Bryson DeChambeau’s 1 simple green-reading trick you should use

Bryson’s green-reading trick

There are tons of different methods for reading greens, but according to DeChambeau, the most important factor is learning where the straight putts are.

“In classical times, there were things called the ‘zero-break line,’” DeChambeau says. “Those defined the straight putts.”

For a visual, imagine there is a sloped roof with a hole cut in the center of it. If you stand directly above or below the hole, the putt will be perfectly straight. This is the zero-break line.

“That is called a planar slope,” DeChambeau says. “You look at a roof, that’s what slope is. You look at a green, same thing.”

Another way to identify where a perfectly straight putt comes from is by looking at how the grain grows around the hole. As DeChambeau explains, grain likes to grow downhill, so if you look at the hole and see one edge more worn out than the other, it is likely on the downhill side of the cup.

“The most important thing is to identify the upper section of the hole and the lower section of the hole,” he says. “Those are going to define where the straight putts are.”

Once you’ve located where the straight putts come from, it becomes a heck of a lot easier to read the greens. Next time you step on the putting surface, find the zero-break line and then operate from there. You’ll be amazed how much easier green-reading becomes.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.