A long-distance putt doesn’t demand strategy in the way of a tight drive or an approach over water, but you can still increase your chances of success by taking a series of tactical considerations into account. Use these five thoughts to help you make an accurate read…

1. BE AWARE OF WIND
   It’s so easy to think that it’s only balls hit up into the air that are at the mercy of the wind. In fact a ball rolling across a green is also susceptible to its effects, especially on high, exposed putting surfaces. Successfully allowing for the effects of wind is a question of experience, but your quickest way to gain wind savvy is to make yourself aware of it, make a judgment to allow for it and then assess how successful you were- an ongoing learning process.
   
2. WET FEET?
   When we are trying to gauge speed we tend to look at slopes and grass length… but moisture and dampness play an influential role, too, and this can vary from green to green. Check the situation of the green; wind-exposed or elevated surfaces will tend to be drier and faster, while punchbowl, shadowy surfaces will retain moisture and be slower. As you walk from the hole to your ball, use your feet to confirm your reading of the green’s firmness and moisture content.
   
3. READ FROM THE LOW SIDE
   As part of your assessment of the putt, take your read of the up and down slopes from the low side of the line. On this putt, which breaks from left to right, the best reading position would be from the right side of the green as we look. Take your read from a position far enough back to allow you to see both the ball and hole. That gives you one, whole picture of the putt, helping you form an accurate picture.
   
4. MAKE A CLEAR GOAL
   Be decisive on how aggressive you are going to be. For one thing, pace determines line so a lag will need a different read and start line to a more aggressive putt. But also, consider the second putt. If a more aggressive approach could leave an awkward downhiller coming back, a lag can make more sense; If your putt is downhill, a more purposeful mindset will help stop you leaving it well short and leaving a tough, slippery one.
   
5. HUNT HIGH AND LOW
   If the slopes on the green are not obvious to you, look around its fringes. Very often you will be able to identify a higher and a lower side. Take this further to pick out the highest and lowest points of the apron. This will help give you a general notion of the lie of the land, and how it falls. Armed with this wider context, look at the putt again; those subtle breaks will start to reveal themselves.