The best and easiest way to reduce your scores on the course is to improve your putting average.

 Approximately 40 to 45 percent of a golfer’s score is made up by the number of putts they have. Learning to set up correctly is crucial in achieving a better putting action and, therefore, making more putts. The following set-up points will definitely assist high-handicappers and beginners, while better players can certainly work them when their putting goes off.

These points should be achieved each time you putt and, after using them for an extended period, they will start to become second nature to you and your set-up routine:

  •  Your feet and shoulders should run parallel to your target line.

  • Your eyes should be positioned over the top of the target line (pic 1 above). This will determine that you are not standing too far away or too close to the ball

  • Allow your arms to hang freely from the shoulders without any tension.

  • How you grip the putter is a personal preference but it is important to remember, no matter what grip you choose, that both hands MUST work together during the stroke.

  • The ball should be positioned just forward of the middle of your stance.

  • Your putting action should move back and forth at the same tempo. It should be in a pendulum-like swinging motion being led by your shoulders and arms (not your hands!).

A key part of putting is to ensure that you make each putt a straight putt. If the putt breaks right-to-left (pics 2, 3 & 4) you need to aim right and at a point on the intended line and then hit a straight putt to that point.

The procedure is the same for a left-to-right breaking putt except you need to find a point to the left that the putt will go over and hit a straight putt to that.

Pace control is extremely important too. You can get a feel for how hard to hit a putt by visualising yourself rolling the ball to the hole with your hand, lawn bowls-style. How hard would you do this? Now do the same with the putter in your hand.

If you plan to do some putting practice, I strongly recommend using a putting mirror like I am using above.

A putting mirror is a good way to practise setting up correctly. The mirror allows you to check that your eyes are over the ball, shoulders are lined up, the putter face is square as well as giving feedback as to your body movement and putter path during the stroke.