A 5-step process for reading breaking putts
A great stroke doesn’t matter if you're aimed in the wrong place. Use this basic step-by-step process to understand how to read the green, choose a line, and roll the ball with the right speed. — STEPHEN SWEENEY, BEST IN STATE TEACHER (FLORIDA)
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Walk the putt and sense the general direction of slope with your feet.
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Many golfers like to feel the break rather than relying only on their eyes.
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Most of the break happens on the final third of the putt—spend time there.
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Pick the exact spot where the ball should begin rolling after you hit it.
- Remember: The ball will fall off your start line fast on breaking putts.
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Commit to a specific starting target rather than a vague area.
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Set the face square to your chosen start line.
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Use a line on the ball or your putter shaft to double-check your aim.
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Pay attention: Make sure the face isn’t sneaking open or closed at address.
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Visualize both the start line, and how the ball will fall off of it.
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There isn’t one perfect line—firmer strokes curve less, softer strokes more.
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Picture a corridor of possible makes rather than obsessing over one thread.
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Remember line and speed work together; you need both to make these putts.
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Choose the break that best fits your confidence and feel for speed.
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Keep track of your start line: Did you mis-read the putt? Or-mis judge it?
