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Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Read a Green for Better Putting Accuracy

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the higher side of the green to predict ball movement.
  • Analyze the slope effectively by positioning yourself correctly.
  • Improve your putting strategy by understanding the green's layout.

Learn the essential steps to effectively read a green, allowing you to predict your putt's path and speed. Understanding the slope and contours will enhance your overall putting performance.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.480
The first pillar of perfect putting is the ability to read a green and the

2
00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:06.080
ability to read a green simply means

3
00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.980
I'm going to be able to predict what the ball is going to do after I hit it

4
00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:13.600
Okay, if you can't predict what the ball is going to do and what line you need

5
00:00:13.600 --> 00:00:14.440
to start the ball on

6
00:00:14.440 --> 00:00:17.180
Then being able to start it on the right line with the right speed doesn't

7
00:00:17.180 --> 00:00:17.800
really matter

8
00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:23.880
So as you can see I've got about a 20 foot putt lined up here or set up here

9
00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:27.640
I'm going to walk you through the steps that I've I've seen with

10
00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:30.200
Consisting good amateurs some tour players

11
00:00:30.200 --> 00:00:35.480
This is a very easy and repeatable process that you can do to get a good idea

12
00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:37.920
of what the putt is going to do with practice

13
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.170
You will become you will become more proficient you'll be able to do this

14
00:00:41.170 --> 00:00:41.480
faster

15
00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:44.600
But at first walk through each step and make sure you get it right

16
00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:50.810
so the first step to reading a green is you're going to start from behind the

17
00:00:50.810 --> 00:00:51.400
ball and

18
00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:54.520
You can really only see

19
00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:58.000
Either up or down. I can't see in three dimensions too well

20
00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.460
So I can't tell the depth or whether it's uphill downhill all I'm looking for

21
00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:02.480
from back here is

22
00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:07.330
Essentially which side's higher so on this particular putt this right mound

23
00:01:07.330 --> 00:01:09.800
over here is the highest point and it's funneling down

24
00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:12.480
This way so I can say that the right side is higher and now

25
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.050
I'm going to walk to halfway between these two halfway between the ball and the

26
00:01:16.050 --> 00:01:17.520
hole on the low side

27
00:01:17.520 --> 00:01:23.030
Because it's always easier to look into a slope than it is to say look down a

28
00:01:23.030 --> 00:01:23.400
slope

29
00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.660
you'll be able to see with greater sensitivity looking into the face than down

30
00:01:26.660 --> 00:01:27.360
the face so

31
00:01:27.360 --> 00:01:32.120
Here I'm looking into the face and it looks like it's fairly level if anything

32
00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:34.120
the hole is slightly above the ball

33
00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:36.400
So from this particular view

34
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.520
I'm scanning with my eyes and I'm feeling with my feet to see if it's going to

35
00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:42.200
be an uphill or a downhill putt

36
00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.480
So I already know it's going to be a little bit right to left and now I know it

37
00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:47.400
's going to be a little bit up-till

38
00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:49.160
Especially towards the end

39
00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:53.880
So for the final view I'm going to come behind the hole and

40
00:01:53.880 --> 00:01:58.120
Look back at the ball knowing that the ball is going to be funneling from this

41
00:01:58.120 --> 00:01:58.480
view

42
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.160
I'm really studying the last four to six feet of the putt

43
00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:05.320
So the last 25% the last four feet

44
00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:08.120
That's where the majority of the break is going to happen because the ball will

45
00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.000
be moving the slowest

46
00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:14.000
So I'm I'm really trying to get an idea of where the fall line is

47
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.600
Or where the ball would cross if it was going at almost zero miles an hour

48
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:24.450
So for this particular putt, it's going to be crossing somewhere on this line

49
00:02:24.450 --> 00:02:25.600
right here now

50
00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:28.120
what I'm going to do is

51
00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.840
I'm going to from behind the hole

52
00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.840
I'm going to trace back with my eyes

53
00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:39.280
what line I think would get it there and then I'm going to have a snapshot in

54
00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.440
my mind of where that ball needs to

55
00:02:41.440 --> 00:02:45.960
Start in order to finish where it's going to end up hopefully in the hole now

56
00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.320
One particular thing which I mentioned in or which I will mention in the

57
00:02:50.320 --> 00:02:56.600
Distance control or how to hit the proper pace is I like to pace my putts

58
00:02:56.600 --> 00:03:00.840
Because that gives me an idea of how far back I need to take the putter so

59
00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:05.080
One two three four five six seven

60
00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.200
So this is about a seven pace putt which is pretty much as you'll see when we

61
00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:11.480
get to that part my outer thigh putt

62
00:03:11.480 --> 00:03:14.360
So on this particular green

63
00:03:15.440 --> 00:03:20.120
At this particular time, it's about going to it's going to be roughly my outer

64
00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:20.880
thigh now

65
00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:25.250
I've got my line I lined it up for where I think this ball should start and now

66
00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:28.360
if I read it correctly and if I hit the proper speed putt

67
00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:31.240
then

68
00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:33.240
Shouldn't end up pretty close to the hole

69
00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.880
So not perfect, but I left myself on the high side

70
00:03:42.880 --> 00:03:47.380
Definitely had the the feel of it just need a little bit more practice. So

71
00:03:47.380 --> 00:03:49.320
those are the steps for reading a green

72
00:03:49.320 --> 00:03:54.680
You can go through and remember behind the ball to see left or right

73
00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.270
From the low part to see up or down and then behind the hole to study the last

74
00:03:59.270 --> 00:03:59.800
four feet

75
00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:04.590
Those are the real three key places to look whenever you're assessing a green

76
00:04:04.590 --> 00:04:05.800
or reading it
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Read a Green for Better Putting Accuracy

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the higher side of the green to predict ball movement.
  • Analyze the slope effectively by positioning yourself correctly.
  • Improve your putting strategy by understanding the green's layout.

