Struggling to read long shots? Follow these 3 steps

If you find yourself losing strokes around the greenplacement is often the culprit. Three- and four-putts add up quickly, so minimizing damage to the greens is an easy way to quickly improve your scores. One way to strengthen your placement performance is to focus on improving late submission.

Think of it this way: If you can cut your three shot percentage by half or even a third every round you play, that’s a lot of shots saved over time. Improving your distance control and reading the green on long shots will ultimately result in shorter, more accessible putts—and, ultimately, lower scores.

So how can you train yourself to approach those long shots late to set yourself up for success? GOLF Top 100 Teachers Trillium Rose has a three-step method.

In a video posted on Titleist’s YouTube pageRose explains this setting a routine for reading the putter is essential. Below are the steps she suggests you take with any shooting spree you face.

How to read a long putt

1. Stay behind the ball

Rose suggests standing behind the ball so the ball and cup are in line in front of you.

“From here,” she says, “what you’re doing is you’re asking yourself, ‘If I were to direct the ball into the cup, would it roll right or left or maybe straight?’ what to do.”

If figuring out the direction of the spin proves difficult, Rose suggests finding the high point and low point of the green, which will give you the answer.

2. Imagine hitting a fairway putt

Anticipating what would happen if you hit a putt is helpful because it will help you imagine how far that ball will travel left or right. It is also important to focus on the last few feet leading up to the hole.

“What’s it going to do in the last five or 10 feet of that putt as it starts to slow down?” Rose says. “That’s usually when the ball responds most to the break.”

3. Select a starting line

With these factors in mind, Rose recommends choosing a baseline that includes the vacation you’re anticipating.

“When I’m setting up in this shot put, all I’m going to focus on is my starting line and making sure I get it right,” she says. “One last look at the cup so I have a sense of distance and I’m ready to go.”

Try Rose’s advice during your next training session or round and see how your latency improves over time. To watch a video of Rose’s advice in its entirety, click here.

Editor of Golf.com

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural women’s varsity player class, Jessica can blow away anyone in the masthead. She can also drive them in the office, where she is primarily responsible for producing print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her series The original interview, “A Round With,” debuted in November 2015 and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.