Why Do Some Players Read Their Golf Putts With A Plumb Bob Method (Video) - by Pete Styles
Why Do Some Players Read Their Golf Putts With A Plumb Bob Method (Video) - by Pete Styles

How can you improve your putting on two tiered golf greens? So initially we need to look at what is a two tiered golf greens basically two separate levels possibly separated by quite a big severe slope. So that severe slope is often called the Mackenzie green after Allister Mackenzie golf course designer who originally actually laid out Augusta National. You’ll see on Augusta National quite a few greens with big slopes and then big tiers, and probably the ninth green most famous example. Big tier at the back, big sloppy Mackenzie slope, and then another tier at the bottom.

Now if we imagine that you’ve got yourself onto the wrong tier how do you then read that green, how do you putt well from the wrong tier? Firstly you have to understand you’re in a difficult position and the ideal – the ideal scenario here would be taking two putts, first putt close second putt in. The chance of actually making that putting one go is pretty slim depending on the severity of the slope. The best way to actually read the green is actually to break it into three parts. The first part would be what will a putter do on my relative flat section before it gets to the slope. The second section is how will the slope affect the putt and then then the third section is what will it do when it’s on the next flat section towards the hole. And if I can read those three sections this will be relatively flat, then there’s the big slope, then it’s relatively flat again. And actually spend a bit of time really walking the length of the putt, feeling with your feet, looking with your eyes how would the ball react now how will it react now how will it react at the end. Well obviously the tier being uphill or downhill will greatly affect the line but also the speed. So if it’s downhill I just need to get the putt to the top of the slope then it will race down the hill and then it work its way to the hole. Now you can see I gesticulate quite a lot with my hands when I am talking but I also do that when I am reading greens. I can have imagined the flow of the water over the surface and how the water would react because I know my ball will react in the same fashion. So when you are on these two tiered greens understand you’re in a difficult situation you no longer try to make the putt you are just trying to take two putts. Understand that you’ve got to break that putt into three sections flat, slope, flat. Walk the length of the putt feel it with your feet imagine it with your hands and your eyes then go ahead and commit to make a really solid putt understanding the speed and the line are both vitally important to putt well on two tiered greens. 2014-10-09

How can you improve your putting on two tiered golf greens? So initially we need to look at what is a two tiered golf greens basically two separate levels possibly separated by quite a big severe slope. So that severe slope is often called the Mackenzie green after Allister Mackenzie golf course designer who originally actually laid out Augusta National. You’ll see on Augusta National quite a few greens with big slopes and then big tiers, and probably the ninth green most famous example. Big tier at the back, big sloppy Mackenzie slope, and then another tier at the bottom.

Now if we imagine that you’ve got yourself onto the wrong tier how do you then read that green, how do you putt well from the wrong tier? Firstly you have to understand you’re in a difficult position and the ideal – the ideal scenario here would be taking two putts, first putt close second putt in. The chance of actually making that putting one go is pretty slim depending on the severity of the slope. The best way to actually read the green is actually to break it into three parts.

The first part would be what will a putter do on my relative flat section before it gets to the slope. The second section is how will the slope affect the putt and then then the third section is what will it do when it’s on the next flat section towards the hole. And if I can read those three sections this will be relatively flat, then there’s the big slope, then it’s relatively flat again. And actually spend a bit of time really walking the length of the putt, feeling with your feet, looking with your eyes how would the ball react now how will it react now how will it react at the end.

Well obviously the tier being uphill or downhill will greatly affect the line but also the speed. So if it’s downhill I just need to get the putt to the top of the slope then it will race down the hill and then it work its way to the hole. Now you can see I gesticulate quite a lot with my hands when I am talking but I also do that when I am reading greens. I can have imagined the flow of the water over the surface and how the water would react because I know my ball will react in the same fashion. So when you are on these two tiered greens understand you’re in a difficult situation you no longer try to make the putt you are just trying to take two putts.

Understand that you’ve got to break that putt into three sections flat, slope, flat. Walk the length of the putt feel it with your feet imagine it with your hands and your eyes then go ahead and commit to make a really solid putt understanding the speed and the line are both vitally important to putt well on two tiered greens.