How much Will Grain inside the Golf Green Shape your Putt

Frequently we listen to golf commentators speak about reading the grain within the golf green, as well as the impact it will have over certain putts. Years ago it was something that had been rather an important facet of putting, however for various reasons it's a smaller variable. During this piece we will investigate the amount of importance we should put into this idea of "grain" in the golf green.

First, actually what will be grain that greens allegedly have? Grain is the direction that grass will grow. While the cut of grass with golf greens is extremely short, grain shows up and sometimes directs a putt in the way which grass grows. So how substantial will it be really? As it turns out on greens of today for the most part it's an overstated aspect to consider.

During the 50s and 60s it was to be sure something to take into consideration, but greens were significantly different at this point. Golf greens were commonly cut higher, and obviously that gave that grass a chance to grow for a longer time and more than that flatten out to some extent. Furthermore if grass is mowed higher it will have a tendency to lay in the direction of that cut.

During the 1970s these factors began to change. Superior varieties of grass were being genetically designed, not simply to be more resilient but to get the grain out of grass on the putting surface. That together with different mowing patterns and aeration on a more consistent basis all enables us to break up that grain. Therefore if you putt over the bent grass greens of the north as well as many of the Bermuda grasses while in the south, grain is not a thing to be considered.

But there continue to be a number of golf greens within the south which have the old-time Bermuda grass that will exhibit some grain. But there are numerous players in the south, and particularly in Florida. Therefore if you do experience these golf courses, at least until eventually their greens have been modified, you could encounter grain. Therefore here are some things you ought to know about grain.

First, they'll grow in the direction of water or in the direction with the sun. Water is simple enough to spot, but of course the sun moves. Accordingly should you play later in the day it could have a bigger effect with late day sun. When it's sunny you'll find it not too difficult to pick up its path. It will appear dull when growing toward you and also shiny away from you.

It will be a bit more difficult on a cloudy day. I will not recommend the "dragging your putter" strategy, because it is illegal. You can often pick up grain by looking downwards on the grass. Probably the best way would be to examine the grass along at the cup. The side whereby the grass grows in the direction of the hole will be the against the grain side.

Finding out the severity of the effect on a rolling putt is hard to state. There will be an effect, and even a bit may well determine whether a putt is made or missed. Local knowledge will no doubt have a lot to do with the way you use reading the grain to help you.