A good putting stroke is often described as having a pendulum-like pace. Making an even, flowing motion, back and through, is key to controlling your distance and direction on the greens. 

It sounds easy, but proves difficult for many golfers. Some have short, jabbing strokes, while others yank the putter back quickly and decelerate on the through-swing. Still others make an overly long backstroke, forcing them to decelerate before contact. 

Here are two simple drills to instill better putting tempo: 

• Place a quarter lying flat in the back of a cavity-back putter and hit a series of putts from 3-10 feet. The goal is to keep the quarter from falling out as you transition from the backstroke to the through-stroke. The resulting even tempo will keep the putter on path. 

Turn your putter sideways so that the tip of the toe contacts the ball. In order to strike the ball solidly with the smaller hitting area, you must make a smooth, controlled stroke. Practice for a few minutes, then resume putting normally with the same pace — you’ll find it much easier to hit the sweet spot.