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Get Your Best Read on the Greens and Stick to It:

by Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.

Reading greens is probably the most important task you do before the actual stroke. What's equally as important is that you stick to your read and commit to that line when you address the ball to make a confident stroke. When you do get behind your ball and squat down to read your putt, make sure that your eyes are close to the green. You can see the undulations of the green better from that angle. And don't change your mind once you determine your line.

How often do you view your putt from behind the ball, address the ball, and then see a different line? After missing the putt you probably said, "Why did I change my mind? If I putted to my original spot, I would have made it."

 
The answer is simple. When you move from behind the ball to over the ball, your perception changes due to the changes in your visual angle. It's easy to see a different line because your eyes are no longer behind the ball on the putting line. Your eyes are now above the line. When you see two lines, this only creates self-doubt and indecision, which leads to tentative putting.

Great putters squat down behind the ball on the putting line to gain more reliable information. Viewing the putt with your eyes looking down the line (binocular vision) provides visual cues for accurate line detection and depth perception. This allows a player to see the undulations and breaks of the green more accurately than from the address position.

"Never hit a putt until you Have a good vision of the path on which it will roll."
-Greg Norman, PGA Tour

Behind the ball is the best viewing angle for making a decision on what the putt will do. You have to force yourself to keep a fresh image in mind as you move to address the ball. You must stay committed to your target and not give in to a less trustworthy look when over the ball. Doing these things helps you stroke the ball with more determination and confidence. You may not make them all, but it simplifies your putting and helps you reduce doubt.

Don't forget that line and speed are intertwined-You cannot separate one from the other. So use your imagination to feel or see the speed of the putt given the line you selected. I encourage my students to use this imagination to "rehearse" the path and speed of the putt to help them get a more accurate and detailed read.

Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with golfers of all levels including PGA and LPGA Tour players. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 400 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your golf potential: or call 888-742-7225.

 

 

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