Putting on slow greens requires a different approach and touch compared to putting on faster greens. Slower greens can be a challenge to judge, but with the right techniques and adjustments, you can improve your putting performance. Here’s how to putt better on slow greens:
1. Adjust Your Stroke:
- On slower greens, the ball tends to lose speed more slowly. To counteract this, slightly lengthen your putting stroke to generate more momentum and maintain a consistent pace.
2. Maintain Smooth Tempo:
- A smooth and rhythmic tempo is crucial on slow greens. Avoid jerky or abrupt strokes that can cause the ball to stall or wobble off line.
3. Focus on Solid Contact:
- Striking the ball solidly with the center of the putter face is even more important on slow greens. A clean contact ensures the ball starts rolling smoothly.
4. Read Greens Carefully:
- Spend extra time reading the breaks and slopes on slow greens. Subtle slopes can have a larger impact on the ball’s path, so be attentive to the details.
5. Use More Aggressive Lines:
- On slow greens, the ball won’t break as much as it might on faster greens. Adjust your line accordingly, and consider aiming slightly more aggressively at the hole.
6. Practice Longer Putts:
- Work on your lag putting by practicing longer putts. This will help you develop a feel for the longer distances needed to reach the hole on slower greens.
7. Focus on Acceleration:
- On slow greens, it’s important to accelerate through impact to ensure the ball starts rolling quickly. Maintain a smooth acceleration through the entire stroke.
8. Visualize the Roll:
- Mentally picture the ball’s trajectory and roll as it moves toward the hole. This visualization can help you develop a better sense of pace.
9. Practice Distance Control:
- Spend time on the practice green working on your distance control. Focus on hitting putts to specific distances to develop a consistent feel for longer and shorter putts.
10. Experiment with Grip Pressure: – Adjust your grip pressure to find the right balance. Some golfers find that slightly firmer grip pressure helps generate better roll on slower greens.
11. Stay Positive: – Putting on slow greens can be frustrating, but maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. Embrace the challenge and see it as an opportunity to improve your skills.
12. Be Patient: – Putting on slow greens might require extra patience as you adjust to the pace. Stay committed to making solid strokes and trust your instincts.
Remember that practice is key to improving your putting on any type of green. Spend time practicing on slow greens to develop a better understanding of the speed and feel required to sink putts consistently. As you gain experience and adapt your technique, you’ll become more confident and effective at putting on a variety of green speeds.
What is Considered a Slow Green in Golf?
Golf course superintendents will measure the speed of the greens each day and adjust them as needed. For a green to be considered slow, it would need to show a slow speed rating on the stimpmeter, such as a score below 10.
A “stimpmeter” is a device used in golf to measure the speed or pace of a putting green’s surface. It’s specifically designed to provide a standardized way of quantifying how fast or slow the greens are on a golf course. The stimpmeter is an important tool for course maintenance and for ensuring consistent playing conditions.
The stimpmeter consists of a metal or plastic ramp with a notch at the end. The notch holds a golf ball in place until released. The device is placed on the green, and the ball is released from the notch. The distance the ball travels along the ramp before coming to a stop is measured to determine the green’s stimp reading.
The stimp reading represents the distance in feet that the ball rolls along the ramp. For example, if the ball rolls 10 feet before stopping, the green’s stimp reading is 10. The stimpmeter reading essentially indicates how fast or slow the ball will roll on that particular green under the conditions present at the time of measurement.
When we refer to “slow greens” or “fast greens” in golf, we are describing the pace at which the ball rolls on the putting surface. Slow greens refer to greens with a lower stimpmeter reading, where the ball doesn’t roll as far, and putts require more effort to reach the hole. Conversely, fast greens have a higher stimpmeter reading, resulting in a quicker roll and putts that require more delicate touch.
Stimpmeter readings are important for maintaining consistent green speeds across a golf course, especially in professional tournaments where precise green speeds are crucial for fair play. Course superintendents use stimpmeter readings to determine how much to mow the greens and adjust maintenance practices to achieve the desired green speed for the day’s play.