WHAT TIME?

I get a lot of questions about how to "read" a green. By that, I mean when you have a putt which way will the terrain between the ball and the hole make the ball move. It would either break right or left and in some cases it can do both. The first step is to imagine you have a large barrel full of water and you get behind the ball in line with the hole. Now pour that water towards the hole. Where will the water go? This is really how all greens are built - to get water off the green as fast as possible. When it rains you don't water standing on the green it needs to drain off the green. Those humps, dips and hills are not there to drive you crazy. They are there to get water off of the green.

After you have determined which way the water is moving you can now get more specific on how much you will need to aim to the right of left of the hole. Now you want to use the hole and turn it into a clock face. Take four tees a place them around a hole. Like the photo shows, one at 12:00, one at 3:00, one at 6:00 and one at 9:00 o'clock. Walk about 15 feet behind your ball and kneel down. Look at the hole and decide what "time" would the ball go into the hole. If the putt was straight it would go into the hole at 6:00 o'clock. I don't know many putts that would go into 12:00 o'clock but you will get the idea. So let's say I think the putt is going to break to the left. I decide it will go into the hole at 4:00 o'clock. I will walk from the hole back to my ball. I will then find the high point or apex of the break.

This is where I think the ball will start turning towards the hole. This will be my aiming point. I will make two rehearsle strokes that will role the ball the proper distance. This an important part of the putt because distance control is the most important elements in putting. All putts would be straight if you hit the ball hard enough. Now I have a point to aim at. This is all you can do it putting. Remember the amount you play the ball right or left is just a guess. Now some golfer's guess better than others but it is only a guess. Once you have made your "guess" commit to that and don't charge your mind once you get over the ball. It make look different once you get over the ball, but the best way to see any break would be from behind the ball, in line with the hole. Make you stroke at your aiming point and roll the ball the correct distance. You might be pleasantly surprised how much your putting will improve.

Brad Redding
PGA Master Professional in Instruction
Director of Instruction
The Resort Club at Grande Dunes