How to Read a Putt

Reading a putt requires a player to look at the slope of the green from all directions.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Golf Shirts
• Golf Bags
• Golf Balls
• Golf Gloves
• Golf Clubs
• Golf Shoes
• Golf Practice Equipment
• Golf Club Cleaners
• Golf Hats

1. 

   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.

2. 

   Walk directly behind the hole and look back at your ball.

3. Read the slope of the green to be straight or angled more to the right or left.

4. 

   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.

5. 

   Approach the golf ball, and take a practice stroke using your putter.

6. Place the putter behind the ball and putt the ball into the hole.

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.

Resources

• Putting

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on 11/22/2005 When you're walking up to the green from your first or second shot, don't start slacking off and start talking to your caddie or playing partner. Study the green while you're walking up to it, seeing slopes that you can't see when your actually on the putting surface.

on 11/22/2005 Usually the most forgiving view of how the putt will go is from behind the hole (facing the ball and its path). Also, if you're some distance away from the green, analyze the overall contour and elevation changes of the green, and analyze other players' lines if their putting line is similar to yours.

on 11/22/2005 Once you know your line, use your letters of the golf ball to aim your stoke.

on 11/22/2005 Most golfers slow down at impact
when putting. Practice pushing the ball into the hole from one meter. Slowly accelerate over time and your putting should improve.

on 11/22/2005 Use the same exact same ball for putting each time. Use only a new ball so it will roll consistently. Do not use the ball you drive with.