Green Reading

[EdZ]

One of the most overlooked areas of great putting IMO. If one assumes that for any given putt, there is actually an 'ideal' pace for the largest possible chance of making a putt, what are some drills/visuals/concepts that will help people learn the proper 'read'?

For me, there are a few thoughts that are very helpful in reading:

1) read the last 3 feet first - if you know where you want the ball to 'fall' into the cup during the last few feet, you can work backwards from there, reading longer putts in sections

2) one thing I do agree with Pelz on, actual break LOOKS like only 1/3 of what it is - in other words, triple the break you see and learn to trust it.

3) if you have not read Geoff Mangum's site, check it out - very good info there, especially the 'spider' (puttingzone.com)

4) learn to use your feet to feel subtle slopes

My approach is to pick the spot on the 'fall line' that I need to aim to such that the ball will 'fall' down to the hole. From there I focus on the 'track', and trace my eyes along it.

Lastly, in my own case, I was setting up with my eyes 'off plane' for many years. A few minutes with pro-aim and I learned to better align my eyes, and hence I can see the true line. Sure makes pace easier!

[pluthb]

good stuff EdZ. Where would you rather read the putt from, above or below the hole? Do you walk clockwise around the hole or stay on the low side reading the break?
How does eye dominance influence putting?

[EdZ]

good stuff EdZ. Where would you rather read the putt from, above or below the hole? Do you walk clockwise around the hole or stay on the low side reading the break?
How does eye dominance influence putting?

Always from the low side - I only walk fully around when the break isn't clear, or there are multiple/odd breaks around the cup - always finishing that circle from the low side. As for eye dominance, it is really more a matter of eye alignment than dominance, you want 'on plane' eyes.