The Golfer’s Guide to Grain: Putting, Chipping, Pitching

Don’t let grain ruin your golf game! Today, I’ll help you understand how grain impacts your short game to save shots and play with confidence. 

One of the many reasons golf is such an exciting game is that sheer number of golf courses. Unlike football, basketball, or baseball, the venues change frequently and you can play all over the world.

There are close to 40,000 golf courses worldwide. Some of these courses don’t have grain, while a ton of them do. Bermuda grass has a lot more grain than bent grass, and certain types of grass are more prominent in different areas of the world. 

Learn more about the different types of grass here.  

The Golfer’s Guide to Grain

Key Takeaways

• Grain is another factor to consider when playing golf on certain types of courses. 
• Putting down grain or into the grain will change the speed of the putt and needs to be factored into when reading greens.
• Chipping and pitching are also affected by grain and need to play the right wedges/bounce (or a “Texas wedge”) to make solid contact.

Keep reading to learn more about how grain will impact your short game and the best strategies to deal with it. 

Grain in Golf – Why It Matters

First off, what is grain, why does it matter? Is it something that amateurs need to focus on, or just professional golfers? 

Grain matters because it impacts the roll of a putt, how a club glides through the grass (or gets stuck in the ground) and can dramatically impact your short game. As Golf com said, “Grain is the tendency of grass to grow to one side or another rather than upright. 

Not all types are the same in this regard. Grain is more prevalent in lateral-growing varieties, such as bentgrass and Bermuda, but less so in vertical growers, such as poa annua and fine fescue, which can have little to no grain.”

If the grass is growing into the direction of your golf club, it’s into the grain. If it’s growing the other direction, it’s down grain.

The same Golf.com article noted that other factors influence grain such as water, fertilizer, shade, or sunlight. That’s why some greens on certain courses might have more grain than others. Which is why this is such a challenge for everyday golfers.

Most players already struggle with green speed, even if the greens are fast or slow throughout the round. But factor in grain, and it’s a lot to consider when you’re around the green. 

The Impact of Grain on Your Game

There are two main considerations on how grain impacts your short game – with the grain or against the grain. 

When you’re chipping or putting into the grain, the grain will slow the ball down. When you’re putting or chipping with the grain, it speeds up everything. 

The weather on that particular day plays a role as well. If it’s wet conditions, the grain isn’t as big of a factor as the blades of grass lay flatter, thus impacting your ball less. While hot, dry conditions can make grain a much bigger factor. 

Let’s get into the specifics on how grain impacts each shot, so you can be as prepared as possible. 

Putting with Grain

Putting is where you will notice the impact of grain the most on the golf course, as the ball is on the grass the entire time. This is where it’s very important to have a consistent green reading routine so you can easily understand the grain. 

After marking your ball, start by reading the green like normal. Then, ask yourself what the grain is doing… is it down grain, cross, or into it? 

The easiest way to determine this is looking at the color of grass. If the grass is shiny, this means it’s down grain, while putts that are into the grain are darker. Try to also observe the direction in which the blades of grass are pointing.

Additionally, make sure to check the cup, as the edge of the hole can tell you a lot. 

If the edge is rougher on one side, that is typically the direction the grain is growing and can factor in for your putt. Also, you can always run your hand over the grass, as a smoother surface means with the grain and a rougher one means against it. 

Slope vs. Grain 

You might wonder, does slope or grain impact a putt more? Ultimately, both play a crucial role in the putt and depend on the type of grain, amount of slope, and other factors.

The slope of the green determines the overall direction of the putt and if it’s downhill, flat or an uphill putt. The grain will impact the speed and slightly impact the direction of the putt too. 

When reading greens with grain, always start by assessing the slope first and foremost (just like a green without grain). Then, factor in the grain to determine how it will impact the speed and direction of the putt. 

Here is a cheat sheet for how grain will impact the putt.

Slope and Grain Direction	Impact on Putt
Downhill and down grain	Very fast putt – use a softer touch
Downhill and into the grain	Grain will grab the putt and slow it down slightly
Flat and cross-grain	Putt will break more when grain is present
Uphill and down grain	The putt won’t be as slow since it’s going with the grain
Uphill and into the grain	Very slow putt – hit it with more speed

Learn more about putting on fast greens and slow greens next. 

Practicing With Grain 

If you don’t putt with grain at your normal golf course, this is a big adjustment. Prior to the round, make sure to get there plenty early so you don’t rush your warm-up routine. Make sure to spend a lot of extra time on the putting green and some on the chipping green too. 

On the putting green, hit different putts relative to the grain to get comfortable reading greens. Hit short putts (4–5 feet) from different directions to see how it impacts the speed and break of the putt. 

Then head over to the chipping green and use the tips in the next sections to improve your short game skills. 

