100 Best Teacher Brian Manzella shared a helpful green reading terminology chart on X.
X: @brianmanzella
For beginners – and even experienced players – green reading is one of the most challenging parts of the game. there are many ways to approach itlike imagining which way a bucket of water would go if thrown over your putt, or paying attention to the direction of grass growth. But when it comes time to verbalize your shooting intentions (or perhaps accept direction from a playing partner or caddy), things can get messy quickly.
Common driving terminology such as “left edge” “right center” and “a cup out” may sound straightforward in theory, but what do they actually do? average? If you read a putt as breaking a cup to the right, are you anticipating going over it? medium of that imaginary cup, or at the outer edge?
Ensuring agreement on that topic is essential if you’re planning to discuss a break with someone in your group or take advice from a caddy. Many players have a different idea of ​​what it means to drive a cup or a ball left or right – an interesting debate that my colleague Alan Bastable discussed in detail here.
However, for those who are not sure where they stand and need guidance on the matter, Top 100 GOLF Teacher Brian Manzella recently shared his take on the matter at X with a helpful labeled illustration.
Manzella’s chart shows what it looks like to “split the edge” and aim for “center left” and “inside right edge.” It also shows how the width of the ball compares to the width of the holes. One hole is roughly equal to two and a half balls.
One point of differentiation in Manzella’s approach from other common green-reading approaches is the use of the center of the cup at the point of aim as opposed to the outer edge. But according to Manzella, since we’re trying to shoot in the center of the cup, using the center of an imaginary cup as the aiming point makes more sense.
“If the reading was ‘one cup left, left edge’ or ‘left edge of one cup left,’ that would be one thing,” Manzella told Bastable last year. “But ‘a cup left’ is something else.”
While the definitions of how to aim a cup or a ball left or right may vary in meaning from player to player, one thing is certain: it’s wise to get on the same page with your partner before giving – or receiving – any. green reading tips.
