By JIM SUTTIE, Scripps Howard News Service

Do you know that 43 percent of your strokes taken on the golf course are taken on the green. Yes, putting!

And, I am absolutely sure that you all spend at least that amount of time practicing your putting? Wrong!

I am often asked how to get to the next level in golf. This is especially true with junior players, but I would say that these tips will benefit almost any golfer.

It often surprises me that many of current junior players think they can get better simply by improving their golf swing. This is only partially true.

Many of us want to get better at this great game of golf, but we just don't know how. We read books, buy golf videos, practice constantly, listen to tips from others about our swing, and buy all the latest teaching aids to improve our game.

What will give you the best chance to hit a good golf shot? Simply put, it is how you set up.

Even Jack Nicklaus said that 80 percent of the shot is pre-determined if the setup is correct. Not all of us can swing like the tour stars, but I think we all can set up like them. So what is involved in a good setup?

One of the most dreaded shots any golfer can hit is the pull. It's really not much fun to hit a great drive and then pull a 7-iron into the bunker on the left side of the green.

Probably golf's most underrated fundamental is the grip.

Sometimes people just completely ignore it. But, the fact is, the grip is the most important fundamental of all.

With yet another Masters now history, it again becomes apparent how important putting is to become a prolific scorer. The greens at Augusta were very fast and very undulating.

Many golfers are plagued by fat and thin shots. There is probably not a more frustrating feeling than to get 130 yards from the green, and then cover the sod over the ball or skull one over the green.

Golf is a wonderful sport. It gives you the opportunity to be out in the fresh air and play a game with your friends.

People play the game for different reasons, but one of them is to compete against yourself and the course. Golf is fun, but it is always more fun to play well when you go out.

There are two types of fundamentals that a golfer must learn: (1) Pre-swing and (2) In-swing.

The pre-swing fundamentals are those things that happen before any movement occurs. These are static rather than dynamic fundamentals. Fortunately for us, these pre-swing fundamentals have a direct bearing on how we swing the club.