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After seeing numerous putting styles over the years, I've come to the conclusion that the majority of great golfers use the same putting fundamentals. Some of these are physical and some mental. Very little of the so-called "magic" actually comes from a putter design, but rather from the confidence within the player.

Think Positive

It's arguable that positive thinking is the doorway to good putting. Remember a time when you were putting well. It probably felt as though you couldn't miss and you had a greater belief that the ball would go in. Positive feelings and visualization are the keys. This belief comes from prior success; success comes from solid fundamentals and practice.

Grip for Success

Hold the hands close enough together so that they work as a unit, rather than independently. When they're separate, there's a much greater likelihood of the wrists breaking down, which leads to inconsistency. A popular grip used by many tour players is a reverse overlap that takes the forefinger of the left hand off the putter and rests it on the little finger of the right hand. A cross-handed grip is also worth trying if you tend to break the wrists during the stroke. Equally important is grip pressure. I like to see light pressure rather than tight pressure, because tightness diminishes feel.

Consider Ball Position

The left eye should be directly over the ball at address. This means that the ball is placed forward in the stance—off the inside of the left foot. This also gives you a much better perspective of your putt's intended line of travel.

Keep the Putter Moving

Accelerate the putter toward the hole. Practice some short putts (about one foot from the hole) and try rolling the ball and putter right over the hole. Remember, the follow-through should exceed the backstroke. You can ensure this by placing another ball behind the ball you're hitting on the practice green. As you make the backstroke, stop when you hit the second ball.

Have the Right Distance

If you stand too far from the ball, it causes an improper stroke path—one that makes too much of an arc from the inside so that it's difficult for the face to be square to the target. Conversely, if you stand too close you tend to force the backstroke outside of the target line. When making these mistakes, it forces you to manipulate the putter to square it at impact.

Locate the Hands Ahead

Locating your hands forward is another fundamental common to good putting technique. If your hands are behind the ball, there's a tendency to add loft to the putt and break your wrists. By keeping your hands up front and even with the ball or slightly ahead, you'll ensure a better roll.

Lock the Body

Keep body movement minimal. Good players putt while keeping their bodies locked in position for the entire stroke. Doing this allows the shoulders, rather than the hips, to dominate the movement. A great way to check how solid you are is to use the sun's shadow. Putt with the shadow facing in front of you so you can see any lateral movement. Place a ball or club on the green at the outer edges of the shadow of your hips. As you take some practice strokes, pay attention and see if you can detect any movement. You can also do this shadow trick to ensure your head and shoulders are staying in place and not swaying.

Now, if you can blend these key fundamental with your own style, you'll find that your putts will start to fall more frequently.

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