How to Read a Green and Hole More Putts - GOLFTEC Singapore

Of all the skills in golf, putting is where the greatest gains are available to recreational players. Most amateur golfers three-putt far more than they realise, and the biggest reason is not technique - it is poor green reading. Learning to read greens properly is one of the quickest ways to lower your score.

Start From Behind the Ball

Always begin your read from behind the ball, looking down the line to the hole. Get low - crouch down - to better see the slope. Look for the general direction of the break before you look at specifics.

Check the Low Side

Walk to the low side of the putt - the side the ball will break toward - and look back at the hole. The slope is often more apparent from this angle. Many experienced golfers consider the low-side read the most important view.

Find the Apex

Every breaking putt has an apex - the highest point of the break, after which the ball turns toward the hole. You are not aiming at the hole; you are aiming at the apex and letting gravity do the rest. Finding that apex point is the key skill in green reading.

Pace Kills More Putts Than Line

Most amateur golfers miss putts because of pace, not because of bad line-reading. A putt hit with the right pace on a slightly wrong line will often still find the hole. A putt hit with the wrong pace almost never will.

Book a session at GOLFTEC Singapore and let's work on building a consistent green-reading routine for your game.