Stroke-Pro Practice Putter

The clubhead of the Stroke-Pro is horseshoe shaped; where the sweet spot on a competition putter would be, the Stroke-Pro features ... nothing. Because the point of the Stroke-Pro is to miss the ball.

And you'll have to have a strong stroke to miss, because the "hole" in the Stroke-Pro clubface is a tight squeeze. Any stroke just a smidge off-target will result in touching the golf ball.

Practicing with the Stroke-Pro offers several advantages over practicing with a "real" putter.

First, the Stroke-Pro completely takes break out of the equation. Whether practicing on a putting green or on your living room carpet with a competition putter, the break can produce deceptive results. You can make a putt even when you have a lousy stroke, and you can miss a putt even when you make a perfect stroke.

Another advantage: No need to worry about the psychological effects of missing while practicing putting.

And another: No chasing after golf balls every time you make a putt.

The Stroke-Pro reduces putting to its most basic - and important - level: Making the best stroke possible.

Regardless of the type of competition putter you use, or the type of stroke you have (swinging gate, straight-back-straight-through, et.al.), the blade of the putter must be square at impact.

If the Stroke-Pro is not square at impact, you won't be able to miss the ball with it. You line up to the ball as you would with a normal putter. The yellow site line atop the Stroke-Pro putter head should align with the middle of the ball.

The company recommends starting by visualizing a four-foot putt. Take your normal stance and address the ball, then stroke the Stroke-Pro as you would a four-footer. The company refers to the process of learning to miss the ball as "purifying" your stroke.

Once you have the feel of four-footers - and can "purify" your stroke at that distance - try visualizing 6-8-footers.

Just 5-10 minutes a day with a Stroke-Pro should be enough to improve anyone's stroke. The company makes that easy by providing a "Stroke-Pro Putting Development System.

Of using log sheets, the company tells its customers: "Attempt 10 putts of approximately six feet and record how many out of the 10 you purified on the log sheet. Take a 30-second break and then make 10 more putts of the same length and record your results. Again take a short break to relax your back and revive your concentration level, and then take your last 10 putts of the same length. Your results may look like something like this: 3/10, 4/10, and 4/10, total 11/30. You purified approximately 37-percent of your putts. Repeat this 30-putt sequence each day after a few moments of warmup with the Stroke-Pro for 30 days and you will see the major improvement you are making."

One more thing about the Stroke-Pro: It's a training aid that can lead to some great on-the-green wagering. Hey, it's no secret about golf: money changes hands. If you're one of those golfers who enjoys a good bet, put your friends to the test with the Stroke-Pro. You'll be improving your stroke while at the same time sharing a good golf bet with buddies.

The Stroke-Pro Practice Putter is an excellent and easy way for any golfer to perfect an on-target putting stroke. And the better your putting stroke, the fewer strokes you'll be taking.

Poll: How Many Golf Training Aids Have You Use?