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What is a break in golf?

Curved path a putt takes due to green slope, grain, and other factors that cause the ball to deviate from a straight line to the hole.

Definition

The curved path a putt takes due to green slope, grain, and other factors that cause the ball to deviate from a straight line to the hole. Reading break is one of the most crucial putting skills, requiring observation, experience, and understanding of green conditions. Understanding break helps golfers improve their putting accuracy and lower their scores through better green reading. Professional golfers spend considerable time analyzing break patterns and developing consistent green reading techniques. Break reading involves multiple factors including slope, grain, speed, and weather conditions.