How to Read a Green: A Beginner's Guide to Finding the Break

But it's not magic. It's a process of gathering clues. The pros make it look easy because they have a reliable routine for assessing the slope from multiple perspectives. By adopting a simple process, you can take the guesswork out of green reading and start rolling your putts with confidence.

Find the break - a simple green reading routine

Shows how to find the straight putt first, then read the break around it.

How do you start the read before you even reach the green?

Your read should start as you're walking up to the green. Look at the entire green complex. Is the whole thing built on the side of a hill? Is there a large body of water nearby that the green likely slopes towards? Understanding the "big picture" slope of the land gives you your first and most important clue. If the whole world slopes from right to left, chances are your putt will too.

Why should you drop to a low perspective?

Once you've marked your ball, walk about halfway to the hole and stand on the "low side" of the putt (the side the ball is going to break towards). From there, crouch down so your eyes are as close to the level of the putting surface as possible.

This is often the best view you'll get of the entire line. From this low vantage point, the subtle slopes and contours become much more obvious than they do when you're standing tall.

What does the behind-the-hole view show you?

After you've had a look from the side, walk past the hole and look back at your ball. This reverse view is incredibly valuable for two reasons. First, it confirms what you saw from the side. Second, it's the view your ball will have for the last few feet of its journey, which is when it will be travelling the slowest and breaking the most. This perspective is crucial for seeing how the ball will behave right around the cup.

How do your feet help you feel the slope?

Your body's ability to sense balance is an amazing tool. When you take your stance over the ball, pay attention to the feeling in your feet. Can you feel more pressure on your right foot or your left? If you feel more weight on your left foot, the ground is sloping down to the right, and the putt will break to the right. Trust what your feet are telling you; they often pick up on subtle slopes your eyes might miss.

Why pick a precise apex point?

Now that you've gathered all the clues, it's time to make a decision. The biggest mistake amateurs make is aiming vaguely "outside the hole." This is not precise enough.

You need to pick a specific intermediate target at the "apex" of the putt-the highest point of the curve. It could be an old ball mark, a different coloured blade of grass, or even a spot on the fringe. Your only goal now is to start the ball rolling over that spot with the right speed. By simplifying your aim to a target just a few feet in front of you, you make the task much less daunting.

Reading greens is a skill that improves with practice. The more you follow a consistent routine, the more you'll start to see the subtle breaks. Stop guessing and start investigating. You'll be surprised at how many more putts you can make.

Need help pairing the read with execution? Pushes and Pulls: How to Stop Wasting Strokes on the Green keeps the putter face honest, and 100% of short putts don't go in shows how to roll every read with confident pace.

What are the quick questions golfers keep asking?

Q: Why start reading before you even reach the green?
A: The general slope is easier to see from the fairway or fringe. By the time you're over the putt you already know the big picture.

Q: How do your feet help when vision lies to you?
A: Walk the putt and feel the tilt under your soles. If the toes feel higher than the heels you know it's uphill even if your eyes disagree.