LONGER PUTTS & READING GREENS: TAKING THE NEXT STEP
As you get more comfortable, you’ll love learning to “read” greens even better and make those wonderful “lag putts” – which are long putts designed to get the ball close to the hole, even if it doesn’t go in. This will truly make your whole game shine! I. Types of Putts You’ll See Greens offer a fun variety of challenges. Generally, you’ll find five main types of putts: • Uphill: The hole is higher than your ball. • Downhill: The hole is lower than your ball. • Left-to-Right Curve: The green slopes, making the ball gently curve from left to right (for right-handed putters). • Right-to-Left Curve: The green slopes, making the ball curve from right to left (for right-handed putters). • The Occasional Straight Putt: These are a lovely little bonus when you find one! II. How to Read Your Surroundings • Look Around You: Always take a moment to look beyond just the straight line to the hole. Check the surrounding area of the green – can you spot a “high side” on either side of the hole compared to your ball? This helps you guess how much the ball will curve or “break” as it rolls. • Uphill vs. Downhill: It’s super important to figure out if the hole is higher or lower than your ball. • Uphill Putts: These will need a little more power and a firmer, more confident stroke to make sure the ball reaches the hole. • Downhill Putts: These will need less power. Your main focus here is on very gentle distance control, so you
don’t roll too far past the hole. Gravity is quite strong on these!
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