Putting · Technique

Read long putts in increments, work back from hole

For long putts on greens with swales, the coach reads the green in increments rather than as one putt - a 40-foot putt becomes four little putts within the putt (first 10 feet, second 10 feet, third, and what happens at the end). He says he sometimes starts at the hole and works back: decide where you want the ball to enter the hole given what's going on around it, then move back and figure out where to putt the first half to reach that entry spot so it goes down the slope.