Hey golfers, stop missing your putts! An easy guide to reading the grain of the green. This information originally appeared on our blog at http://benchcraftcompany.com/ What does ‘grain’ and ‘break’ of a green mean? When golfers talk about the grain of a green they are referring to the texture the grass makes by the direction it’s leaning. The break is the direction the green will try and pull your golf ball. Break is mostly influenced by the grain and topography of the green. For example, if you’re putting on a completely flat green and hit it perfectly straight (ha!) and the green has a grain that pulls your golf ball to the right, your ball will go right. That section of the green would be known as ‘breaking to the right’. To compensate for this break, an experienced golfer would hit his ball a little to the left. What affects the grain of a green? The main thing affecting the grain is the direction the grass has been cut. Most golf courses trim their greens from a different direction every day to keep the grain even. If the golf course cuts their grass in one direction every day it will start to grow in a distinct pattern, leaning to the side and pulling golf balls in that direction. Sometimes grass is groomed to intentionally lay the grain in a certain direction. This might be done to make a green more challenging or to assist golfers on a trickier shots. The grain of the green is also affected by the position of the sun in the sky. Blades of grass will reach towards the sun as it moves across the sky, so the grain might vary slightly throughout the day. Also keep an eye out for nearby water sources like ponds or creeks; the grain will usually run towards water. Tip number 1: Analyze the grain analyze Walk in a circle around the green until the grass behind your ball appears to be slightly lighter; you are now looking in the direction of the grain. When the grass looks darker you’re looking against the grain. Putting with the grain means your ball will roll 25-30% faster. Putting against the grain will move your ball slower. Tip number 2: Get a new perspective Never hit the ball before you view your putt from the other side of the hole. The ball moves so fast when you first hit it that the grain doesn’t have a chance to ‘grab’ it and pull it off course. The last 2/3 of your putt closest to the hole is what you really need to pay attention to. By viewing your putt from the other side of the hole you’ll get a clearer idea of what those last few feet of the green look like. Tip number 3: Trust yourself Take a quick look around, use your best judgement, and let your subconscious and muscle memory guide your swing. Trust that you will see all that needs to be seen. Have confidence in your decision by the time you hit the golf ball. Don’t spend too much time over-analyzing your putting line or you’ll start to see things that don’t exist.

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Theeasyguide toreadingthegrainofagreen

2. the Grainis the texture made by blades of grass
pointing in a specific direction.

3. combine with the grain to create ‘breaks’
which can pull your ball off course.
ELEVATION CHANGES

4. But if you could goBut if you could go
ahead and pretendahead and pretend
grain is thegrain is the
only factoronly factor
right now,right now,
But if you could go
ahead and pretend
grain is the
only factor
right now,
That’dbegreat.That’dbegreat.That’dbegreat.

5. imagineYou’re putting on a perfectly flat surface.

6. Your ball
the hole
This is
and this is

7. In a perfect world you could
hit it straight...

8. and the ball would go in.
In a perfect world you could
hit it straight...

9. But if the grain is pulling the ball right...

10. But if the grain is pulling the ball right...
your putt will break right.

11. So, how do you figure out which way
THEGRAINISPOINTING?

12. Walk in a circle
around your ball
until the grass
looks lighter.

13. You’re looking in the
direction of the grain.

14. When it’s darker
you’re looking
against the grain.

15. Your ball moves
25% fasterputting with the grain,

16. 25% slowerputting against the grain,

17. and it’s more likely to
swervewhen you’re putting
across the grain.

18. from the blades of grass
pushing against your ball.
friction
This happens because of the

19. At first your ball moves too fast
for the grain to catch it.

20. Which means the grain effects
the last 1/3 of your putt the most
because your ball slows down.
At first your ball moves too fast
for the grain to catch it.

21. This is why you should
always view your putt from
both sides of the hole
so you can get a clear view
of the last few feet of your putt.

22. otherfactorsto consider when looking at the grain.

23. Most courses mow their greens in
a different direction every time
to minimize the grain.

24. Most courses mow their greens in
a different direction every time
to minimize the grain.
A strong grain might be
purposefully laid to change the
difficulty of the hole.

25. Because the blades of grass move
to point towards the sun.
the grain changes
throughout the day

26. The grain also tends to point to
like ponds and creeks.
water sources

27. improve your short game
We hope this information helps you
next time you play!