Dear Gareth,
The Eyeline Green Reader at $24.95 is fine, and there are other similar products. One that is about the same is the one for $12.95 from Clyde Melancon (
Golf Just Like the Pros). For more money ($79.95), there is the digital green reader from
Exelys, that shows both uphill direction as well as slope percent.
If you want to make your own green reader, get a wide jar cap and a marble or ball bearing. When you set the jar cap down on the green, the marble will roll to the exact bottom, and a line from there thru the center of the cal will show you the fall line. If you draw a line thru the center of the inside of the cap from side to side and then use the marble, and align the line with the marble at the bottom, the line inside the cap is then the same as the fall line. Or instead of a jar cap you can use a bigger pie plate.
You will want to take readings only from likely pin positions. These will be on identifiable "lobes" or other "pinnable areas" and will also be indicated by "old hole plugs" where old holes used to be. You might also want to chart the fall lines at a few places on certain tiers to make sure you know how balls will break running up or down these tiers.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Coach and Theorist
PuttingZone.com
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