• The right equipment

The right equipment will make putting a lot easier.

Use a heavier putter. The weight of the putter will work for you encouraging a smooth languid action.

Your putter should have a rocker sole. A rocker sole will ensure that you can keep your eyes above the ball on all gradients.

Try a centre-shafted putter. It will assist you in keeping your eyes over the ball and encourage a solid contact with the ball. It is also intended for a straight back and through putt - which is what you should be aiming to achieve.

• Grip

A flat top putter grip will assist you with keeping both thumbs on top of the grip. Grip the putter lightly with your fingers - not with the palms of your hands. For right handed putting, the line formed between the thumb and palm of your left hand must be to the left of center and the line formed between the thumb and palm of the right hand must be turned to the right of center.

• Stance

The first thing you need to do is relax. Relax your shoulders - they need to be loose in order to putt accurately. Relax the grip on your putter - the weight of the putter must be allowed to work for you. The ball should be toward the front of your stance and centered between your shoulders. Keep your feet below your shoulders and your eyes above the ball. Your hands must be beneath your shoulders. In order to maintain your balance while putting, Ensure that your hip line lies just outside the edges of your heels.

• Stroke

Do not move your head. At the instant in time when the putter contacts the ball it is imperative that your head is kept perfectly still. Pause after putting for a moment or two before allowing yourself to look at the direction of the ball. If it misses, you will then be able to note the return path.

Move only your shoulders and arms. You putt with your shoulders and the movement of your shoulders translates to a pendulum movement of the arms. The shoulder closest to the ball is dropped on the back-swing and the other shoulder dropped on the forward stroke. Move no other part of your body during the stroke. Your shoulders and arms must be kept in tightly controlled shape relative to each other during the entire stroke.

Brush the ball towards the hole. The trick is to keep the ball in contact with the putter for the longest possible time. You are not trying to hit the ball. You brush it, it rolls smoothly, you sink the putt.

Starting with the putter square on to the ball and as close to the ball as possible, shift the putter back slowly keeping it low and smooth. The forward stroke must be controlled and accelerating. Think of a pendulum. A good rule of thumb is to make your follow through twice as long as your backswing. This ensures the brushing stroke that you want.