Double-Breaking Putt
Also known as: double breaking putt, double-breaking putt, double breaker, double break putt, fall line, fall line on a green, putt that breaks both ways
To read a double-breaking putt, split it into two parts. Read the break near the hole first, because the ball is slowest there and breaks most. Then work back to find a start line that sends the ball into that last curve.
A double breaker curves one way, then the other. It happens when the putt crosses two slopes, such as over a ridge or through a swale.
Start at the hole. Find the fall line, the line water would run straight down the slope through the hole. A putt along it goes straight. Other putts break downhill, toward the low side of that line. Decide where the ball must enter the last slope to finish in the hole.
Then read the first part of the putt. Choose a start line that delivers the ball to that entry point at the right speed. Speed matters even more than usual, because a firmer putt takes less of both breaks.
Tips by skill level
Walk to the low side of the putt and look at the last third. Most of the break happens there.
Use your feet to feel the slope at the hole and halfway. Pick an entry point for the last slope, then aim to roll the ball over it.
Example
Her putt goes over a ridge and breaks left, then right. She reads the last few feet first, picks the point where the ball must cross the ridge, and lags it close.
Why it matters
Double breakers cause many three-putts. Reading them backward from the hole gives you one clear plan instead of two guesses.
Common mistakes
- Reading only the first break
- Treating both breaks as equal
- Hitting it so firm that neither break works
- Ignoring the fall line near the hole
Frequently asked questions
What is the fall line on a green?
The fall line is the path water would take straight down the slope through the hole. A putt along it has no break. Putts from either side break downhill toward the low side of that line.
Which break matters more on a double breaker?
Usually the one near the hole. The ball is slowest there, so the slope has more effect. Pick your start line to set up that last curve.
Related terms
- Reading BreakReading break is predicting how much, and which way, a putt will curve based on slope. It is a separate skill from the putting stroke: a well-struck putt on a misread line still misses.
- Green ReadingGreen reading is judging a green's slope, grain, and speed. The goal is to predict how much, and which way, a putt will curve from its starting line.
- Aim PointAim point reads greens by feel instead of by eye. The feet sense the slope percentage, and that number becomes a finger-count aim spot near the hole.
- Speed Control (Putting)Speed control is calibrating stroke length and tempo so a putt rolls the intended distance. It is widely considered the single most important putting skill.
- Lag PuttingLag putting is the deliberate strategy of putting distance control ahead of making a long putt. The aim is a short, stress-free second putt rather than an aggressive attack on the hole.
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