Learn the essential steps to effectively read a green, allowing you to predict your putt's path and speed. Understanding the slope and contours will enhance your overall putting performance.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.480
The first pillar of perfect putting is the ability to read a green and the

2
00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:06.080
ability to read a green simply means

3
00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.980
I'm going to be able to predict what the ball is going to do after I hit it

4
00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:13.600
Okay, if you can't predict what the ball is going to do and what line you need

5
00:00:13.600 --> 00:00:14.440
to start the ball on

6
00:00:14.440 --> 00:00:17.180
Then being able to start it on the right line with the right speed doesn't

7
00:00:17.180 --> 00:00:17.800
really matter

8
00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:23.880
So as you can see I've got about a 20 foot putt lined up here or set up here

9
00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:27.640
I'm going to walk you through the steps that I've I've seen with

10
00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:30.200
Consisting good amateurs some tour players

11
00:00:30.200 --> 00:00:35.480
This is a very easy and repeatable process that you can do to get a good idea

12
00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:37.920
of what the putt is going to do with practice

13
00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.170
You will become you will become more proficient you'll be able to do this

14
00:00:41.170 --> 00:00:41.480
faster

15
00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:44.600
But at first walk through each step and make sure you get it right

16
00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:50.810
so the first step to reading a green is you're going to start from behind the

17
00:00:50.810 --> 00:00:51.400
ball and

18
00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:54.520
You can really only see

19
00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:58.000
Either up or down. I can't see in three dimensions too well

20
00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.460
So I can't tell the depth or whether it's uphill downhill all I'm looking for

21
00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:02.480
from back here is

22
00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:07.330
Essentially which side's higher so on this particular putt this right mound

23
00:01:07.330 --> 00:01:09.800
over here is the highest point and it's funneling down

24
00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:12.480
This way so I can say that the right side is higher and now

25
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.050
I'm going to walk to halfway between these two halfway between the ball and the

26
00:01:16.050 --> 00:01:17.520
hole on the low side

27
00:01:17.520 --> 00:01:23.030
Because it's always easier to look into a slope than it is to say look down a

28
00:01:23.030 --> 00:01:23.400
slope

29
00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.660
you'll be able to see with greater sensitivity looking into the face than down

30
00:01:26.660 --> 00:01:27.360
the face so

31
00:01:27.360 --> 00:01:32.120
Here I'm looking into the face and it looks like it's fairly level if anything

32
00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:34.120
the hole is slightly above the ball

33
00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:36.400
So from this particular view

34
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:40.520
I'm scanning with my eyes and I'm feeling with my feet to see if it's going to

35
00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:42.200
be an uphill or a downhill putt

36
00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.480
So I already know it's going to be a little bit right to left and now I know it

37
00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:47.400
's going to be a little bit up-till

38
00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:49.160
Especially towards the end

39
00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:53.880
So for the final view I'm going to come behind the hole and

40
00:01:53.880 --> 00:01:58.120
Look back at the ball knowing that the ball is going to be funneling from this

41
00:01:58.120 --> 00:01:58.480
view

42
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.160
I'm really studying the last four to six feet of the putt

43
00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:05.320
So the last 25% the last four feet

44
00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:08.120
That's where the majority of the break is going to happen because the ball will

45
00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.000
be moving the slowest

46
00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:14.000
So I'm I'm really trying to get an idea of where the fall line is

47
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.600
Or where the ball would cross if it was going at almost zero miles an hour

48
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:24.450
So for this particular putt, it's going to be crossing somewhere on this line

49
00:02:24.450 --> 00:02:25.600
right here now

50
00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:28.120
what I'm going to do is

51
00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.840
I'm going to from behind the hole

52
00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.840
I'm going to trace back with my eyes

53
00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:39.280
what line I think would get it there and then I'm going to have a snapshot in

54
00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.440
my mind of where that ball needs to

55
00:02:41.440 --> 00:02:45.960
Start in order to finish where it's going to end up hopefully in the hole now

56
00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.320
One particular thing which I mentioned in or which I will mention in the

57
00:02:50.320 --> 00:02:56.600
Distance control or how to hit the proper pace is I like to pace my putts

58
00:02:56.600 --> 00:03:00.840
Because that gives me an idea of how far back I need to take the putter so

59
00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:05.080
One two three four five six seven

60
00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.200
So this is about a seven pace putt which is pretty much as you'll see when we

61
00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:11.480
get to that part my outer thigh putt

62
00:03:11.480 --> 00:03:14.360
So on this particular green

63
00:03:15.440 --> 00:03:20.120
At this particular time, it's about going to it's going to be roughly my outer

64
00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:20.880
thigh now

65
00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:25.250
I've got my line I lined it up for where I think this ball should start and now

66
00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:28.360
if I read it correctly and if I hit the proper speed putt

67
00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:31.240
then

68
00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:33.240
Shouldn't end up pretty close to the hole

69
00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.880
So not perfect, but I left myself on the high side

70
00:03:42.880 --> 00:03:47.380
Definitely had the the feel of it just need a little bit more practice. So

71
00:03:47.380 --> 00:03:49.320
those are the steps for reading a green

72
00:03:49.320 --> 00:03:54.680
You can go through and remember behind the ball to see left or right

73
00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.270
From the low part to see up or down and then behind the hole to study the last

74
00:03:59.270 --> 00:03:59.800
four feet

75
00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:04.590
Those are the real three key places to look whenever you're assessing a green

76
00:04:04.590 --> 00:04:05.800
or reading it
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.