How to Read a Green and Hole More Putts - GOLFTEC Hong Kong

Green reading is not a mystery - it is a process. GOLFTEC Hong Kong coaches break down a simple routine for reading putts that will cut strokes from your score.

Matt Chalmers
Advanced Fellow PGA Professional & Director of Education, GolfTec SEA
Last Updated:
September 18, 2026
Table of Contents:

Of all the skills in golf, putting is where the greatest gains are available to recreational players. Most amateur golfers three-putt far more than they realise, and the biggest reason is not technique - it is poor green reading. Given how much each round costs in Hong Kong, making the most of your time on the green is essential.

Start From Behind the Ball

Always begin your read from behind the ball, looking down the line to the hole. Get low - crouch down - to better see the slope.

Check the Low Side

Walk to the low side of the putt and look back at the hole. The slope is often more apparent from this angle and most experienced players consider this the most important view.

Find the Apex

Every breaking putt has an apex - the highest point, after which the ball turns toward the hole. You are aiming at the apex, not the hole. Finding that point is the key skill in green reading.

Pace Kills More Putts Than Line

Most amateur golfers miss putts because of pace, not line. A putt hit with the right pace on a slightly wrong line will often find the hole. A putt with wrong pace almost never will.

Book a session at GOLFTEC Hong Kong and let's work on building a consistent green-reading routine for your game.

Matt Chalmers
Matt is a member of the British PGA who joined the GOLFTEC Singapore team in July 2017. He began his coaching career in Guernsey in 2008 and has since held roles in Abu Dhabi, China and Bahrain. Notable achievements include gaining a distinction in a MSc in Sport Coaching from the University of Birmingham and being upgraded to Advanced Fellow PGA Professional status

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