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Putting Putter Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Céline Boutier's Long Putts: Reading Slope and Speed

Faced with a putt of around 50 feet (15 m), how should you approach it? In this guided round with the ffgolf, Céline Boutier explains how she reads it: she studies the whole putt from several angles, then sets her pace with practice strokes while looking at the hole.

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Céline Boutier
Céline Boutier · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

20 minSame problemLearning to Putt: From Grip to Speed ControlPaige Spiranac · Beginner4 minSame problemNelly Korda's Left-Hand-Low Putting: Interlocked GripNelly Korda · Beginner / Intermediate2 minFrom the same proCéline Boutier's pitching wedge chip: the rolling shotCéline Boutier · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Céline Boutier starts by looking at the whole putt, section by section, to see whether it goes uphill or downhill: that tells her how hard to hit it. On this putt of around 50 feet (15 m), the start is slightly uphill, which slows the ball down. She then goes to look from the other side: near the hole, the slope breaks from left to right, then the green flattens out again at the end. From this she works out her line.

She describes herself as very visual. Before hitting the ball, she looks intently at where she wants to send it, and took a few practice swings while looking at the hole, to adjust her speed control. Once she's positioned in front of the ball, her focus remains over the distance, and not at an intermediate point.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Scan the entire putting green with your eyes before taking your stance.
  2. Identify the uphill and downhill sections to estimate the intensity.
  3. Take a look at the putt from the other side to gauge the slope near the hole.
  4. Choose your line from this reading.
  5. Take a few practice swings while looking at the hole to get a feel for the speed control.
  6. Stand in front of the ball and focus on the distance.

Key Takeaways

Watch the entire putt, step by step.
Uphill or downhill: that's what determines the intensity.
Go check out the putt on the other side to gauge the slope near the hole.
Test shots while looking at the hole to adjust the speed control.
When facing the ball, focus on the distance.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Read a long putt from one side only.
  • Focus only on the line and forget about going up or down.
  • Take a few practice swings without looking at the hole.
  • Focus on your technique rather than the distance once you're facing the ball.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Long putts assessed from several angles before taking the shot
  2. Practice swings while looking at the hole, then a putt played with the same feel
  3. Uphill and then downhill putts to feel the difference in intensity

Your Questions

How does Céline Boutier read a long putt?

She examines the entire putt, section by section, to see if it slopes up or down. She also looks at it from the other side to gauge the slope near the hole.

How does it adjust the speed control?

She takes a few practice swings while looking at the hole. She describes herself as very visual and focuses intently on where she wants the ball to go before taking her swing.

What does she focus on when she's facing the ball?

On the distance. She replies that once she’s in position, her focus remains on the distance rather than on an intermediate point.

Learn More

All “Putting” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Learning to Putt: From Grip to Speed ControlAll the basics of putting in order: grip, stance, eye focus, arcing stroke, reading the green from four angles, the “one potato, two potato” tempo, and two exercises for controlling the stroke. Tommy Fleetwood's Short Game: Chip, Bunker, and Long PuttThree of Fleetwood's pre-shot routines around the green: the “lofted putt” chip, the bunker shot aimed at an impact mark, and the long putt read from the low side. Nelly Korda's Left-Hand-Low Putting: Interlocked GripNelly Korda putts left hand low, fingers interlocked, so she moves the putter with her chest rather than her hands, especially under pressure. Céline BoutierAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Céline Boutier). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros