bove the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the trian

As a golfer past 50, I've picked up some putting tips over the years that have been very helpful to me and I hope you find some if not all will also help you. Most golfers agree that improving your putting is one of the quickest and consistent ways to lower your score.

1. Be sure you are hitting the ball with the "sweet spot" of the putter face. Most putters now have an alignment marker at the sweet spot but if yours doesn't, here is how to find it. Hold your putter by the shaft just above the hosel and with the face up parallel to the ground, bounce a ball off the face. If you feel some vibration through the shaft,it is not the sweet spot. The sweet spot will feel solid and you should no vibration in the shaft. This is the point on the face where you want to contact the ball for the most consistent results.

2. A good aid with aligning your putt is to put a straight line on your ball with a sharpie marker and aim that line along the path you want your ball to start. Most of the pros have been doing this for a good while and it's a big help.

3. Get comfortable with the feel of your putter. Practice often enough that using your putter feels very natural. Many golfers look like they are holding a snake when they pick up their putter but this is the club that can make the largest improvement in your score.

4. Eyes-Putter-Feet. After you pick your line, step up to the ball so your eyes are directly above the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the triang

utters now have an alignment marker at the sweet spot but if yours doesn't, here is how to find it. Hold your putter by the shaft just above the hosel and with the face up parallel to the ground, bounce a ball off the face. If you feel some vibration through the shaft,it is not the sweet spot. The sweet spot will feel solid and you should no vibration in the shaft. This is the point on the face where you want to contact the ball for the most consistent results.

2. A good aid with aligning your putt is to put a straight line on your ball with a sharpie marker and aim that line along the path you want your ball to start. Most of the pros have been doing this for a good while and it's a big help.

3. Get comfortable with the feel of your putter. Practice often enough that using your putter feels very natural. Many golfers look like they are holding a snake when they pick up their putter but this is the club that can make the largest improvement in your score.

4. Eyes-Putter-Feet. After you pick your line, step up to the ball so your eyes are directly above the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the trian

shaft. This is the point on the face where you want to contact the ball for the most consistent results.

2. A good aid with aligning your putt is to put a straight line on your ball with a sharpie marker and aim that line along the path you want your ball to start. Most of the pros have been doing this for a good while and it's a big help.

3. Get comfortable with the feel of your putter. Practice often enough that using your putter feels very natural. Many golfers look like they are holding a snake when they pick up their putter but this is the club that can make the largest improvement in your score.

4. Eyes-Putter-Feet. After you pick your line, step up to the ball so your eyes are directly above the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the trian

comfortable with the feel of your putter. Practice often enough that using your putter feels very natural. Many golfers look like they are holding a snake when they pick up their putter but this is the club that can make the largest improvement in your score.

4. Eyes-Putter-Feet. After you pick your line, step up to the ball so your eyes are directly above the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the trian

bove the ball. Next position the putter behind the ball on the path you have chosen and last adjust your feet parallel to that line. If you make this routine for every putt, you should see good results.

5. For me and many others, it is easier to hit a smooth consistent stroke by rotating your shoulders while keeping the wrists fixed. Maintain the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders at address and make a smooth pendulum motion along the line of your putt.

There is debate on this versus the inside-outside swing but the pendulum method is more consistent for me.

6. Keep your head down until after your putter strikes the ball. When you look up too soon your shoulders also come up and your putt goes off line.

7. A good putting drill is to putt to a hole from the 12 positions of a clockface at a distance of 3 feet then 6 feet and finally 9 feet. This drill also quickly starts to improve your score card.

I think Phil Mickleson uses a drill like this but with a heck of a lot more balls.

8. When you have a long putt, just try to lag it within that 3 foot circle around the hole.

9. Another simple but overlooked aid is to include the practice green in your warmup routine before you start your round. The practice green is usually mowed when the greens are and it will give you an indication of the course conditions.