Putting - Judging Speed and Break

Only practice and experience can improve this part of your game. Keep the following fundamentals in mind when judging your putts or chips. Grain: The term 'grain' is simply the direction in which the grass grows. This can be determined by looking for the 'shine' or 'sheen' of the putting surface. When the green reflects the sun and appears brighter, you are looking down grain. Putts down grain, or with the grain, will run faster. Another method of determining grain is to stroke your putter in the fringe just off the putting surface. Fringe grass usually has the same grain as the green. Contour: When walking to the green, study the general slope of the land. Most greens on flat courses are built higher at the back and lower to the front. When putting from the front of such greens, the putt will be uphill; from the back, downhilll. Any putt across such a green will usually break toward the front lower portion of the surface.

Putts with the grain run faster. Grain with the cross-slope, putts break more. Grain against the cross-slope, putts break less.
Putts against the grain run slower. Downhill, with the grain, putts run faster and break less. Uphill, against the grain, putts run slower and break more.
Always study the slope of the green as you walk to it. Often the grass growing on the fringe will
indicate the direction the grain is growing.