| I know, in the real world there's no such thing as | | | | Remember to that, for a right-handed golfer, it is |
| perfect putting and, it there were, Tiger Woods | | | | the right hand that makes the stroke, with the |
| and others would spend their time on the practice | | | | left hand simply being used to hold the club. |
| green before every competition round. However, | | | | So far so good, but now we need to practice |
| if you follow these simple steps then it is possible | | | | with specific balls. In case you think at this stage |
| to get pretty close to perfect putting. | | | | that I've gone crazy pay particular attention to |
| The secret starts with using the correct grip. | | | | this one and then try it for yourself - you'll see |
| Place you hands lightly hands on the club and | | | | exactly what I mean. |
| avoid the temptation to squeeze it to death as if | | | | If you look closely at most golf balls you will see |
| it were snake trying to kill you. Wrap your fingers | | | | that they have an "equator" or "seem" which |
| lightly around the club, but don't overlap or | | | | appears during manufacture. This is often not |
| interlock them, and avoid the temptation to put | | | | immediately visible can usually be detected by a |
| an angle on the club, as you would when playing | | | | slight variation in the pattern of dimples on the ball. |
| off the tee or on the fairway. Then address ball | | | | Now manufacturers go to a great deal of trouble |
| squarely and, above all, relax. | | | | to construct a perfectly balanced ball but, despite |
| Your feet should normally be no further apart | | | | their best intentions, many balls will have a slight |
| than the width of your hips and your weight | | | | bias, rather like a bowling ball. |
| should be balanced slightly towards the inside of | | | | Take a few balls out onto the practice green |
| your left heel, if you are a right-handed player. | | | | (preferably one that is flat, dry and level), pick |
| As you address the ball it should be towards the | | | | one particular ball and have a few practice putts |
| front of your stance and centered between your | | | | from different distances keeping track of how |
| shoulders. In essence, you want the ball roughly in | | | | well you do. |
| the center of your stance and, if anything, slightly | | | | Next take a few practice putts around the green |
| towards your left instep. Your hands should be | | | | (not aiming at the hole) and watch carefully for |
| near the top of the grip and your eyes should be | | | | any tendency for the ball to veer off to one side |
| focused directly over the ball. Your stance should | | | | or the other. At this stage you might find it helpful |
| also place you at right angles to the hole so that | | | | to use a marker or two, such as a piece of string |
| as you putt you follow a natural pendulum line | | | | or some coins, and mark out a line along which to |
| between the ball and the hole. | | | | putt. Move the line around and try putting over |
| If you are putting on a downhill slope you will | | | | different distances and in different directions |
| want to strike the ball towards the toe of the | | | | around the green. Your aim is not to get the ball |
| putter which will give you slightly less impact on | | | | in the hole, but to judge the movement of ball |
| the ball and reduce the risk of overshooting the | | | | over different distances. |
| hole. For the majority of puts however you | | | | Once you've got the feel of a particular ball try |
| should aim to strike the ball dead center on the | | | | putting for the hole again over a series of |
| sweetspot. Finally, keeping the club moving in a | | | | different distances and see if your success rate |
| single plane along the line from the ball to the hole | | | | has increased. You'll be surprised. |
| bring the club back smoothly and then back in to | | | | Now this might not be perfect putting but it's |
| hit the ball as if this were all one single movement. | | | | about as close as you can get. |