Putting is hard. Even PGA TOUR players struggle to make the right read and gauge the distance perfectly every time.

But… there is one putt that even weekend warriors like you and me should NEVER miss.

The two-footer.

While it might seem like rolling a golf ball into the hole from a mere 24 inches away would be a simple task, you probably know as well as I do that it can be surprisingly difficult.

One of the major problems is that most golfers give these types of short putts up as gimme’s during their casual rounds. That comes back to bite you when it’s tournament time and you discover that a two foot putt can become some of the most nerve-racking confidence-shaking shots of all time.

If you don’t want to derail your next serious round with a missed two-foot putt pay attention to these three tips…

1) Don’t take it too lightly.

Even though two-footers might seem like tap in’s they can easily slip out of your grasp if you’re not paying attention. Go through your standard pre-shot routine and don’t forget to read the green. Even short putts can break enough to cause a miss.

2) Don’t take it too seriously.

If you over-analyze a two foot putt you’ll find yourself tensing up and stabbing at the ball. Remember to breathe and make a smooth confident stroke just like you would on a 5 or 10 foot putt.

3) Keep your head still.

On short putts most golfers are eager to watch the ball drop into the hole. This causes them to lift their head, which causes their body to move, which causes the putter to travel off line, which causes the ball to go shooting off in the wrong direction. Instead of trying to watch the ball roll into the hole keep your head still and listen for it to drop into the bottom of the cup. There is no sweeter sound.

You can rely on these tips during your next tournament round, but if you NEVER want to miss another two-footer again you’ll also want to put them into play when you’re out playing a casual game with your friends. No more gimme’s!