grass is and if it’s damp, what kind. A dry surface can make the ball travel less distance than one with even the slightest amount of moisture.
It is equally important to know the height of the mower and whether the green was double-cut. The double cutting refers to the fact that the green was cut in two directions. A double cut can increase the ball’s distance by many inches. It is also important to consider the height of each cut. A reduction in mow height, even by one-sixteenth an inch, can improve the roll of the ball.
It is more difficult to determine if the green has been rolled. This has the effect on compacting soil and increasing the ground hardness, and affects the ball’s roll.
After you have assessed these elements, it’s time to decide in which direction and how hard you should hit the ball to putt. There is one way to learn: practice.
Practice on the greens, as well as the greens at the course. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and learn from others. You can observe your partner’s putting, and try to figure out why it didn’t sink.
It’s difficult to practice while playing without causing any inconvenience to others, but many courses offer slow days or slower times of the day so you should take these opportunities to improve your game.
Although reading the green well can be difficult and take some practice, it is possible to improve your scores with a tape.