Tips for putting bermuda greens

laseranimal · June 11, 2007

I'm a huge fan of bent grass greens as thats pretty much all I see in NY/NE

so every year when I go down south my putting suffers major league, any tips to help me?

ddd908 · June 11, 2007

I would say grain is the biggest factor in bermuda greens. Once you take that into account on your reads, take your normal stroke and you'll be fine.

paulyb · June 11, 2007

If the grass looks dark green you are putting into the grain. If it looks lighter green and shiny you are with the grain. To avoid the putt that just misses near the hole check out what the grain is doing there. One side of the hole will have a sharp look to the grass and the other side will look a little chewed up. The grain goes toward the chewed up side. Compensate for that and you will give your putts more of a chance.

rufus mangler · June 11, 2007

Coming off bent, the best advice I could give is to hit it solid. No stabbing at it because they're a little slower than what you're used to. Just pick your line and stroke it.

Bermuda greens, especially the newer strains, are not as mysterious as everybody thinks. They're just greens.

SadTrombone · June 12, 2007

rufus nailed it. I tend to be a better putter on bermuda since I'm an agressive putter. Hit it solid and committ to the line and you'll be fine.

-mini

laseranimal · June 13, 2007

rufus nailed it. I tend to be a better putter on bermuda since I'm an agressive putter. Hit it solid and committ to the line and you'll be fine.

-mini

that in a sense is where my problem is, I have trouble picking the line due to the grain, then don't commit, hit it and hope, three jack, repeat.

thats if I don't manage to wind up in the greenside rough, thats my other problem. Any quick suggestions? It seems like when I go after it I catch it really clean and blow it over the green, if I throttle back I only advance it 2 feet. I found I had better results when I slightly opened the blade and played a semi explosion shot, but still can't get the feel for how to play shots around the green properly.

In any event thanks for the help guys. I'm going to try to stay more aggressive this year by not stepping in until I'm committed to my line, make a good stroke and really try to hold my finish knowing that if I do all of that I've done all I can the rest is up to the golf gods