Guest Columnist: Brett Wilkinson

Extra work on reading greens should pay off in more made putts

We all tend to have trouble reading greens from time to time, especially when we play on a new golf course. Here are some great ideas I suggest to my students to promote reading the break and slope of greens:

• After you hit your approach shot to green, keep your eyes on the lay of the putting green. This will give you a sense of the tilt to the green, both around the hole and away from it.

• Always look at your putts first from behind the ball, and then if you want a clearer image take a look at your putt from behind the hole.

• Most players tend to miss breaking putts on the low side of the hole – usually on mid to long distance putts. This should tell you that you are not playing enough break for your putt. If there is ever a question, play a little more break.

• More often than not, the first impression of how much a putt will break is your best indication of how the ball will roll – trust your first read!

• The distance and line of every putt are related, so start visualizing the ball rolling towards the hole while trying to pick out the apex of where the putt will initially start its break toward the hole. So, make sure you are aiming your putter head at your target if you see some break – not the hole!

• Once you have committed to your intended line of putt, focus on your distance control. If the pace on your ball is too aggressive, you will strike the putt too strongly and putt right through your line. Conversely, strike it too softly, and you will miss the putt on the low side of the hole.

• If you want better distance control, get your putting fundamentals sound. Players with poor distance control tend to strike the ball toward the toe and/or the heel. Players with good distance control strike the ball solidly in the center of the putter head. When you strike the ball more solidly with the putter head, you have a better idea of how far it will roll.

Key things to remember when putting:
• Keep in mind, it doesn’t matter what caliber of a player you are because you’re going to need to use your putter for close to 40% of your strokes.

• If you want to shave some strokes off your scores, the best place to start is with improving your putting.

• Work on not focusing on the putts you have missed – focus on the putts you’ve made and have a positive attitude with putter in hand. If you’re negative with your putting thought process, improve it so you can become a better putter!

• The best putters make better strokes because their putting routine is consistent and they are confident!

• Do not get caught up in the speed of most of your putts – putt to make them.

Brett Wilkinson is the PGA Director of Instruction at GolfTEC in Bellevue. He can be reached at 425.454.7956 or at bwilkinson@golftec.com.