Why you three-putt (it's not your stroke)

Before you blame your stroke, look at the first putt. A three-putt starts there: when the first putt finishes too far from the hole, because the speed was off or it started on the wrong line, the second one gets hard. Your read, your aim and the speed you pick are all set before the putter moves, which is why your stroke takes more of the blame than it should.

Putting? Really?

On a par-72 course, two putts a hole is 36 strokes, half of a round of 72. That's more strokes than you'll play with any other club, so a few seconds of setup on each green is worth it.

So How Do I Check My Aim?

Put a line on the ball and point it down your start line, then set the putter face square to it. Then you know where you're aimed before you putt, and you can put your attention on speed.

Every Thick ball has a full alignment stripe built in, so there's nothing to draw. It's on Moon Shot, the one for most people, and Moon Shot Pro, the one that spins. Both have a urethane cover. Not sure which? Find Your Ball

More on lines and putting: Does a line on a golf ball help putting?

By Erin Wiratunga