get a putting mat that has the directional lines on it - putt until you make 50 in a row from 7 feet - when I did that twice a week, I played my best golf - was guaranteed to shoot high 70s or low 80s.

Shaving off putting strokes will lower you score quicker than anything else. Chipping and pitching is right behind putting. Watch better player - watch the Phil Mickelson videos on youtube - he may be the best short game player ever.

Good Luck!

I'm a big fan of using the "gate method." Start out about 3 ft. away from the hole and place your putter head on the ground on the correct line to the hole (it's easier to start out with a straight putt). Then place a tee in the ground just outside the heel and another just outside the toe. You can start by giving yourself a little more leeway, but tighten it up as you go. Make your putting strokes with the ball and try to avoid the tees while also making the putt. If your path is good, you'll avoid the tees. If your line/angle are good, you'll make the putts. Make multiple in a row avoiding the tees (it is possible to clip them and still make the putt), then move back 6in-1ft. and continue to do so until you're at least 6-10 ft away. This will train you to make a consistent and reliable stroke that will help you hit the sweet spot and get that end over end roll. It also helps to draw a darker line with a sharpie that's perfectly straight to aim at the hole to be able to visualize that end over end rotation. If you're puring it, the line shouldn't waver much at all as it heads for the bottom of the cup.

The best putting drill is to set a circle of about 8 golf balls around the hole at 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 feet. Hit all 8 balls in the hole, and then move back a foot. Another great drill is a line drill where you place a bout 6 balls in a line about a foot apart and then make all 6 putts. Both help you line up. and also when you see the putt drop it builds confidence which is a major key

First, make sure your putter suits your game. I'd recommend a putter fitting that'll look at your stroke and then build a putter from there. Grip, shaft length, lie, loft, head shape and lines can all affect your stroke.

When I work on my putting I start at 3 feet from the hole and make 10 putts in a row, if I miss one I have to start over.

From there I place a tee at 3 feet and then one tee at three foot intervals out to 21 feet. I'll place one ball at each tee and will go through my entire routine trying to make the putt, if I miss then as long as it finishes within a foot of the hole I'm happy.

You can also use a training aid such as the various putting mirrors, I like the putting tutor from Dave Pelz, to ensure I'm making a good stroke.

Hope this helps.

Hi MLyon

Mine is similar to Sean S, with a slight variation - but he's spot on when saying putter fitting is key, it's the most used club in the bag, yet the one most of us don't bother getting custom fit for!

I'd start with making sure I'm hitting it online. I'd usually find a flat spot on the green away from a hole, place a tee or ball in/on the ground and make 10 strokes from a putter length away from it, making sure my ball strikes the tee/ball - this way I know I'm hitting it online, plus if it just misses or glances, it probably would have gone in - gets you focusing on a smaller target and the hole looks huge after - also something I do at home as my carpet isn't the same pace as our greens

Then I check pace of green - take 3-5 balls, place 1 down, take your normal stance, hit the putt but only pull the putter back as far as your back foot! Repeat this 2-4 times ensuring you only pull the putter back to the same point/tempo is as per your standard stroke. All of the balls should be relatively close, so pace it out (e.g 7 paces), repeat the process going the opposite way and if it's the same, you know that's the pace - this way you can start gauging how far back to swing depending on length of putt - great tip if you play on different courses too where the greens maybe slower/quicker than your home course.

As per the other comments - clock face drills are great, also the 3,6,9 ft drill etc to gain confidence.

One thing I would suggest, I see lots of players hitting putts from the same place, this does not replicate on course conditions. So once you're happy your stroke is on line and you have the pace, try putting 5 balls to the same practice hole from different lengths/lines or from the same place to 5 different holes - don't just go from long to short in a row, or vice versa. Mix it up, as you know this is what will happen on course.

Apologies for the lengthy post, hope there's something here which helps and good luck for the new season

If you want to eliminate 3 putts, practice lag putting. I usually finish off my practice routine with 20-30 minutes of lag putting. Pick two flags 40 feet apart, drop 3 balls and putt back and forth between the two flags until you can lag all 3 balls to within a foot of the pin, going in both directions. Than pick two flags 30 feet apart and repeat. Than 20 feet, etc. You can practice technique all day long but you need to develop "feel" for how hard to hit the ball and "feel" comes through repetition. This routine is the best way to avoid 3 putts. It works for me.

All the above tips are great and should help. In addition I like the idea of cadence in the stroke (back and through). Rather than 1-2 then 3-4 I always think E-S-P-N. I hear it in my head and say those initials slowly and rhythmically and it helps my putter become smoother. Just don't use the Sportscenter theme music!