After watching the massive breaking putts at Augusta National for the iconic Masters tournament earlier this month, let’s highlight the needed putting routine additions to better judge putts on non-flat surfaces. Time after time, players are having putts scream past the cup, or stop rolling after only traveling half the distance needed, because of not taking into account a proper green reading routine. When first coming to the practice green for a putting lesson with my players, we roll putts from 30 feet. Better known and measured by 10 steps or paces. This distance is practiced first, to highlight the daily green speed and because it is a distance in between a 40 foot lag putt and 20 foot makeable par/birdie look.
After determining the needed distance from ball to cup, we pull out what I refer to in my instruction as our “compass”. On a compass we have the right and left directions or “east” and “west”. As well as the up and down directions or “north” and “south”. Just like the options that a putt can break and roll. To help decide if a putt is going to go from right to left or left to right, we look for the lay of the lands including its high and low points. To help decide the proper low point of the land, survey helping factors like tee boxes and greens. The common phrased used in instruction is “pretend as if water is falling” so which direction would the water roll?
Once deciding that a putt is going to break from right to left, due to the high point of the land being on the players right. The next step is deciding if the putt is going to be uphill or down. Once again we use the help of our “compass”, to help find the answer. Is the high point of the land beyond the cup or seen on the compass as north, or to the back of the player, better known as south? Since the low point of the land has been determined as “north”, or facing forward, the putt is deemed downhill.
These variables will seem like a lot to figure out in the beginning, but the fun part about this routine is it can be done on every putt at any course! Now that we have figured out that the example putt is downhill and breaking from right to left, the last highlight is on speed. With the putting stroke being activated from the body, we rotate back and through to the desired target line. We then accelerate the putter through impact with a strong, low finish. Continue to practice getting as many golf balls finishing inside of three feet until comfortable. Once able to get multiple in a row inside of the desired proximity to the cup, change the distance. Practice from longer distances as well as closer, to gain maximum comfort while putting on any course.
