Tips to Read Greens
Golf is one single game that seems to feature multiple different games within. While some people manage to putt pretty solid, they may not be able to hit a drive on the fairway to save their life. There are people who can drive incredibly far, and incredibly accurate, but have a rough time on the green. For the people who have an issue on the green, there is hope. Putting is an art form, requiring patience and visualization. Speed, slope, and target all affect how you play the green, and how successful you are at putting on it.
The Importance of Speed
Anyone who has played a round of golf can tell you that speed is one of the major reasons that they shot an 8 on a hole instead of a 5. The speed of the green can often confuse a multitude of golfers. On certain days, the speed of the green is fast; the ball rolls quickly and easily on the surface, meaning that a lighter hit may be needed than usual. If the course is running slow, that means that a harder hit than usual may be needed. It can be hard to determine this at first, which is why it is important to take a few practice putts before you actually jump out on the course.
Another important aspect of speed is how hard you actually hit the ball. You should always aim a little past the hole; you want the speed to be fast enough that the ball does not slow down and lose its pace and direction. Because you are dealing with curves and dips, it is important that the ball stays on an exact line.
Getting the Aim Down
The hardest thing to do as far as putting is concerned is to learn how to read the curves and dips in the playing surface. It can be hard to figure out exactly how hard you need to hit it for what certain type of slope or dip. The only way to figure out how hard to hit the ball is to take multiple trips to the putting green before you even get on the course. By practicing your putting, you can get a feel to better understand how to read the green, how to aim where you should hit the ball, and how hard to hit it.
If anything, being successful on the putting green all comes down to patience and visualization. As you putt, you must be able to step back from the ball and visualize the putt. You must visualize the breaks, the slope, and the speed of the putting green in order to fully understand that path that your ball should take. All of this requires patience; in golf, many people like to go up to the ball and hit it as quickly as they can. If you take the time to really look at your possible putt, you will be more successful.
