No matter what your handicap, scores are raised and lowered by your ability to sink putts. Youre on the green, staring down a 6-foot putt and going through your normal routine. This is the moment. The culmination of everything youve done up until this point on the hole youre playing. You step up to address position, place your putter behind the ball and give it a roll. Darn! Missed again!
What is it about putting that drives low handicappers, high handicappers, scratch and professional golfers out of their minds?
Everything is right there in front of you. You can see the hole and the way to sink more putts is to keep things as simple as possible. Putting is all attitude. The mind, if clear and open will help you make a smoother and a fuller putting motion. If it is not clear and busy thinking/worrying or doubting than you may feel additional tension and stress over the ball.
The following are 4 non-mechanical keys to putting that put you in the best position to make good putts and keep you focused on the process.
They are:
1. Line
2. Pace
3. Balance
4. Stillness
There are as many different ways to be a good putter as there are good putters. No matter what your particular style, you must go through these 4 steps to give yourself a chance to sink more putts.
Many golfers dont actually expect the ball to go in the hole. They might say it out loud but the internal dialogue indicates more of a wish or a hope. I just hope to put a good roll on this one is a remark often heard on the course. Why would you hope to put a good roll on it? PUT A GOOD ROLL ON IT! Dont hope for itjust do it! If I promised you $50,000 for doing 200 push-ups in 10 days from today would you hope to do 200 push- ups? No! You would work each day to get to 200 push- ups if you wanted the 50 grand wouldnt you? There is no hoping involved, only the expectation that you will do 200 push-ups and collect your money.
Putting is no different. Expect the ball to go in the hole and take hoping and wishing out of the picture. Save that for the media!
THE 4 KEYS.
First, pick your line and do it with CONVICTION. See what is available on the green from all sides. Make your decision and pick out a small intermediate target to roll your ball over. BE CLEAR!
Second, decide what pace you will need. Is it a long or short putt? Are you going up hill or down hill, through different tiers on the green, etc.? Make a CLEAR decision on the pace your ball will roll and practice the pace you will use.
Third, get into a strong and balanced position for both your practice swings and at address. Many times, high handicappers are not balanced over the ball. Even low handicappers become unbalanced when they feel pressure and speed up their routines over the ball. The result is an imbalance physically, mentally and emotionally. This is the surest way to throw you off line and miss putts.
Fourth, become still. What does this mean? This means once youve picked your line, pace and you are balanced, there is nothing else to do! Become still and quiet over the ball. Putting involves the fine motor movement and less is definitely more when it comes to great putting. Quiet the bottom of your feet, ankles, knees, hips, arms, shoulders and hands. Keep your mind and your body quiet and relax your eyes. Tense eyes equal tense muscles around the neck and shoulders. This moment of stillness allows you to free up your swing.
Do you want to improve your game? Why not improve where it all beginsyour MIND! For more Performance Improvement Tools click here
To Your Best Golf!
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David Breslow is a National Speaker, Author and Performance Consultant. His book, Wired To Win is available at 888.280.7715. David works with clients all over the world via telephone so it doesnt matter where you live, work or play! His clients include professional athletes (PGA, LPGA and other sports), juniors and all amateurs. He also works with Businesses of all sizes. He brings a fresh, direct, no-nonsense revolutionary approach to Human Performance, helping people make quicker and more powerful shifts in attitude, behavior and action. David is the weekly Mental Game Columnist for The Golf Channel where his articles are read by over 4000,000 people. For more info please visit: www.theflowzone.net, email: daviddavid@theflowzone.net or call: 847.681.0247
