Avoid over reading putts

John Jacobs has some tips on green reading to help you pick the correct line more often and hole more putts.

avoid over reading greens
(Image credit: Tom Miles)

John Jacobs has some tips on green reading to help you pick the correct line more often and avoid over reading putts.

Avoid over reading putts

Often your first choice when selecting the line of a putt will be the correct one. Problems tend to arise when players begin to doubt themselves, and they fail to commit to the putt as a result.

The best way to pick the right line is to walk around the putt and inspect it. Try to find the lowest point on the green and pay particular attention to the breaks from there.

My coach growing up once told me that when it comes to green reading, you should compare looking at a putt to buying a car. By this he meant that you wouldn’t buy a car without inspecting it first.

Read more top putting tips

Think of this when putting and take a good look before selecting the line. Quite often, putts are straighter than people think and you shouldn’t be afraid to commit if you think the putt is straight.

Once you’ve picked the line, be sure to stay committed, address the putter head on that intended line and then set your feet. This article on putting technique should help.

From here you will be able to make a confident and committed stroke with any doubts removed from your mind.

Key green reading tips

  • Trust your instincts. Often your first choice when selecting the line will be the correct one.
  • Problems arise when you start to second guess yourself. This then results in an uncommitted stroke being made.
  • Walk around the putt and examine it from every angle. This will give you the best chance of picking the correct line.
  • Imagine where water would run to poured onto the surface of the green.
  • Try and find the lowest point on the green and pay close attention to the breaks from there.
  • Putts are often straighten than you think.
  • Don't be afraid to commit to hitting the putt with little break if thats what your instints tell you.
Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.