Conquering Complex Greens: A Deep Dive into Understanding Green Contours

Did you ever consider that your putting issue could be the greens themselves? Many golfers focus on the putting stroke and forget the impact of the green contours. If you don’t know how to analyze the slope or plan your approach shot appropriately, you may be setting yourself up for a three-putt each time. Let’s take a look at how to conquer complex greens and understand green contours to help lower your scores.

Know Before You Get To The Green

Your approach shots could be leaving you in a bad position. As you approach a green, you have to look at how it slopes. The key is to set yourself up with a birdie putt, not make it difficult to make a par.

One of the best ways to analyze green contours from the fairway is to look at any slope you can see from your vantage point. Some greens have very obvious high and low points.

However, the easiest way to analyze the green before you approach it is to use the Approach View feature of the GolfLogix app. You’ll get a color coded map showing you the best possible location to leave your approach shot if you want to make your next putt.

Analyzing The Slope

Once on the green, you want to make sure you walk around your entire putt. It is not enough to look at the putt from one location without analyzing it from the other side. When you walk around the putt, not only should you be visually checking for slope, but it’s important to feel it in your feet as well.

As you move away from the ball, are you going uphill, downhill, or to the side?

Confirm what you have discovered using the GolfLogix Green Countours feature. By analyzing your putt first and then using the GolfLogix features, you will practice your green reading ability and ensure you make more putts.

Mastering Uphill and Downhill Putts

When warming up before a round of golf, it’s smart to practice both uphill and downhill putts.

The uphill putts are easier to make than downhill putts. As long as you get the ball to the hole and stay stable and consistent with your stroke you’ll make the putt.

For downhill putts, you will need to choose the correct line. You can’t force these into the hole, as the ball could roll an additional 10 feet away if you miss.

Learn how to play both of these, and make sure that when you line up to hit an approach shot, you leave yourself as many straight uphill putts as possible.

Technology and Tools for Green Analysis

Learing to read the slope of the greens is not easy. To become better at this process use green analysis tools like the GolfLogix app. You’ll notice that the combination of data and information you get will increase your awareness and make you are a better golfer.

Most amateur players are unaware of the impacts that this type of information will have on their game.

Start from the fairway by analyzing the contours and how it impacts your approach. As you get closer to the green, rely on this data to pinpoint the exact shots you need.

Learning From The Professionals

Professional golfers are great at conquering complex greens. However, they have spent their lives practicing the process.

Learn by watching the professionals and how they approach slope when green reading. In addition, spend some extra time in your practice routine just practicing your green reading. Use the GolfLogix Putt Line technology to confirm the exact line of a putt after you have read it.

Investing some time into this area of your golf game will profoundly impact the number of putts you take each round.

Final Thoughts

There is no avoiding the complex greens in golf. Great courses have these greens in place to make the game more interesting and enjoyable. However, you will have to learn how to read these green contours and adjust your putting line and stroke accordingly. The better you get at conquering complex greens, the easier it is to roll down those 15-foot birdie putts. Try to remember that, like anything else in golf, analyzing green contours is a learned skill that takes practice.