Erik Isakson If you have trouble reading greens, go back to the basics. Ask yourself, "Which way would water run off?"

MY FATHER, GAIL, TAUGHT ME HOW TO play, along with thousands of others. He'd often book five lessons in a row, and warn the student next in line, "Don't listen to what I tell the person in front of you." I agree with Dad: you can't spoon-feed the same mechanics to everyone. That's why we've had such success with Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Phil Mickelson and other big-name golfers. Our goal is to simply get golfers comfortable with putting.

Sure, we look at the stroke, but what's more important — and something I've focused on during my 40 plus years of playing and teaching — are the fundamentals that come before it. If you can't read greens, see the line, and become comfortable in your setup, then you're toast. So keep your stroke (for now), and follow my five key pre-putt moves. They'll have you putting lights out in no time.