The two main types of grass used on putting greens are Bent and Bermuda. There are other various blends of these grasses such as Penncross, Penneagle, L90, and Seaside. Bermuda greens are found in the southern part of the US where climate is warmer. Bent greens are typically seen in the northern part of the US where temps are cooler.
There are substantial differences between these two putting surfaces which can have an effect on the putting stroke.
The primary characteristic of Bent grass is the ability to mow the greens quite short. The shorter it is mowed the faster the greens become, consequently, Bent greens make pitching, chipping, and putting far more difficult. Additionally, Bent greens are usually truer then Bermuda greens, for that reason, a putt usually does what you expect it to.
On the contrary, Bermuda grass is a thicker blade than bent grass. Even if Bermuda greens are mowed shorter, because the blades are thicker, they are not nearly as swift as bent greens. Also, Bermuda greens are more grainy then Bent greens.
What in fact is grain? The grain is the direction which the grass grows on the green. Bent grass is a more vertical growing grass. On the other hand, Bermuda grass grows more horizontal along the ground. Bermuda greens affect the role of the golf ball more than Bent grass. Both Bermuda and Bent greens grow in the direction of the setting sun, a body of water, or the main drainage flow of the hole.
Reading greens is in fact an art. To do so properly, you need to know how much grain is on a green. Check out what type of grass a golf course has before you play. Additionally, determine where the sun sets and what the general drainage direction is on the golf course. Understanding this information will provide you with a excellent idea as to how the ball is going to break.
Yet another critical factor in reading a putt properly is the color of the grass. If you are putting into shiny grass, it means you are putting with the grain. If you are putting into dull grass you will be putting into the grain. Also, check around the cup. The hole is cut in the early morning and will have crisp edges. As the day progresses, the edge of the cup that is worn will be the direction the grain is growing.
Keep in mind, if the grain is growing into you, a putt will be slower. If the grain is growing away from you, a putt will be faster. Grain growing to the left will make a putt break left, and grain growing to the right will make a putt break right.
Make sure you work on a few putting drills and hit a few putts prior to the round. This will help you get a feel for the speed and grain of the greens.
