How to Read a Putt
Reading a putt requires a player to look at the slope of the green from all directions.
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Things You'll Need
- Golf Shirts
- Golf Bags
- Golf Balls
- Golf Gloves
- Golf Clubs
- Golf Shoes
- Golf Practice Equipment
- Golf Club Cleaners
- Golf Hats
Instructions
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Stand halfway between your ball and the hole to get a better idea of the slope of the green. This will help determine how fast or slow the putt should be.
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2
Walk directly behind the hole and look back at your ball.
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Read the slope of the green to be straight or angled more to the right or left.
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Return to your golf ball and stand behind the ball. Read the slope of the green once more to see if it looks the same as it did from the other side of the hole.
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5
Approach the golf ball, and take a practice stroke using your putter.
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6
Place the putter behind the ball and putt the ball into the hole.
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Tips & Warnings
When reading the green, you might get different ideas, depending on which side of the hole you're on. In these cases, go with the read from behind the golf ball, since it's usually the most accurate.
Think about your putt while other group members are putting to speed up the play.
Squatting down to read the line often helps to produce a more accurate read.
Avoid stepping in other putting lines while reading your putt.
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Comments
View all 18 Comments-
Nov 22, 2005
I get a better feel when I look at the line from the downhill side. I believe I can see the slope from ball to cup and on each side of the line better when I look from the side. I verify with the behind the cup and behind the ball approach.
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Nov 22, 2005
Whether it is from behind the ball or behind the cup, the uphill line will be the most accurate.
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Nov 22, 2005
I find it very helpful to line up my putter to the target before setting up my stance. I stand behind the ball, set up the putter behind the ball, make sure the club head is on-line, then I step around and set up my stance.
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Nov 22, 2005
Learn to putt with feel instead of mechanics. The best example is Freddie Couples. Watch him as often as possible on the greens. His fluid stroke rarely leaves him more than a tap in on his second putt.
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Nov 22, 2005
When putting downhill on fast greens, allow for less break. Also, don't wash your ball.
