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Re: Reading green breaks

• bearpresser 21 Posts

  Sun, Apr 10 2011 6:57 AM

  I need advice.  I can see slopes and understand the faster the little balls are moving means a steeper slope.  But I can't seem to get the correlation between the speed of the little balls and how far to adjust my aim.  I feel like I'm always guessing rather than using a "rule of thumb" guide.  Is just more practice or is there a "tip" on reading breaks better?

• b0geybuster 2,574 Posts

  Sun, Apr 10 2011 7:27 AM

  bearpresser:

  I need advice.  I can see slopes and understand the faster the little balls are moving means a steeper slope.  But I can't seem to get the correlation between the speed of the little balls and how far to adjust my aim.  I feel like I'm always guessing rather than using a "rule of thumb" guide.  Is just more practice or is there a "tip" on reading breaks better?

  It is just that, more practice.  Most putts are from memory.   You play enough rounds you will start to remember, oh yeah this putt is half a cup outside on the right.    Ding and drain it.  Good luck!

  Cheers,

  b0gey

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sun, Apr 10 2011 8:57 AM

  Dump the Spider putter and get a Daytona. Your problems are over.

• bearpresser 21 Posts

  Mon, Apr 11 2011 8:04 PM

  Thanks for the tip ... I'll rent one and try it out.

• bearpresser 21 Posts

  Mon, Apr 11 2011 8:05 PM

  I appreciate the advice.  I'll keep practicing.

• zagraniczniak 1,984 Posts

  Tue, Apr 12 2011 12:04 AM

  Bear, there are a couple of tricks you could try to help develop the feel. (Nothing that really qualifies as a rule of thumb, though.)

  It is possible to run your cursor along the rolling beads, going with the flow down towards the hole, and see how far you end up to one side of the hole, and then consider aiming for a similar distance on the other side (subject to tinkering). 

  If the putt breaks more than one way, you can try to total up the pluses and minuses in each direction, and their relative speed, to get to the approximate 'average' break for that putt.

  Ultimately you have to choose your line and go with it. There is no magic formula except practice and feel, especially when it comes to making those 5 - 20 footers.

  The techniques I mentioned above can be quite effective for lag putting, assuring that when you have a long putt you will leave yourself something highly makable for a par, or a birdie on some holes. 

• Infinito3010 3,689 Posts

  Tue, Apr 12 2011 12:27 AM

  zagraniczniak:

  Ultimately you have to choose your line and go with it. There is no magic formula except practice and feel, especially when it comes to making those 5 - 20 footers.

  I agree with the observations made above.  It takes time to learn, so patience is definitely required.  Learn and understand the influence of green speed has on a break.  By reading reading the dots as mention above it will give you an indication on the amount of break.  There is so much to learn and it is acquired from practicing.  I haven't memorized one putt, other than understand how the green breaks (course management).  Alot of players forget to check for the elevation behind the hole.  It will definitely influence how hard you need to hit a putt, especially on tournament greens.

• bearpresser 21 Posts

  Tue, Apr 12 2011 8:35 PM

  Thx for advise ...... I'll keep practicing!