How to read the grain of a green

In reading a putt, one must consider the grain of the grass.

On a golf green, grain refers to the angle upon which the blades of grass tend to lie. Grain is especially prevalent in Bermuda grass, found in warm climate zones such as the American South. Grain is an important factor in reading greens because it plays a part in altering the speed of a putt and even the direction of the putt's roll. Putting into the grain will cause a putt to roll slower while putting down grain will cause a putt to roll quicker. These same attributes also will alter the break of a putt, depending on the direction of the grain.

Things You'll Need

• Putter

Instructions

1. Check the location of the sun when approaching a green. Often, grain tends to point toward the sun, so by noting the direction of your shadow, you might figure the grain to be headed in the opposite direction.

2. Examine the cut of the cup on the green. Note the edges of the hole. There might be one side of the cut that is more brown. This is caused by the grain running in the direction of the brown patch. This happens because Bermuda grass puts out "runners" from which blades of grass grow. When a hole is cut, there will be less green blades on the edge of the hole from which the blades are running.

3. Note any mow patterns on the green. Where mow lines on the green change from light to dark, this is a sign that grain is running in different directions. Reel mowers are used to cut greens and they tend to push the grass over in the direction they are moving. This results in a darker or lighter pattern. Generally, where you see lighter grass, you are putting into the grain and where you see dark grass you are putting down grain.

4. Brush your hand across the surface of the green. This is against the rules of golf, but it is a good way to understand grain. When you brush your hand across the surface of the grass, it will be smooth in one direction and rough in the other. The direction in which the feel is smooth is the direction of the grain. Not against the rules, however, is brushing your putter on the fringe of the green. This is not as solid an indicator of grain, but can still be helpsul.

5. Note any nearby water. Generally, but not always, grain will follow a flow pattern off a green toward a nearby lake or pond. For example, if you notice a drainage pond to the right of the green, it is likely that the grain of that green will be in the general direction of left-to-right, with grain mainly pointing at the pond.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to try to read other people's putts and note how the ball reacts before taking your putt. If a player has a putt you believe breaks hard left-to-right, but it only breaks slightly, this could be a sign that the break was actually moving right-to-left. In this case, you could check on the aforementioned signs to corroborate this and use this information in helping to read your own putt.

• Unless you become very confident in reading grain, you might be wasting your time or even over-thinking your putts. Be careful not to sacrifice a steady pace of play for over-examination of grain.

References

• "PGA Teaching Manual: The Art & Science of Golf Instrution;" Gary Wirens, et al; 1990

Resources

• Shark: Greg Norman offers advice on reading greens