What are Pros Looking at when Reading Putts from the Side? + Don't Sleep on New Mexico Golf

TIPS & DRILLS
How the Pros Read Greens Using Color Changes
2023 Open Championship Winner Brian Harman explains

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To Recap…

Reading a green is part science and part feel. Even when you have the exact right line though, you need to take speed into account. And color changes in the green can have a major impact on how a putt rolls out. If you’ve ever wondered what the pros are doing when they’re staring at putts from the side, listen up:

-PART 1: After assessing your line between the ball and the hole, walk all the way around the putt and observe any color changes in the grass, paying special attention as you look at the putt from the sides.
-PART 2: If the grass looks shiny, it is laying away from you and that section of the putt will be quicker. If the color you observe is green, the grass is growing toward you, which will make that section of the putt slower.
-PART 3: Similarly, if a section of the putt looks green (especially as you get closer to the hole where the putt loses speed), it will break more in the direction of the growth of the green grass.

NOTE: Putts on Bermuda grass greens are going to be far more affected by color changes than on Bent grass greens. Be sure you know what type of greens you’re playing on before teeing off!

COURSES
Don’t sleep on New Mexico Golf
The home state of Nancy Lopez & Walter White knows golf

Paako Ridge Golf Club
Sandia Park, NM

How about this head-scratcher? You can play gorgeous desert golf on a lush course at 6,500 feet above sea level surrounded by an incredible mountain landscape. If that piques your interest, Paako Ridge Golf Club needs to be on your list. Just outside of Albuquerque, NM, the course has made Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Public Courses” list every year since 2003 (currently #55), and it’s currently rated the 2nd best course in the state. With three 9-hole layouts to choose from, your round always feels different.

Fun fact: The 7th hole of the first nine (a 496-yard par 4) is labeled “the Field House,” and has the same shape and dimensions as Augusta National’s 10th hole.

There may not be a better value in a 500 mile radius. The course is only open from May. 1st-October 20th, so jump on those tee times.

Rates: $225 for 18 holes + cart

Check out this jawdropper from @evan_schiller_photography

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STATISTICS
Stat of the Day: What’s easier? Longer Uphill Putts vs. Shorter Downhill Putts
presented by…

The Stat: Some players prefer a slightly longer uphill putt (over a shorter downhill one) because they can be more aggressive and hit the putt firmly, but that preference does NOT equate to a higher make rate.

The Takeaway: Perhaps it’s best to illustrate this with an example: for the average golfer, an uphill putt from 6 feet has a LOWER make rate than a downhill putt from 5 feet.

In tandem, if you’re trying to leave yourself with an uphill putt when chipping, your chips will end up further from the hole (on average), which naturally has a LOWER make rate.

In other words, listen to Lou Stagner’s advice and ALWAYS take the closer putt, regardless of whether it’s uphill or downhill.

(Lou is a great follow on social if you want more stats than even we give you here.)

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a Kraken Limited Edition Masters Jacket x Tommy Fleetwood Ball Marker (1 of 89 ever made)
(1 winner chosen on 4/30/24 across all April trivia entries, 1,000 respondents minimum)

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