These golf putting tips will help you perform better in, what I believe, is the most important area of your golf game.

During every round of golf you play, you will use your putter significantly more than any other club in the bag. Because of that one simple statistic, putting offers you much greater scope to lower your scores and your handicap compared to any other aspect of the game. Better yet...

Unlike the full swing, putting doesn't demand that you have incredible co-ordination, timing, flexibility and strength. Any golfer, regardless of age or current ability can become a competent, consistent putter with the right technique and practice. Consider this...

If you take more than 36 putts during a round of golf, you're throwing away shots. Most club-golfers take upwards of 40 putts per round. That's like standing on the first tee and making half a dozen air shots before you start! With a small amount of effort you can easily and regularly hit the 36 putts per round mark (or better).

CHECK YOUR PUTTING SET UP

A good set up is the foundation of great putting. Most amateur golfers I see are lazy with their set up and their putting alignment. Yes, it is possible to sink a putt whilst aiming off line, but you'll never build consistency if you don't become fanatical about setting up.

So, check the alignment of your feet, your hips and shoulders. They should all run parallel left of the hole (for the right-handed golfer).

The ball should be positioned slightly ahead of centre in your stance and your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball (club shaft should point just to the left of your belt buckle). Also make sure that your eyes are directly over the ball.

CHECK YOUR PUTTING STROKE

I see a couple of common mistakes amongst club-level golfers when it comes to their putting stroke...

Firstly, the backswing should be equal to the follow through. A lot of golfers make the same, big old backswing for every putt and then decelerate the putter to hit a shorter distance. There's no future in this. Make the backswing and the follow through the same length and adjust both for shorter and longer putts.

Secondly, and related to the above, is putting rhythm or cadence. Each and every putt (regardless of length) should have the same rhythm. A good way to test this is with a metronome (for the tech savvy, you can get a free metronome app for your mobile phone). Set it to about 75 beats per minute. On one bleep, start the back stroke. On the next beep, the putter face should strike the ball. Try making very short and very long putts keeping the same rhythm.

Thirdly, keep your lower body very still during the putting stroke. We want as few moving parts, and so as few variables to worry about, as possible. A good putting stroke comes from a rocking of the shoulders with firm wrists.

DISTANCE VERSUS LINE

Most amateur golfers I work with, tend to spend a lot of time trying to read the precise line of their putts and much less time focusing on their distance control.

But if you get the line exactly right and over/under hit your putt by several feet, there's a good chance you'll 3-putt more often than not. Get the line approximately right and the distance control bang on, and you'll never by more than 2-3 feet from the hole.

If you struggle with your putting distance control, try this simple tip: whilst looking at the hole, make a practice putting stroke that you know will definitely leave the ball too short. Then make a practice stroke that you know will definitely hit the ball too far. Then go ahead and hit your putt with a stroke in between the 2 practice strokes.

PRACTICE YOUR PUTTING WITH PURPOSE

When you're short on practice time, it's best to make your time on the putting green as specific to the game of golf as possible.

On the golf course, every single putt will be different - different lengths, different breaks. You'll also try and read the line and take a couple of practice strokes (your pre-shot routine). So why not replicate this on the practice putting green?

Instead of doing what 99% of club golfers do, hitting putt after putt from the same spot, run through your pre-shot routine before you hit each practice putt. Make a couple of practice strokes. Really try and gauge the distance. Get down to look at the line. The more you rehearse this routine off the course, the more it will become second nature on the course.

Remember, quality of practice always trumps quantity of practice!