Putting · Lesson
Read Putts in Thirds and Play More Break
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, reading greens. Build a program with it
Most amateurs under-read break. Their putts miss on the low side. Try splitting each putt into thirds. Picture a curved path from ball to hole. Check how it bends in each third. Play more break than feels natural. Check the curve again from the side. And change how you judge yourself. If you read it well, started it on line, hit it solidly and had good speed, it was a good putt. Even if it didn't drop.
Step by step
- Picture a curved path from behind the ball.
- Check each third of the putt.
- Play more break than feels natural.
- Recheck from the side.
- Judge putts on read, line, strike and speed.
Why it works
A putt slows as it travels, and a slower ball is pushed off line more by the slope. The last third is where the ball is slowest, so the slope has the most effect there. Reading each third separately helps you see where the break builds, and playing more break keeps the ball on the high side, where it can still fall into the hole.
Common mistakes
- You read only the area around the hole and ignore the first two thirds.Walk the line in your mind from ball to hole and note the slope in each third before you decide on one curve.
- You say you will play more break but then aim at the same spot as before.Pick a specific aim point on the high side of the hole and line up the putter face to it before you set your feet.
- You judge the putt only by whether it dropped.After each putt, score the read, the start line, the strike and the speed, and keep the result separate.
How you'll know it's working
- Your missed putts finish on the high side of the hole more often than the low side.
- The ball starts on your chosen line and rolls end over end with a centered strike.
- Your read from behind the ball matches what you see when you recheck from the side.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a short putt with an obvious slope and mark your aim point with a tee or coin before you stroke it.
Harder: Use longer putts with a slope that changes between thirds, and decide your line and aim point before you walk to the side to recheck.
Common questions
Why do most amateur golfers miss putts on the low side?
They tend to under-read the break, so they aim too straight. The ball then drifts below the hole as it slows down.
How do you read a putt with more than one slope?
Split the putt into thirds and judge the slope in each one. Then picture a single curved path that fits all three, and aim at a point on the high side.
