This document provides tips for reading greens when putting. It recommends looking at the slope and grass grain from multiple angles to determine the speed and break of the putt. Pay attention to how other putts roll on the same line as yours to accurately read difficult greens. Ask your caddie for help if unsure of the putt.

1. 1. Line up your putt while your partners are lining up theirs. Look at the slope of the green and the grain of the grass. READING THE GREEN

2. 2. Look at the putt from behind the hole. Pace off the distance from the hole to the ball to give you an idea of how hard to stroke. READING THE GREEN

3. 3. Look at the putt from behind the ball, looking toward the hole. If the grain looks shiny or silvery, the grass is growing away from you, so the putt will be faster than normal. READING THE GREEN

4. 4. If the grain of the grass looks dull, it is growing towards you and will slow down your putt. Grass generally grows towards the west. READING THE GREEN

5. 5. Read the slope of the green from ahead, behind, and below the path of the putt. READING THE GREEN

6. 6. Remember that the green generally slopes away from a mountain or hill – even if looks flat. READING THE GREEN

7. 7. Watch your partner’s putts. Is the green fast or slow? Does it have a break that you did not expect? Pay particular attention to putt that is on the same line as yours. READING THE GREEN

8. 8. If you’re unsure of the break on a short putt, hit the ball reasonable hard to the center of the hole. This will reduce the break that is increased with a slower putt. READING THE GREEN

9. 9. Always ask the help of your caddie if you have difficulty reading the green. READING THE GREEN