How to fix the Flat Stick Woes

Putting, like full swing has general principles that need to be adhered to if you want to consistently putt better.
The First principle: Your palms should face each other before your fingers wrap around the grip
The Second principle: Your front eye should be directly over the ball so your eye can get a 90 degree perspective of line
The Third principle: Your forearms must be in line with your shaft which will put your forearms in line with the shaft which will put your grip parallel to your lifeline on your palm

I recommend then:


- You carry a splint finger which is your left pointing finger pointing down the shaft on the back of your right fingers
- Try and lock your knees straight to remove unwanted movement with your legs and hips and allows your head to get aver the ball
- Your shoulders start parallel and also level to keep you down and through the stroke a lot longer


Reading the green
A lot of amateurs read the green and then putt straight at the hole, or under-read the green. Look at a spot 2 metres right of the hole and 2 metres left of the hole and judge which is higher and which is lower. This will give you a general idea of fall of break. Lock in your mind the line of your putt first and then concentrate on length of putt. If you have time look at the length of your putt from the side angle. The last thought you want over the ball is length not line as you have already decided this. A lot of putts are missed by getting over the ball and second guessing your read. Trust your first read on line and think length as you stroke.
Pre Stroke
When over the ball then always make your eyes focus slowly from hole to ball and back as this will allow you to see the line a lot better and slow your tempo down. Take your stroke after taking a long breath and exhale, as this is when your blood pressure is at its lowest and therefore calmest.
The Stroke
The stroke itself should come from the point of the left shoulder simply travelling toward chin and then returning to its original position in the forward stroke. This makes your forward shoulder the fulcrum and lets you roll the putt, not hit it.

Drills
Putting is very much a feel skill and a good drill to improve this is chose a straight, relatively shorter putt and to then putt with your eyes shut after you set up. Once you putt try and guess by feel of impact where the putt has missed without looking up.
Go out on the putting green and find a breaking putt and visualise where the very outside of the break is and put two tees to hit through in this spot. This will teach you judgement and help your visualisation. The best putters describe that they can see the track that the ball travels on to get to the hole and then they visualise this happening and going straight in the middle of the cup before they take their stroke. This takes training and is why kids putt so well as their imagination is a lot more active than an adult generally.

Try some or all of these tips and you will reap the benefits while rolling your rock.