Few golfers would disagree that taking no more than two putts at each hole is essential to a good score. I know it does not happen this way in the real world, but it helps to see it as a goal to be achieved each and every round of golf we play. If you do not have that mindset, it could mean you do not mind three putting sometimes. That’s where putting practice techniques can help.

I was at a stage where I just was not happy with my putting. I seem to feel my emotions getting the better of me more than most, when it comes to downing those knee trembling three footers. I almost reached the point that I was talking myself into missing these putts, most of the time, which was silly. Other golfers can hole them, so why not me too?

All golfers can benefit from improving their putting stroke, so I used the following putting practice techniques.

1. I convinced myself that missing putts of less than a clubs length was largely a mind problem, so I practiced putting from about three feet from the hole, using a tennis ball. Why a tennis ball? Being bigger than a golf ball, if I could sink the ball into a small target , surely I would be able to hole a golf ball in what seemed to be a bigger hole. Its a mind trick thing, and it worked for me.

Try putting a tennis ball, and I can tell you it is not as easy as you might think, because you have to hole the ball in the centre every time. There is no circling around the hole, and then plopping in. After a short time I gained the confidence to putt the ball into the hole, then I switched to using a real golf ball and the target seemed big by comparison.

I am thinking of making this a regular practice routine before each round, at least until I stop missing so many short putts. Why not give it a try for yourself, and improve your putting performance when under pressure?