How to Putt Like Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones was golf's wizkid. Jones' golf swing became the stuff of legend. His ability to sink 30 foot putts with one stroke, of course with the help of his trusted putter, Calamity Jane, led him to conquer the sport by the time he retired at age 28. Follow these steps to putt like golfing great Bobby Jones.

Instructions

1. Approach the game mentally. By his own admission, Bobby Jones spent the better part of a decade learning how to conquer himself before he could conquer his opponents. Starting out early as a quick-tempered and rash player, Jones was able to develop his canny putting ability only after he acquired his famous self-possession and confidence. So, to putt like Jones, get your mental game in order.

2. Find the right putter. Bobby Jones was famous for his insistence on using his favorite putter, which he called "Calamity Jane." Before adopting the putter, Jones putting was slightly off, causing enough evident frustration for a fellow golfer to approach him with the putter. Try out a few different putters so you can find your own Calamity Jane if you want to putt like Bobby.

3. Go for the gold. Part of Bobby Jones' general golfing strategy was to go for the dangerous shots. In other words, Bobby Jones used his confidence to push his ability to the limit. Shotting for the famous 30-foot putts wasn't simply a display of showmanship but a way for Jones to call all of his golfing prowess into play when he was putting.

4. Check out the Bobby Jones film. Bobby Jones was one of the first professionals to use film to dissect and improve upon a golf swing. In this spirit, Jones made a film entitled "How I Play Golf," in which the first part is devoted to putting. Check out "The Putter" part of "How I Play Golf" to learn putting directly from Bobby Jones.