Read the Area, Not Just the Line

Your Action Plan: Comparing Side to Side

What: When reading a putt, stop looking only at the tight line between the ball and the hole. Instead, look wider and compare the height of the turf on either side of that line.

Why: Looking at the broad area surrounding the putt makes the subtle grade or slope of the green much more obvious. Trying to see a break on a narrow line often fails because the elevation change is too gradual to perceive clearly.

How to Read the Area:

Simplicity: This method turns a difficult visual read into a simple comparison, immediately clarifying the direction of the break.

Look Wide: Compare the area approximately three or four feet to the right of your intended line versus three or four feet to the left.

Determine the High Side: Identify which side of the putt is visibly higher than the other.

Aim Accordingly: Once the higher side is identified, you know the ball will break away from that high side. Aim your putt toward the higher side to account for the break.