Putting can be one of the most frustrating areas of your game. There is nothing more frustrating than reaching the green in two and then taking three putts to close. The secret of good putting is a rock solid structure, but first you have got to understand the run and lay of the greens.

1. Before setting out on your round it is a good idea to get some practise putts in to see how the typical greens are running. If it has been raining the greens will be running slower than usual. This means you have to hit the ball harder than usual to get it to travel a set distance. In the summer when the grass is drier than usual, the greens will run faster.

As I have said you also need to learn how the greens lay. This does take time to learn. It takes even longer to master.

As you play more golf your judgement of speed, distance and the lay of the greens will improve. Unfortunately there is no easy way round learning the lay.

So now we have a feel for the greens, we can start our putting.

2. As usual have a quick mental run though.  Visualize your shot, paying close attention to the conditions and lay of the green.

Now we are ready to go.

3.  Step up to the ball with your feet if any thing closer than a normal swing stance.  You will not be trasferring any weight so you will not lose balance.  Remain rigid for a moment before you start your swing.

4. Ideally, your whole body would be rigid all throughout the stroke. Unlike your swing at other times, which should be taught but not rigid, this time you should not move a muscle. The only part of your body that should move is your shoulders.

The main action of putting a ball is swinging your shoulders in a pendulum like motion. Gently swing your putter back, and sweep through the ball.

During this whole time, it is crucial your head is rigid. Any movement, apart from your shoulders obviously, will cause you to send the ball off course.

Whilst swinging think of nothing else other than staying rigid and sweeping the ball away.

5. Even after the ball has gone remain lokking at the ground.  Make a conscious effort to count to one before you look up.

With practise this technique will see you consitently sinking putts all day, even long ones.