Mental Skills for Golf:
The Putt – Part 1: An Introduction to the Mental Side of Putting
By Betsy Shoenfelt, Ph.D. ©
Mechanically the putt is the most flexible shot in golf; a variety of putting styles can be successful. Putting is more about feel, touch, rhythm, and tempo than about swing. Mentally the putt is likely the most difficult shot - for a number of reasons.
From tee to green, the precision with which we need to land a shot increases. We are pleased with a drive that lands near the center of the fairway within 5 yards of our target, but with a putt we either make it or miss it. Other shots are much more forgiving.
The putt is important; it typically accounts for more than half the strokes on the scorecard. We have to putt well to score well. We put pressure on ourselves when putting because of the context that surrounds the putt. We think, “If I can only sink this putt, I can save this hole (or even this round).”
The key to mastering the mental side of putting is to remove the context and focus only on the task of putting. To illustrate, think of walking a balance beam. If the beam is lying on the floor, most of us could walk the length of the beam without falling with no problem. However, when we raise the beam 6 feet off the floor, we would be leery of the task and would likely loose our balance and slip off the balance beam. Why? Because we are no longer focusing fully on the task, we are focusing on the context – that we are now 6 feet off the ground. In reality, the task is the same – walking the beam; we have made it more difficult by focusing on the context surrounding the task, rather than the task itself. Likewise with putting, we need to focus on the task of putting and disregard the context surrounding the putt.
To master the mental side of putting, we need to draw on a number of the mental skills discussed previously in this column. We will address the roles of relaxation, imagery, routine, confidence, self-talk, focus, and goal setting in effective putting in future columns. First, recognize that to become a better putter requires practice.
Practice entails more than putting around the practice green before a game. Engage in purposeful practice sessions for long putts and short putts frequently enough to “automate” good mechanics and technique for your putt, as well the eye-hand coordination of sighting the target and setting your stroke. Recent research (Golf Digest, January 2004) suggests that when putting, you should select a specific location on the hole as a clearly defined target and gaze at the target for 1 to 2 seconds, then at the back of the ball with (quick) shifts of gaze from the target spot to the back of the ball, following a precise, consistent path to the cup. [Note: This ensures your eyes detect distance and direction information to initiate the correct automatic response to putt the ball into the cup.] Quiet your eye to gaze on the back of the ball where the putter will contact it just before and as the stroke is executed (for 2 to 3 seconds)
Take short putts seriously – on the course and in practice. Challenge yourself to stay on the practice green until you make 25 short putts (within a putter length) in a row. There will be a lot of pressure on that 23rd, 24th, and 25th putt. Successful practice under pressure will build the muscle memory and the confidence you need for short putts during a match. On long putts, work to get a feel for pace, smoothness, rhythm, and timing.
Ensure you are mechanically sound with your putting stroke and practice enough to automate your stroke; then you can put mental skills to work for you to enhance your putting.
Dr. Betsy Shoenfelt, a Professor of Psychology at Western Kentucky University, is a Certified Sport Psychology Consultant, a Member of the United States Olympic Registry of Sport Psychologists, and a member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. Her previous Golfer’s Tee Times columns may be found on her web page in the WKU website: www.wku.edu
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