| Hey, golfers...want to learn how to nail those putts | | | | mindset when putting. Just let it happen. Let your |
| consistently? All you've got to do is spend a few | | | | instincts take over. |
| quick minutes reading this & in no time flat | | | | Trust in the hours of practice that you have put |
| you'll be shaving points off your score. :) | | | | in so far. |
| A. Introduction | | | | Just step up & make the shot. Putt in the |
| Good putting can make or break a decent game. | | | | "subconscious." |
| After all, we all want to get our score as low as | | | | Sounds hokey, doesn't it? It is. But, I'd rather |
| possible. Let's run through some quick putting tips | | | | have a lower score & be hokey than be "too |
| to get that score down ASAP! | | | | cool" to try! |
| B. The Way the Grass Grows | | | | D.Focus Your Eyes |
| Every shot combines: | | | | If you want a sure way to miss a putt, look up |
| 1. The golfer's judgment of the distance, terrain, | | | | to see if the ball goes into the hole before it does. |
| & wind conditions and | | | | Don't do it! |
| 2. A complete execution of the swing. And when | | | | Resist the temptation to watch your ball. |
| it comes to putting, the mental gymnastics count | | | | The best thing to do is keep your head still over |
| more for this shot than any other one that you'll | | | | the ball. Just stare down at the empty spot that |
| attempt. Sometimes silence can be deafening! | | | | the ball used to occupy before you hit it. |
| It is possible to putt better. In fact, your fellow | | | | Use your ears instead. Listen. Listen to hear if the |
| players might not even practice putting, let alone | | | | putt goes in.... |
| get educated on how to advance their shortgame | | | | Don't allow your eyes to follow the clubhead |
| skills. | | | | during the stroke. |
| For instance, many golfers simply "pace off" the | | | | To help focus, pick a small, noticeable mark on |
| distance to the cup. There is a better way. | | | | the ball to focus upon. Keep your eyes fixated on |
| Try this: | | | | the brand name, logo, dimple, or ID mark |
| 1. Stand over the ball. | | | | throughout your stroke. |
| 2. Try to "see" a line running directly towards the | | | | If you are still having trouble, try to place your |
| hole. (It's imaginary. Do your best.) | | | | putterhead on the ball. Now, stare at the spot on |
| 3. Try to measure the distance in 5 or 10 foot | | | | the ball & then stand perfectly still for five |
| intervals. | | | | seconds.... |
| 4. Next, check the texture of the grass. | | | | During those five seconds, let the gaze of your |
| 5. Now, Take notice of which direction the grass | | | | eyes slowly go out of focus. Your eyes will still be |
| is growing! | | | | fixated on the spot, but everything else will |
| You obviously don't have to hit the ball as hard | | | | become seemingly fuzzy & soft. |
| when the grass is growing towards the hole as | | | | Now, putt with your eyes and mind in this blurry, |
| opposed to away. But, the trick is that direction | | | | meditative state. Slip into an altered state & |
| can be a little difficult to judge unless you look | | | | just let it happen..... |
| closely. | | | | E. Fixing Your Alignment |
| So, take a moment and use the direction of the | | | | Finally, do you see too many angles when you |
| grass growth as a indicator of how much power | | | | stand over a putt? |
| you need in your putt. | | | | Have you checked to ensure that you are lined |
| And, don't tell the people you play with this tip | | | | up correctly? Your conscious alignment may be at |
| either. You don't need the competition! | | | | war with your subconscious'. And your putt might |
| C.Clear Your Head | | | | be caught in the conflict between them.... |
| "Yips" are what golfers generally use to describe | | | | Sounds funny, doesn't it? Think about it...it could be |
| the twitches, shakes, jitters & jerks | | | | affecting your game right now. |
| associated with putting. Because the major | | | | To optimize your alignment, try this: |
| contributors to the "yips" are tension, anxiety, | | | | Use your practice green & drop your ball a |
| & sometimes a lack of confidence, one way | | | | few feet from the hole. Stand behind the ball and |
| get rid of them is to try to "empty" your mind. | | | | line up. |
| Here's what you do...Let your subconscious take | | | | You are going to use the printed brand name on |
| over - forget about the stroke, forget about the | | | | the ball as a guide, so make sure you can see it. |
| results, & forget about any other things that | | | | Position the ball so that the name is pointing |
| may be clouding your judgment. Just play like a | | | | straight toward the hole. When you get over the |
| child would. Forget the outcome. After all, this is | | | | ball with your putter, match the line on the top of |
| recreation, right? | | | | your putter to the line on the ball's logo. |
| Imagine it's a Friday afternoon. See yourself | | | | Put the putterhead flush behind the ball on this line. |
| stepping inside your local bar to shoot a nice | | | | Now, take notice of your feet. |
| relaxing game of pool. What does that feel like? | | | | Are they perpendicular to the line created by the |
| It's fun, right? | | | | logo? How about your shoulders? |
| Why should golf be any different? | | | | Finally, are you taking the putter head straight |
| You may want to win, but the balance of the | | | | back and straight "through" during the stroke?This |
| world isn't hanging on your shot, right? Shooting | | | | will give you a very good indicator on how to |
| pool & playing golf shouldn't be all that | | | | adjust your alignment. Make the changes you |
| different. | | | | need to ensure it's an easy shot & that you |
| So what if you miss!? | | | | are aligned correctly. Small tweaks like this can |
| Try to put yourself into the same relaxed | | | | add up to a lower score very quickly! |