The best putters in the world make about 97% of their putts inside of five feet. To be fair, that includes a good number of tap ins and two footers. But still, it is quite incredible that they can achieve that number.

But is it so fantastic that you can not achieve it? After all, these great professionals have almost unlimited practice time and a great work ethic to go with it. They spend countless hours perfecting a putting stroke and should be rewarded for that effort.

They also have extraordinary physical gifts that make it possible to succeed by trying to putt the ball straight down a line that doesn't exist. The average golfer is not so lucky in that department either.

But there is a way the average guy can get very close to the 97% stat of the best professionals without the practice or the natural gifts. But you will have to forget everything you have ever been taught or assumed about putting.

You should look at short putting as a target game. It's like pool or billiards. By applying the basic fundamentals all target games have in common you can simplify putting into a simple game that bypasses both the needs for perfection in the stroke and the natural gifts the best professionals in the world have.

Not every golfer is highly gifted in the hand eye coordination department. But all humans are fairly skilled at targeting. The instincts have been used and developed over millennia.

With minor changes you can unleash them and turn yourself into a great putter without the need for sacrifice or the application of physical gifts you do not possess.