Make up your mind to hit the ball clean and to hit it with confidence ; one part of confidence being worth two parts of care.

Remember that the hole is large if played for boldly.

Do not jerk the stroke, a fault usually resulting from a fear of sending the ball too far, and remember that the secret of good putting, as in good driving, is the follow through.

Do not be in a hurry to see if the ball is going into the hole. By lifting the eye too soon one is apt to change the direction of the swing.

If the decision of the match hangs on the last putt, do not have a gloomy face showing Christian resignation, but fill your mind with vacancy, not even allowing yourself the consolation of religion.

As every golfer knows, the line of putt often looks different when looked at from the hole than when studied from the ball. In such a case, putt on the line which seemed correct when viewed from hole to ball.

Remember that the catching power of the cup is generally underestimated and that nine golfers out of ten often miss a putt because they only think of making the ball go as far as the hole. Aim, therefore, for the back of the cup and make up your mind to have the ball hit it with a bang.

Remember that, in approach putts, the amount of friction which the ball is to encounter is the important thing and that one should give as much attention to this as to the line of travel.

In deciding upon the impetus to be put into the ball, see whether the turf is closely knit or coarse and stubby; whether the ground is hard and baked or soft and moist; whether the grass is closely trimmed or has been so cut that the stubble points towards the hole or towards the ball.

On heavy sodded, rough, or sandy greens use a wooden putter, so that the delicate touch so necessary with short putts will not be affected.

With short putts, as the backward swing is very short, remember that one fault is not having it in mind to swing the club back on the line with the hole.

With short putts, because there is always the temptation to glance at the hole just as the ball is hit, the stroke is apt to be jerky or the club to turn in the hand. Do not, therefore, look up until the ball has had time to rattle against the tin.

As bad putting is apt to be the result of a bad stance, if one continually sends the ball to the left of the hole, it is probably because the right foot is too near the line of travel and the left foot not near enough; and if to the right of the hole, because the left foot is too near the line of travel and the right foot not near enough.

As bad putting is also often the result of a bad grip, if one continually sends the ball to the left of the hole, it may be the result of too tight a grip with the right hand and if to the right of the hole, of too tight a grip with the left hand.

If you are off in your putting, use another putter, as often the mind becomes so occupied in swinging a new club properly that by instinct the reflex action of the muscles sends the ball straight and with the proper impetus.

When there is rough ground close in front of the ball and then smooth ground to the hole, a very effective putt can be made by topping the ball so that it jumps over the rough ground, the backward spin which it receives by ricochetting keeping it close to the ground afterwards. In making this stroke, raise the club from the elbows with stiff wrists and swing it forward slowly.