| Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau | | | | to select a smaller target, such as a broken blade |
| Putting is a game within the game of golf. Your | | | | of grass, or a tiny edge of the hole. Your brain |
| golfing success depends on your putts, and your | | | | works better when the target is smaller, and your |
| putts are affected by your mind. | | | | brain subconsciously has better control of your |
| A good putter knows how to control the mind by | | | | body's functions, especially your muscles and |
| focusing on something small and simple. | | | | reflexes. |
| In good putting, you clear all the clutters in your | | | | You may have one of the best strokes of your |
| mind by narrowing your mental focus as much as | | | | life when you see the target, and your mind |
| possible. Learn to empty your mind of instructional | | | | simply reacts to it with little interference from |
| thoughts from books, fellow golfers, or your | | | | your conscious thought. |
| coach. Just let your subconscious mind take over | | | | In any sport, gaining control of the situation is |
| your strokes. It is like a runner on the track | | | | important. Some people believe that you must try |
| would let the subconscious mind take over the | | | | the hardest in order to control the situation. |
| breathing to increase the oxygen intake; a runner | | | | However, in putting, trying your hardest may not |
| does not have to consciously breathe harder in | | | | be equivalent to doing your best. |
| order to get more oxygen into the lungs to win | | | | Why is that so? |
| the race. | | | | That is because putting requires spontaneity, and |
| So neither should you consciously focus on your | | | | spontaneity is controlling the mind and hence the |
| strokes. Instead, just focus on the target. | | | | response, but without striving your hardest to |
| For the same reason, if you worry less about | | | | control the resulting action. Essentially, spontaneity |
| scores or competitions, you would putt much | | | | is focusing on the process, and never on the |
| better - you might even just roll the ball right into | | | | outcome. In this way, your efforts may become |
| the hole in a perfect putt. | | | | "natural" and "effortless." As a result, your strokes |
| In good putting, you must realize that harboring | | | | may become more confident, free from doubt or |
| on thoughts of the outcome of your putts will not | | | | hesitation. In putting, confidence means |
| help you roll the ball to the intended target. Learn | | | | overcoming any unconscious attempt using |
| to develop a mental discipline to shut off those | | | | excessive muscular strength to steer the shot to |
| conscious thoughts from your mind. In your | | | | the target in the swing. Confidence means using |
| mind's eye, you should see only a mental picture | | | | your conscious mind to remember only the good |
| of the hole or your target. | | | | shots and discarding the bad ones. Confidence also |
| Tiger Woods' father was said to have trained his | | | | means putting the outcome of a shot in |
| son while he was still a very young kid to roll a | | | | perspective - golf is only a game and whatever |
| ball to a hole, and then roll it to the hole again with | | | | the outcome may be, it is not the end of the |
| his eyes closed. That was how Tiger Woods | | | | world. Finally, confidence means staying in the |
| received his training in developing his mental golf. | | | | present moment. The past has nothing to do with |
| A good putter not only focuses on the target, | | | | the present, and only the present is real to you. |
| but also narrows down the target. Therefore, a | | | | Make the most of what you can do at the |
| good putter's target may not simply be the hole. | | | | present moment, and the future is beyond your |
| Remember, the smaller the target is, the better | | | | control. When you control your mind, you control |
| control your brain and your body may have in | | | | your confidence, and hence you control the game. |
| getting the ball to the target of your choice. Learn | | | | |