Callaway balls and Odyssey putters

Saw a video by Rick Shiels about the above. Callaway have introduced a “Triple Track” golf ball. Three alignment lines on the ball. Odyssey have brought out three new putters with the same three lines on the head. Supposed to help alignment. Two things: got to know the line, and then you have to hit it along the line. Also when you can’t move the ball the lines might do your head in as they are out of alignment.

Interesting, but for me, it's a sales gimmick. I hate the use of ball lines - slows play down and, for the majority, makes chuff all difference.

Also, even if you get the line right, and align markings correctly, still have to hit it at the correct pace.

I can usually hit a putt where I aimed, but reading the green is another matter. In fact does anyone know how to get good at reading greens because I really struggle with it?

Squatting behind the ball and looking at the hole gives you an indication of the break.  The closer you are to the ground the easier the break is to see.
How much break it takes depends on how much pace there is on the putt and the state of the green.
I have no idea what people are doing when they do "aimpoint" but reading a green isn't that difficult. It's easy to see where the break is, the hard part is matching the pace to it and compensating for the quality of the surface, speed, surface moisture etc.

By the way, you should also be reading the green when chipping too.

super_realist wrote:Squatting behind the ball and looking at the hole gives you an indication of the break.  The closer you are to the ground the easier the break is to see.
How much break it takes depends on how much pace there is on the putt and the state of the green.
I have no idea what people are doing when they do "aimpoint" but reading a green isn't that difficult. It's easy to see where the break is, the hard part is matching the pace to it and compensating for the quality of the surface, speed, surface moisture etc.

By the way, you should also be reading the green when chipping too.

That's always confused me as well. What the hell do they think they are doing?

If not putting first then watch your playing partners' putts closely, even if they're not on the same line. Will give an indication of the condition of the green, particuarly closer to the hole.

Agree re reading green when chipping. You want the same result from a chip as you would want from any decent length putt.

superflyweight wrote:

super_realist wrote:Squatting behind the ball and looking at the hole gives you an indication of the break.  The closer you are to the ground the easier the break is to see.
How much break it takes depends on how much pace there is on the putt and the state of the green.
I have no idea what people are doing when they do "aimpoint" but reading a green isn't that difficult. It's easy to see where the break is, the hard part is matching the pace to it and compensating for the quality of the surface, speed, surface moisture etc.

By the way, you should also be reading the green when chipping too.

That's always confused me as well. What the hell do they think they are doing?  

If not putting first then watch your playing partners' putts closely, even if they're not on the same line.  Will give an indication of the condition of the green, particuarly closer to the hole.  

Agree re reading green when chipping.  You want the same result from a chip as you would want from any decent length putt.  

Seem to recall Ballesteros being asked what on Earth he was doing once, when he was reading the green prior to a chip and he basically said "I'm aiming to hole it. Don't you do that?".

The vast majority of people I see simply walk up to their chip length shot and hit it. Absolutely no consideration at all. No wonder most golfers are terrible.

Super

You just mentioned the most basic aspects of green reading. I am obviously well beyond that stage.

What more do you want to know Mac? Putting is about touch and picking a line, not overly mechanical analytics.
If you can read the greens basically, what else do you want to know?
Every putt is straight. That's it. It's simple and if you try to over complicate it you just ruin it.

Used to occasionally play with a guy who hovered around scratch and he used to swear by also looking at the contours around the greens when playing a new course. His view was that they could give clues to potential break that might be hidden on a seemingly flat green.

I was never entirely convinced by it.

Super

We are talking that little bit extra, the fine margin, that would see me hole one or two more 4-10 footers per round. If that.

Mac, practice putting more.
Pros only make 50% of 8 foot putts, so it's a bit silly to look for a magic panacea. You can look at a green as long as you like, but you aren't going to see anything different materialise before your eyes.
Why not consider why you are missing these putts, not look for some magic which probably doesn't exist.

I am not looking for a magical panacea, as you know even a 0.5 shot a round improvement helps if you have a low handicap.

Exactly Mac, but I think the quickest route to being a better putter is to recognise why and where you are missing most frequently.
Another way to improve your score on the greens is to improve your game from 150 yards in, so that your putts are shorter and so that you are missing fewer greens.
Hitting more greens will improve your score more quickly than scrutinising a green for some sort of previously  unseen borrow.

I cant resist it, but try getting a low handicap first before trying to become Brad Faxon.

I have identified the problem, I am not great at very precisely reading greens.

McLaren wrote:I have identified the problem, I am not great at very precisely reading greens.

Do you think your inability to read greens precisely is holding back  your precise ability to putt a ball onto a target 3mm wide from 10 feet?

Of course it isn't. You just need to practice putting. Not looking for something which isn't there. You should be reading the effect of the roll of the ball, not trying to forensically examine the surface of a green and attempt to put a ball on that precise spot.. You won't be able to do it.

McLaren wrote:I have identified the problem, I am not great at very precisely reading greens.

Get glasses. Seriously though, I doubt you can't read greens. We aren't talking Bermuda grass here are we? The read is relatively easy; it's starting it online at the correct speed that's hard. Practice.