Putting · Tip
How to Putt on Slow Greens
Part of our putting programs for reading greens. Build a program with it
Slow greens aren't just fast greens that roll less. They need a stronger roll, and the ball curves less. So be bold. A putt with pace that clips the lip can fall. A dying one won't. Play less break than you think, maybe a quarter less. Still respect big slopes. Make a longer, smoother stroke. Let the length make the pace, not a jab with your hands. And above all, get it to the hole.
Step by step
- Roll it firmly.
- Play about a quarter less break.
- Lengthen your backstroke.
- Let the stroke make the pace.
- Never leave it short.
Why it works
On slow greens, grass and friction take speed off the ball sooner, so you need more stroke length to reach the hole. A ball with more pace holds its line longer and is less affected by the slope. A ball that is dying at the hole falls off line sooner, so extra pace also means less break to play. A longer, smoother stroke gives that pace without an added hand jab that would put the face off line.
Common mistakes
- You play the same break you would on a fast green.Read the putt, then aim about a quarter less break, and still respect big slopes.
- You keep the stroke short and hit at the ball with your hands to add pace.Lengthen your backstroke and let the length of the stroke make the speed.
- You are careful about pace and leave putts short of the hole.Pick a target a little past the hole and roll the ball firmly so it reaches the cup.
How you'll know it's working
- Your misses finish past the hole, not short of it.
- The ball holds a straighter line than you expected and breaks less near the hole.
- Your stroke feels longer and smoother, with no sudden jab at impact.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a flat, straight 10-foot putt and focus only on a longer backstroke and rolling the ball past the hole.
Harder: Practice breaking putts of different lengths and try to hold the same smooth tempo while using less break and firmer pace.
Common questions
Do putts break less on slow greens?
Yes, usually. A ball hit with more pace stays on line longer and the slope has less time to move it, so you can play a bit less break.
How hard should you hit putts on slow greens?
Hit them firmly enough that a miss would finish past the hole. Get the pace from a longer, smoother stroke, not from a hit with your hands.
