Joe,
Every now and then I will hit a great drive and a great shot to the green and have a short birdie putt, and I get so $%#!ng mad when I miss it, like all that work for nothing. As I stand over the putt I am already telling myself I just hit 2 great shots and I will have wasted them if I miss it. This really psyches me out, I can make the same putts all the time on the practice green. What should I do?
Matthew
Hi Matthew,
The mind is a powerful thing, and pressure makes the mind behave differently, which can interfere with your putting stroke. It is natural for you to feel that you do not want to waste your good shots, but you need to use your mind to your advantage. Negative thoughts are a disadvantage, like worrying about missing the putt. Instead, understand that you cannot steer a putt. Once the stroke is made, you have no more control over where the ball goes. All you can control is the way you make your stroke. So tell yourself if you miss it, it will not be because you did not do your best to read the putt and commit yourself to executing a proper stroke. That is all you can do, and you have already proven on the practice green that you can do that. Once the stroke is made, if the ball does not go in the cup, oh well, at least you gave it your best shot. Worrying about a miss will only disrupt your stroke which is not giving it your best shot. Once you are able to focus on execution instead of results, I think you will see more of these putts fall.
Joe
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Joe,
On the putting green I do OK but on the course I tend to baby short putts and leave them short of the hole. This is very frustrating. I know pressure has something to do with it, but is there a mechanical idea I can use to overcome this?
Bobby
Hello Bobby,
The simplest way to fix this without changing your putting style is to extend your leading elbow outward, so your forearm is along the target line, and then use that elbow to control the pace of your stroke. This elbow action forces a more complete follow thru, so you are less likely to baby short putts. You also may find improvements in your longer putts as well.
Joe
On the putting green I do OK but on the course I tend to baby short putts and leave them short of the hole. This is very frustrating. I know pressure has something to do with it, but is there a mechanical idea I can use to overcome this?
Bobby
Hello Bobby,
The simplest way to fix this without changing your putting style is to extend your leading elbow outward, so your forearm is along the target line, and then use that elbow to control the pace of your stroke. This elbow action forces a more complete follow thru, so you are less likely to baby short putts. You also may find improvements in your longer putts as well.
Joe
