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Putting- Golf’s Game Within a Game
By Tony | September 17, 2007
Do you know the importance of attitude and the mind set required to become a great putter?
Just as great golfers have great attitudes, so great putters have great attitude (positive). You believe that you are a great putter and you enjoy putting and the special challenges involved with putting - like reading greens and controlling the speed!
When I begin working with the students on their putting at Australian High Performance Golf Academy ( AHPGA), I always start with two simple questions- ” Would you say you are a good putter and do you enjoy putting”?
I can tell you that many students answer this question negatively.
Players that are struggling with your putting also have attitude, unfortunately mostly negative attitude!
You know the type of attitude I am referring to, things like;
-I hate putting!
-I dislike putting!
-How can you expect to shoot good scores if you keep missing these putts?
-You can`t miss these putts if you want to be good!
Who said that you can’t Putt?
Any of these sounding familiar? I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve heard golfers say they can’t putt!
Are you a golf player who’s negative about your putting? Always look for the negative in every situation? You hit a great putt which catches the lip and spins out. Instead of seeing the positive of a well struck putt that happened to lip out ( for whatever reason) you can only see the negative
Do you constantly put pressure on yourself on the greens? Many golfers are more focused on putting mechanics than you are on your target. You’re in an analytical mind set. So you just simply do not enjoy putting!
You need to learn to quiet your mind, and trust your gut instincts. You need to learn to ‘free up’.
When we watch athletes in other sports like- cricket, football, baseball etc. they look and react and trust their athletic instincts. As an example of this, lets take an outfielder in cricket.
In an instant after he has picked up the ball he has to decide whether to throw the ball back to the wicket keeper or the bowlers end. He does not become analytical and think about the mechanics, or what velocity or trajectory to throw the ball at, he just trusts his athletic instincts.Great putters do the same on the greens!
The “look and react” technique
A “freeing up” technique we work on with our students, and have great success with at AHPGA, is the “look and react” technique. In this technique we have our students aim the putter face at the intended target, look at the target ( the hole) and hit the putt whilst still looking at the target.
This technique takes their mind off technique and mechanics and initiates their creativite ‘gut’ instincts and is unconscious and athletic.
The great thing about this technique, is that you can take it to the actual course. The on course routine is as follows;
Aim the putter face at the target, look at the target, look back to the ball and start your stroke. When our students first start working on this new ‘quite mind’ and ‘trusting their instincts’ routine, they actually feel like they are not trying hard enough. Perfect, that’s what you must do - you have to give up control to gain control.
Next time you go go out and play, give this ‘look and react’ technique a go, and let me know how it works for you.
I want you to free up,enjoy and learn to trust your gut instincts!
” By always trying your hardest, you will never be able to do your best”
- Dr Bob Rotella
So take responsibility and choose to become a great putter…the choose is yours!!
Hope you have enjoyed this blog, and I look forward to your comments.
Topics: General |
September 20th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I totally agree with having a positive attitude. It works with pretty much everything in life, work, relationships, why shouldn’t it work on your golf performance? Positive mental attitude can be the difference between being just a golfer and being a good/great golfer that truly enjoys the game.