Your Action Plan

What: Your goal is to learn how to visually identify the direction of the grass grain on the putting green to adjust your line and speed.

Why: The grain of the grass affects the ball in two ways: it will break more toward the direction the grass is growing, and it will roll faster with the grain and slower against it.

How:

• Inspect the Cup: When you walk up to the hole, look for the “burned out” or discolored side of the cup.
• Identify the Direction: The burned out side is where the grass is growing away from the hole. The side where the grass appears to be “over the top” of the cup is where the grass is growing toward the hole.
• Adjust Your Putt:
  • With the Grain: If you are putting in the direction the grass is growing, the putt will be faster.
  • Against the Grain: If you are putting against the direction the grass is growing, the putt will be slower and will tend to break more toward the direction of the grain.