Hey all!

For this post, I wanted to share some tips on reading the green with putting! This time I used two different resources, One being a YouTube video and the other a short podcast from Spotify! Wondering why I titled “The Algorithm is Here”, find out below!

Let’s back things up first! Reading the green is used to help a golfer understand / predict where your ball is going to go on the green based on slopes, angles, and even which going with or against the grain of the grass! This is something most people from beginners to pros think is the most crucial part of golf. But is reading the green really something you need to be really good at? well… good news! the answer is NO! You do NOT have to be really good at reading the greens to be a good golfer. What a relief! I will say, being able to have an idea of where your ball is going to go is usually helpful in the game of golf! Here’s what I learned on this weeks on reading the greens!

As it was a late evening, I was on my phone listening to music on Spotify. I went to search for a new song, and as I was typing the search bar auto populated a search recommendation called “golf tips”. I think I panicked and dropped my phone on the floor because never have I ever seen anything in my search on Spotify that was golf related! Now I know I have been searching lots on golf and talking about to friends and family! So why not Spotify! I went ahead and listened to the podcast called “Reading The Green” by GolfTipsForBeginners. Here’s what I learned from the 3 minute clip on Spotify on tips for reading the green!

Putting against the grain- If grass is a light shade, you are putting against the grain, the blades of grass are pointing toward you.

Putting with the grain-If grass is dark, you are putting with the grain, the blades of grass are pointing away from you.

Look for the setting sun! Grain often grows towards the setting sun.

One of the more common things that was talked about is looking for slopes on the green, putting uphill will take more swing power, while putting downhill will take less swing power.

Another trick for reading the green is based on feeling with your feet! yes, you read that right! If you feel the ground is soft the green, it is likely to be a slower green that might take more swing power, while if it is a hard ground, it might be a faster green and take less swing power. Another thing to keep in mind is if the ground is wet or dry as this will change ball speed!

Now listening only did so much for me, I needed to see more on reading greens! Which is where I found a great video by Brad Faxon and his take on reading greens! Here’s the LINK if you’d like to watch how Brad reads greens! This is what I took from Brad:

1.) Reading the green can happen 25-30 yards out from the green looking for slopes

2.) Walk around the green looking at grain, not just from behind your ball

3.) Be aware of playing partners

4.) Instinct and visualization, based on feel and seeing your putt through

5.) ROUTINE!!

The most helpful tip is #5! Make your routine and stick with it! building consistency through routine will build your confidence when you have the putter in your hand!

Stay tuned for more!

This week I wanted to focus on my tempo when I am putting!

Tempo is how long your swing takes from the moment you pull the club into the backswing then follow through. I often wondered if there is a certain tempo you should use when you are putting. So I decided to get to work and start trying different tempo speeds. I tried many different speeds from slow to fast and really found that it didn’t really make to much of a difference for me other then it just felt uncomfortable!

I went golfing the other day on a course to try and put some things I learned into action. I think it was a good idea not keeping score that day because I wasn’t playing good and especially struggling with putting. As I was trying different tempos, I was starting to get frustrated because it seemed everything I tried wasn’t working. I went home and started to look up some videos and found a great trick to keep in mind when thinking about putting tempo.

Izidor Marik is a golf teacher at a golf course in the states and helps makes tutorial videos on YouTube with the account Rhythmic Golf. I would recommend checking their channel as they have some great videos on everything golf related to help you and your golf game!

I was intrigued when I was scrolling their channel and found a putting video that was titled “How To Find Your Perfect Putting Tempo By Using A Metronome”. Growing up playing piano, Metronome is something used in music to keep the tempo of a song. I NEVER would have thought it could be used to help me with putting. There was only one issue! I don’t have a metronome anymore! Ohhh but the internet is a wonderful place! You can actually just google metronome on and it has one for you!

So did it work?? well not exactly as I thought. No, I didn’t just use the metronome and my putting got better. I will say it did make me feel more in control. What I did learn, was that putting tempo is really a personal preference. I used the video as a guide and found what was comfortable for me!

Tempo is just a piece of the putting puzzle! Stayed tuned for more to come!

Lets get Started!!!

I was thinking of where to start in this putting process because I already have a basic understanding of putting. I thought it would benefit me if I went back to the basics! My first resource is a YouTube channel called Top Speed Golf by Clay Ballard. The one I picked to watch is one of his golf lesson videos called Putting Basics.

During this video, Clay breaks down an introduction of putting covering the basic information to get someone started. The video highlights and details four key components for putting which are grip, stance, ball position and stroke mechanics, and tips for a smooth stroke.

1.) GRIP: How to hold the putter

Convectional Grip– Used by most golfers

Left Hand Low– Opposite to the convectional grip by place left hand low on the grip

The Claw– A grip that can takeaway common faults in many golfers, the claw allows for the left wrist to be locked, while the right holds for control.

I tried some different grips on the putter and realized that the “Claw” and “convectional grip” work best and gives a feeling of control and stability.

2.) STANCE: How far apart you keep your feet

Wide Stance- Is okay, but can tend to lose rhythm when putting

Normal Stance- (like talking to someone) or just inside shoulder width apart.

One thing I’ve noticed, is that your stance can be in many different forms as long as its comfortable and works for you. I went with a normal stance which was comfortable and worked for me.

3 & 4.) BALL POSTISION AND STROKE MECHANICS: Where to have your ball placed between your feet and the mechanics of your upper body when swinging the putter.

Ball Position– have ball centered in the middle so if you drew a line back, it it would end up in the middle between your feet. This helps with the ball rolling end over end which is what pro golfers do to create the best roll of their ball. One of the keys of ball position, is having your eyes above the ball, not behind, in front, off to the side but above the ball. In the video, Clay gives an example of how you can tell if your eyes are in the right position by taking a object (ball, tee, etc) from your eyes and dropping down. If your eyes are in the right spot, the object should land right on top or in the target line of the ball.

Stroke Mechanics- Many golfers including myself have heard of the “pendulum” or “grandfather clock” mechanic of putting. During the video, Clay mentions this is totally fine to use this method..BUT!!!! There are little adjustments you can make so you are getting that end over end roll. I had a learning moment during this part of the video!! The video mentions how when pulling back the putter, you want it closer to the ground..compared to when following through, the club is coming up. This allows for the ball to get a better roll.

Overall this is a great resource and helped remember some key tips and tricks when putting. Even though I had some understanding of putting before, I still had some learning moments such as where your eyes need to be over the ball when putting. I had some challenges this week because I strained my neck and wasn’t able to grab my putter other then to try some grips!

Hey all!

I was all over the map with debating what I was going to do! It started with a garden then guitar and many other ideas! I have always loved to golf even though I struggle often when I golf! There is no better time to get better then right now! I am going to be improving my putting skills hopefully! For me, it is usually a guessing game when I putt, just get on the green and hit. I’ll be looking at things like form, pace, and reading greens which will hopefully improve my putting!