| Practice these steps in order to reduce the chances | | | | putter. Practice miniature strokes. |
| of 3 putts on a hole and missing very short putts | | | | Take the club-head back 3 inches and then, on the |
| less than two feet in length: | | | | follow through, go only 3 inches past where the ball |
| - If you are missing the hole to the right or left, | | | | would be. Use a "straight back and straight through" |
| opening or closing the face of the putter head at | | | | motion, but do it as slowly and as smoothly as |
| impact, you need to get the putter swinging straight | | | | possible. It is even better if you can practice this |
| back and forth on short putts. | | | | against a wall, a 2 x 4 piece of wood, one of your |
| Pick a flat spot on your practice green and line up | | | | clubs lying on the putting green or anything else that |
| some quarters or other coins on either side of the | | | | has a straight solid edge to it. |
| hole for about 12 inches, just like runway lights at an | | | | You must be sure that your stroke is touching the |
| airport. The coins should be about ¼ of an inch | | | | wall or whatever you're using on the back-swing and |
| wider than the width of your putter head, on either | | | | follow-through. This will help straighten your putting |
| side. | | | | stroke. |
| Now, with your golf ball just outside this one-foot | | | | - When someone is not putting well, they are moving |
| runway, your goal is to putt the ball through the line | | | | their head to the left or right during the stroke. It is |
| of quarters without touching any. When you can do | | | | okay to not move your head at all when your putt, |
| this ten times in a row, you're doing well. | | | | just as it is okay for your eyes to follow the path of |
| This exercise is just to stroke the ball purely so that | | | | the ball after you hit it, as long as your head is |
| you do not hit any of the coins. You can also practice | | | | stationary, not shifting to the left or right. |
| this at home on your carpet and putt into a glass, or | | | | One way to check this is to have a friend hold a golf |
| a plastic (or aluminum) putting cup, available at any | | | | club against the left side of your head (right side for |
| golf store. | | | | a left-handed player), while you are practicing putting. |
| The reason for the coins is to let your eyes see | | | | If you feel yourself pressing against the club on the |
| more of a tunnel or line to the hole. Do it enough | | | | follow-through, you need to keep your head more |
| times and your mind will start seeing this line when | | | | still. An even better way is to get someone to take |
| you're really playing on the course. | | | | a video of you putting from all angles with a |
| - The next secret is very simple but effective. You | | | | camcorder. This will show you what is really |
| won't believe it until you try it for a couple of weeks. | | | | happening. |
| You don't need a golf ball for this one, just your | | | | |