Golf tip of the week: Refrain from over-reading the putting greens

PHOTO PROVIDED
A good tip for longer putts is to imagine a circle around the hole and try to lag the ball inside the circle.

Most weekend golfers spend too much time scrutinizing the greens when putting. But here’s a simple yet effective tip: your first look is usually correct. When reading a green, focus on two key factors: Correct distance or accuracy. In most cases, either will give you an excellent chance to two-putt.

It takes a lot of expertise to read a green correctly, so stick to the first look theory, paying attention to the slope of the green. When putting downhill, imagine the hole is closer to you, and when putting uphill, imagine the hole is farther away from you.

Don’t forget to enjoy this great game called golf.

Rick Musselman, golf author and professional, owns Musselman’s Golf in Williamsport.