I currently play to 22, but I cannot putt, on average I 3 putt 8-10 holes a round, yesterday I 4 putted a par 3. PLEASE HELP!!!!

No real short cuts Barry, other than find a grip and stance that's comfortable and line up shoulders, knees and toes on the line you want to start the ball (not necessarily the hole). After that it's practice, my son.

Here's a few of tips that work for me:
*Grip lightly, not firm
*Chin up, don't crouch
*Ensure toe of putter doesn't stick up, forcing heel to snag and pull putts left
*Pull back off left hand (if right-handed putter) through, along the target line
*Concentrate on striking the ball in the sweet spot and pace and line will take care of itself.
After 30 years of playing, I've recently started gripping the club like Chris Di Marco (the claw) and never struck it more sweetly or more straight (but that's another story!).

I can say that putting is the most reliable part of my game. I can count on it. Really! And here is my tip: try to place the putter in front of the ball while aiming (between your ball and the hole). I actually don`t know whether this works but it`s a part of my pre-stroke routine and I do it EVERY time I hit a putt. Perhaps it has something to do with my confidence - I always do the same so I feel like I have things under control...
And my second tip: keep your head very still. Don`t watch the ball too early. I hope this helps.

Get a lesson from your Pro - its a game inside the game

There's a tip i saw in golf monthly today which i liked, It says. when aligning your putts, instead of finding a line from your ball to the hole, make the line from the hole to your ball, this gives you a target to aim at which is much closer to you, rather than the hole which is difficult to tell where your aiming.

second i am trying to get into the habit of marking ball, cleaning, and aligning the logo of text on the ball to point at the line i'm going to take, mix this with concentrating on the guides on my putter and in theory my only problem is power which only comes with expeirience and practice.

I've ben practising in my bedroom and my lounge too!

HI Barry, As Roland rightly pointed out - it's a game within a game - and it accounts for approx 40-50% of shots taken - there are millions of different schools of thought - but the second point that Daniel made should certainly help - ALWAYS mark the ball, clean it at least once, and line it up with the logo - it's sure to help on those short ones anyway - it'l make you concentrate more, instead of maybe "just tapping it in".....

I read with interest Bob's comments about gripping the putter tight. This actually goes against the theories of keeping wrist break out of the putting stroke. Try this little test. Grip the putter very lightly then waggle your wrists. Now grip the putter really tight and then try to waggle your wrists! This method cured my 'yips' with the short putts you don't need feel you just need to rap them firmly into the hole. Another tip is to get a putting mat where you can practice at home holing putts.

What I meant to say was Bob said to grip the putter light. For shorter putts I would advocate the opposite. It has worked for me. Also try reading the Dave Pelz books. Once you get through all the very tecnical stuff it is very good.

Hover the club just above the floor to stop it from grounding.
Keep your backswing as short as possibele and accelerate smoothly through the ball.
Don't stab at the ball as that means you are decelerating as you make contact and you lose control.
Don't grip the club too hard and keep your wrists locked.

All these have worked for me and give me better control over my putts on both distance and accuracy.

Try this one,watch the putter head on the backswing,it certainly will help with alignment.The pace is pure feel and can only be achieved through practise.

Get a belly or long putter. No, seriously.

Having the shaft of the putter anchored at a point of the body removes several of the variables in the putting stroke; topping or stubbing the ball is virtually impossible; no need to worry about flying elbows (Monty's problem) and the ribbing from your mates drops when you start knocking it in the hole, (trust me on that, it worked for me when I started taking their money:-). I have gone from 36-38 putts per round to 30-32, thats 4-8 shots off my 12 handicap just on the green........ All I need to do now is get my swing back ;-)

If you are still not convinced count the number of groups in the next pro tourney that have at least one player with a long putter, and their salary is on the line.......

Nick Faldo once said about his putting..."I need to be hitting it nearer the flag!"

Very relevant if you play on a course with big greens, (eg Bowood!)

I'm sure belly putters will catch on as we pursue more and more ways to lower our scores. Eventually ones with adjustable or spring-loaded shafts will get past the R&A boffins to allow us to grow our bellies as we eat more fattening food and lead more sedentary lives of leisure.
It's a horrifying thought.

A tip that worked for me was to practice at home in the hall or on the landing. Put the toe of the putter against the skirting board and place the ball in front of the blade (actually you don't really need a ball).

By keeping the toe of the putter against the skirting board you will ensure that your take-away and follow through stay along the line of the putt. When I did this the first time I was amazed how far away from a straight line my putting stroke was. Of Course, you still have to read the green and judge the pace but hitting the ball straight will give you a good starting point.

I thort yu ment 14 puts for 10 holes wow yer good but 14 for one ?? heaps of good advice & I like Martins tiles drill etc

However have yu checked yer putter fits you as shaft length club head head lie angle is just as critical perhaps more so than your irons etc

See some blade sticking out even toe up as shaft to long & ball outside eyeline, putt tends to miss L if inside eye line, miss R

So have to compensate in stroke or clubface angle my method puts eyes over ball & pick a mark to putt over to hole

Select putter with lie angle allows yu set blade flat on ground behind ball even if go down shaft: Cut shaft so can stand almost upright & lil bit grip sticking out leading hand (mine 33-5/8inch to top Oddessy head)

Set up as if to to putt drop ball off point of nose shud land @ line where yu set ball @ putter face

Putting Simple:
Clap gives hands grip position 'palm' grip under lead hand thumb pad stroke is just as full swing arms/shoulders takeaway & follow thru R/palm (L if L/handed) square to line.

Blade square/right line & a matter of pace

Pace excercise:
Roll ball underhand to hole try one handed putts (me r/handed) drop couple balls walk up behind pick line without standing stroke ball away from yu along line to hole

Try this & will bet in a week yu will find from any length no more than a foot away

(now thats a mouthfull but my stats 28/30 putt rnd: Mon last 11x1 putt & 2x4in short 6x2 & 1x3 total 26 fo the 18)

donk