The one part of the game where you can be as good as your favourite pro – no, seriously!

[Photo: Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images]

There are a lot of great putters on the pro tours, but to single out one stroke I love to watch, it’s Justin Rose’s. His pace is smooth. His contact is pure. The ball seems to roll perfectly every time.

You might not have Rory’s power off the tee or Scottie’s accuracy into the greens, but guess what? There’s no reason why you can’t putt like “Rosie”.

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As it stands, you’re likely doing the opposite of what he’s doing. I’ve seen thousands of amateur putting strokes, and most have these characteristics: the backstroke is too short; the through-stroke is too long [below]; and the putter is accelerating into the ball. All three of those are mistakes. Well, maybe not mistakes. You can putt that way, but you’re not putting like Justin Rose – or any of the game’s other great putters.

Photo: James Farrell

Now comes the good news: I have a simple drill for you, one that you only need to work on for a few minutes to get the hang of, and it will get you on your way to putting like Justin. Set two tees or some other markers about three feet apart. Now, set up to a putt like I am here. Note that the outside of my front foot is in line with the forward marker [below].

Photo: James Farrell

When you start making strokes, I want the backstroke to end at the back marker and the through-stroke to end at the forward marker [below]. But here’s the key: the putterhead has to move at the same pace back and through. In other words, I don’t want you accelerating into the ball. Just let the ball get in the way of the putterhead’s movement. The impact with the ball will slow the putterhead down and shorten the through-stroke.

This longer-back, shorter-through stroke also helps remove the “steering” impulse you might have that often gets the putterhead twisting and hitting the ball off-line. Before long, you’ll start to notice how much smoother your stroke is and how much better you contact the ball and produce a consistent roll – just like Rosie.

Jason Birnbaum, one of Golf Digest‘s Best Teachers in New York, is director of instruction at Manhattan Woods Golf Club in West Nyack.