Find The Straight Putt Green Reading Drill
This Find The Straight Putt Green Reading drill is from the Golf Practice Planner.
Name
Find The Straight Putt Green Reading Drill
Category
Putting Practice Drills
Difficulty
1 out of 10
Time
5 minutes
Props
Putter. 1 hole. 1 ball. Golf Practice Planner.
Overview
This Find The Straight Putt Green Reading drill is the quickest and easiest way to read a green. If you’ve ever faced a putt that you didn’t which direction the ball was going to break, this drill is for you. It will teach you to always know which way the ball is going to break.
Steps
Step 1: Watch
Watch the video.
Step 2: Find The Straight Putt
Look for where the “straight” putt is on the green. If you can find the “straight” putt, it will be easier to read the green.
The best way to read a green is from the low side. That way you can see what’s coming towards you and feel the slope with your feet. Tiger Woods always said:
“I like to feel where I am with my feet… what’s uphill…what’s downhill.” – Tiger
From the low side, view the slope from 20 feet away (from the middle of the ball and the hole). This forms a triangle between you, the ball, and the hole. From this vantage point, you’ll easily be able to see if it’s up or downhill.
One of the most popular green-reading methods is the AimPoint Express Putting Drill.
Step 3: Three Balls
Place a ball on the straight line, and a ball on either side of that line.
Step 4: Putt Out
Putt the balls. Start with the straight putt. The straight putt will be “straight”. The other two balls will be a “left to right” and “right to left” putt. If you do this a few times, you’ll quickly realise that the secret to reading a putt is finding the straight putt.
Step 5: Keep Score
Put a tee in the ground anywhere on your home course’s practice putting green (the tee represents the hole) and try to find the straight uphill putt (number 6 position on the clockface). Repeat 10 times in other locations and keep track of how many out of the ten you read correctly (also keep track of your common fault: e.g if 7 out of the 10 were left to right putts instead of straight uphill ones).
Top Putting Practice Tip: Never hit the ball in practice from the same place twice in a row because it causes manipulations. You only get “one go” on the course, so practice having only “one go” in practice.
If you enjoyed this free golf practice drill, you might like my Golf Drills Practice Planner. If you're a golf nerd, you're gonna love it.
