On very fast greens or downhill putts the major problem you face is striking the ball too well and going way past the hole.

Now, you could try and "lag" the putt, but that is a technique used more for very long putts, rather than short but fast putts. What you need on these short fast putts is a way of controlling the putt such that the ball will not fly off the club face. You need to deaden the shot.

So, a great tip for you is to hit the ball from the toe of the putter.

A putter has a "sweet spot" just like any other club, and if you hit the ball at the edge of the sweet spot you actually "deaden" the shot. The ball will not fly off the putter as fast as when hit out of the middle. So even if you swing a little too hard, the ball will not go too far.

A word of warning....just be careful you do not allow the putter to twist off line as you do this.

Next time you are competing on the some of the World's fastest greens at Augusta National (!) or are just faced with a fast downhill putt on your local course, try the tip above....it should help you get it close, if not in!