GOLF TIPS

Putt on a yardstick
to improve the short ones

You won't make short putts if you can't start the ball on line. The question then becomes: How do you start the ball on line?

The most effective way I know to practice rolling putts straight is to place a yardstick on the ground, put a ball on the middle of the stick, and hit putts so the ball rolls on top of it and drops off the end. If the ball falls off the yardstick early, your stroke is producing an off-line roll. Make adjustments until you can make a consistenly straight roll. It will give you plenty of confidence over short putts.

  • From the September 2002 issue of Golf Magazine.