Green Reading 101

Playing a new course can be tricky when it comes to reading the slope of the greens.  As you familiarize yourself with the greens, here are a few tips for basic green reading skills:

• Take in the information through your senses. How does the slope of the green look? If there was heavy rain, or water was poured onto the green, where would it flow/funnel to? Where is the low point of the green? How does the slope feel beneath your feet?
• Watch other players’ shots and putts. Notice what other players’ shots do around the hole.  Pay attention to your approach shot as well. How did the ball react on the green? Which direction did the ball move as it got close to the hole?
• Memorize the greens. Plain and simple. Start to memorize the common pin locations and how the ball reacts in that area of the green.  Save the information for future reference.

Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Seamless Golf,” “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and is the founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, golf schools, and performance coaching for in Santa Cruz, CA and Reno, NV.