| I try to stay on top of the tips that various golf | | | | they've been adding additional information to |
| professionals provide through articles on green | | | | these greens maps - the break amount - which is |
| reading in the major golf publications and on the | | | | measured in degrees. A decade ago, Caddies |
| Internet. For the most part, these tips are useful, | | | | started using a hardware device called a "Smart |
| as they focus on the need to understand the | | | | Level" to give them a digital readout of break |
| break - the most critical aspect to sinking a putt. | | | | amount in degrees. Recently, far more convenient |
| All but the shortest putts will break to some | | | | (and accurate) green reading devices have been |
| degree. But these green reading tips are useful | | | | introduced into the golf market. These devices |
| only up to a point. Far too often, experts in the | | | | are essentially digital levels that measure and |
| game of golf identify the break only in terms of | | | | displays both aspects of the break (break |
| break direction, without regard to how the break's | | | | direction and break amount). |
| severity can affect the putt. By indicating break | | | | Most of the time, the break amount at any given |
| direction as the sole critical aspect of green | | | | point on the green is going to be anywhere from |
| reading, they are only providing half the story. | | | | 0.3 degrees (practically flat) to 1.5 degrees (gentle |
| Don't get me wrong, it is vitally important to | | | | slope), up to something like 4.5 degrees (wicked!). |
| identify the break direction (which is the downhill | | | | At anything over 5 degrees of slope, the ball |
| slope direction at any given point on the green). | | | | simply won't hold the green and will roll right off. |
| Golfers need to know the break direction in order | | | | But there is a lot of variation between the 1.5 |
| to identify which way gravity wants to take their | | | | degrees and 4.5 degrees that we see on the |
| golf ball (in other words, in which direction it is | | | | greens, and golfers need to understand how the |
| going to break). | | | | amount of break affects the roll of the ball. |
| To back up just a bit... what break are we talking | | | | To answer this question, we did something that |
| about? In order to understand the most basic | | | | very few people in the game had done up to that |
| concept of the break, golfers need to identify the | | | | point - we measured the slope on a number of |
| break at the hole. The break affects the ball most | | | | greens and charted how much a ball would break |
| as it approaches the hole. Why? Because for | | | | at various distances and degrees of slope. The |
| most of your putt, the stroke of your putter | | | | results astounded us. |
| determines the direction in which the ball will travel. | | | | For the following examples, we measured greens |
| But as the ball slows down as it approaches the | | | | as if we were putting straight across (meaning at |
| hole, the force of gravity kicks in, and gravity has | | | | 90 degrees to) the break direction (downhill |
| progressively more effect on the roll of your putt | | | | direction). In each instance, we used the Dave |
| as your putter stroke has progressively less | | | | Pelz "True Roller" (basically a calibrated ramp that |
| effect. That's why we see putts take those | | | | propels a golf ball a consistently repeatable |
| major turns as they slow down near the hole. If | | | | distance) to take the putter stroke out of the |
| we could just hit the hole at any speed, we | | | | equation. So we knew we were accurately |
| wouldn't have to account for the break. We could | | | | measuring distance and slope only. The |
| just aim straight at the hole and let 'er rip. But, of | | | | measurements were done on both Bermuda |
| course, that's not going to sink many putts. So, | | | | grass and bent grass greens. The numbers here |
| identifying the break at the hole is the first | | | | are averages between them. |
| concept you must contend with. | | | | For a simple 3 foot putt across a 1 degree slope, |
| Now, how do the experts suggest you identify | | | | you should expect to get 4-6 inches of break. |
| the break direction? Here are a few ways: | | | | When you take that same 1 degree slope out to |
| imagine throwing a bucket of water on the green | | | | 9 feet, you should expect to get 14-18 inches of |
| and then imagine how the water would run off | | | | break. That's a lot of break for what is |
| the green. This seems to make sense, because | | | | considered a fairly gentle slope. |
| greens must be designed for water to run off, | | | | But look what happens to that 3 foot putt at 3 |
| otherwise water would pool, making certain areas | | | | degrees of slope - you should expect 10-12 inches |
| unplayable. So the bucket of water concept is | | | | of break. That's a whole foot of break on a 3 |
| fairly useful if you can get visual cues as to which | | | | foot putt! The results are even more astounding |
| direction is downhill. | | | | when you carry that 3 degree slope out to 9 |
| But how do you do that? The experts also | | | | feet - a whopping 40-46 inches of break. Have |
| suggest you should walk around the green to get | | | | you ever allowed nearly 4 feet of break on a 9 |
| an idea of which direction is downhill. Or you | | | | foot putt? Well, have you ever sunk a heavily |
| should observe the apparent direction of the slope | | | | breaking 9 footer? But you do see the PGA Pros |
| as you walk up to the green from the fairway. | | | | do it all the time. That's because they understand |
| Well, this works if the break can be accurately | | | | the concept of break amount. |
| observed visually - meaning its direction is obvious | | | | So how do you become more familiar with the |
| and you are not being confused by surrounding | | | | breaks on the greens you play? Most golfers play |
| hills, swales, trees, etc. Most of the time, this isn't | | | | the same courses over and over. And usually, |
| so accurate. It's easy to be confused and read a | | | | because they're reading greens by eye or only |
| green as breaking one way when in fact it breaks | | | | accounting for break direction, they make the |
| in the opposite direction. The best way to be sure | | | | same mistakes over and over. And making |
| of the break direction is to measure the green | | | | mistakes in misreading the green costs strokes. |
| (more on that later). But even if you can | | | | Professional golfers can't make these kinds of |
| correctly identify the break direction, you're only | | | | mistakes. They know that understanding both |
| getting half the story. | | | | aspects of the break (break direction and break |
| Break amount, or the severity of slope, can | | | | amount) are critical to sinking putts. When |
| affect your putt just as much as break direction. | | | | thousands of dollars are riding on each putt, Tour |
| We've all seen greens that break a great deal, | | | | Pros don't want to be guessing the break. They |
| just as we've seen greens that hardly break at all. | | | | want to know for sure. |
| So far, the language that golfers have used to | | | | The only accurate way to understand both break |
| identify the severity of a green's break has been | | | | direction and break amount on the greens you |
| something like "subtle" or "wicked" - not exactly | | | | play is to measure them with a digital measuring |
| scientific designations. | | | | device, and then create a greens map that |
| Because putts and drives all count as strokes, | | | | accurately illustrates the break information. It is |
| Tour Pro Golfers and their Caddies understand | | | | perfectly legal to refer to such a greens map |
| the importance of identifying both of these critical | | | | during the game (this is what the Tour Pros and |
| aspects of the break - the break direction and | | | | Caddies do). By measuring and recording greens |
| the break amount - and compensating for them | | | | information, you are no longer playing like an |
| when they line up their putts. For years, Tour | | | | amateur, but like a pro. And if you're lining up your |
| Pros and Tour Caddies have marked greens | | | | putts with the same information as the pros |
| maps before tournaments with arrows to indicate | | | | have, what do you think that will do to your |
| the break direction. But in more recent years | | | | scores? |