Chipping with Grain

Next up is learning how grain will impact your chipping. 

Chipping is nearly as complicated as putting because a chip should hit a few feet on the green and roll like a putt. Thus, more time on the grass means more of an impact by the grain/grass. Plus, you have to worry about how the lie of the chip shot is impacted by the grain as well. 

Start by assessing the lie, slope, and how the ball will react when it hits the green. If you aren’t sure how the grass will impact the club gliding through the turf, take a few practice swings next to the ball. Pretty easily, you can figure out if you’re chipping into it or down grain based on the divot. 

Here’s how… 

Chipping Into the Grain 

If the club is getting stuck and feels like you’re fighting the grass, you’re chipping into the grain. When this happens, it’s easy to stub a chip and only hit it a few feet (even skilled golfers). 

Chipping into the grain is a daunting task for all types of golfers and easy to feel like the club will 

get stuck in the ground. This is where you need to adjust a few things so you make better contact and don’t stub the chip shot. 

The Golf Paradigm on YouTube had a great video to share how to chip into the grain.  

• Address the chip shot so you’re closer and more upright to the ball. 
• This allows you to raise your hands and the handle of the club. Make sure to close the face because it will open as you stand closer and raise the handle of the club. 
• Then make your normal chipping motion to get the same type of shot you normally would if there wasn’t grain.

You might also consider using a gap or pitching wedge, as they don’t tend to get stuck in the grass like a lob or sand wedge. Or, if you really struggle with this shot, don’t be afraid to putt from off the green too. 

As they say, “A bad putt is always better than a bad chip.”  

Pitching with Grain 

Pitching – a higher shot than a chip – is also affected by grain. Start by taking some practice swings next to the ball to determine if it’s into the grain or down grain.

Just like with chipping, if the club is getting stuck, that means you’re into the grain. If the club is gliding through it, that means you’re down grain. 

Loft is not your friend with pitching into the grain – don’t grab your lob-wedge like normal. Instead, dial back to a GW or SW, as less loft will glide through the grass easier. 

Also, when pitching into the grain and from rough, you will need to add more speed as the grass is growing against you. When pitching against the grain, you can chip like normal but might need to change your landing spot as the putt might be down grain too.

While it’s important to evaluate the grass for the pitch shot, don’t forget to walk up to the pin to evaluate the green too. This way you can determine if you’re landing on a down slope, up slope, and grain. 

FAQs About Grain

Do you have more questions about dealing with grain? If so, keep reading through the most frequently asked questions and answers now. 

How do you read the grain on a golf cup?

Look at the edges to determine which side is rougher. The rough edge is the direction the grass is growing and can help you determine if you’re putting into, cross-grain, or down grain. 

What causes grain on a putting green? 

Grain is caused by the type of grass used on the green. Some grass has minimal grain and won’t impact your putt or chip, while others have a lot more. If you’re playing a golf course with grain, make sure to get there early to warm up and learn how it impacts your short game. 

How do you tell if a putt is against the grain?

Look at the overall coloring on the green. If it’s shiny, you’re putting or chipping down grain it’ll be faster. If it’s darker colors, you’re chipping or putting into the grain and it’ll be slower. 

Can caddies help with reading grain?

Yes, caddies can help read grain and understand how it impacts each green if they’ve been caddying for a while. If you’re playing a bucket list course that is known to have a lot of grain, it’s worth it to get a caddie for extra course knowledge. Or, at least a forecaddie who can also provide a little extra help on the greens. 

My Experience 

Grain makes a hard game even harder, which is why it’s so crucial to practice chips before taking them to the course. One of my biggest mistakes in my career was not understanding how grain impacts the shot and then making the necessary adjustments.

If you’re playing a golf course with grain, make sure it’s always part of your green reading routine. Knowing the slope isn’t enough as the grain will impact the roll of the putt as well.

Additionally, grain is such a big factor when it comes to chipping and pitching. Make sure to take several practice swings next to the ball so you can determine if you’re into the grain or down grain. Then make the setup adjustments and/or change clubs to make clean contact and not stub the shot.

Lastly, don’t be afraid of putting from the fringe or light rough. It’s a lot easier than chipping and can help eliminate bad chips that lead to blow up holes. 

Final Thoughts 

Hopefully, you have a better understanding on how to deal with grain on the golf course. 

To recap, grain doesn’t impact long game shots, but something to consider on and around the greens. Additionally, make sure to:

• Always read the slope of the green first, then factor in how the grain will affect the putt. 
• Putts and chips that are into the grain will be slower, while shots with the grain will be faster. 
• When chipping into the grain, consider putting or using a wedge with less bounce, so the club doesn’t get stuck. 

What’s your best tip for dealing with grain?

Let us know in the comments below.