Mental Skills for Golf

The Putt – Part 2: Bring Your Entire Toolbox of Mental Skills

By Betsy Shoenfelt, Ph.D.©

 

 

What do you do when you face a putt that is the most important shot of your life? You really are 12 feet away from winning a major tournament?  Mechanically the putt is the most flexible shot in golf; a variety of putting styles can be successful. However, mentally the putt is likely the most difficult shot. A number of the mental skills discussed in previous columns come to play in effective putting. Golf is a game of interference management. Mental skills help us manage the interference of our own minds intruding on our golf game. Putting Part 1 discussed the importance of sound mechanics, practicing to automaticity, and focusing fully on the putt itself rather than the context. This article brings other mental skills to putting.

 

Self talk, what we say to ourselves about the situation, is an important key to putting confidence. During a round of golf we have time to think; what we think is critical. Accordingly, we need to train ourselves to use positive self-talk to create a positive mindset for putting. What do you tell yourself about putting? Top pros average about 29 putts per round, one-putting about 7 of 18 greens. The average pro score is not 7 under par, so the pros miss their share of greens. Like the pros, we should view putting well as a positive opportunity to retrieve mistakes - look forward to the opportunity to putt.  The ball is 1.68 inches in diameter; the hole is 4.25 inches in diameter – it will fit. Take the ball to the cup and see how much room there is for the ball to drop into the hole.

 

When you face a difficult putt, don’t awfulize - don’t tell yourself what a terrible lie you have. Keep things in perspective. Think of something that is truly awful. How does this awful event compare to possibly missing this putt? In comparison, the putt seems trivial. This perspective should remove the pressure surrounding the putt.  Now that the pressure is off, use your mental skills to set yourself up for a successful putt. Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk. 

 

Set a realistic goal for your putt. Should you lag the putt or go for the hole? Place the ball to give yourself the best opportunity to score. Focus on the positive, present performance (putt) you want to accomplish. Prepare – look at the hole, see where you want the ball to go. Use imagery to visualize pressure putts and see yourself remain calm, cool, collected, confident – and putting well; visualize yourself putting the ball into the cup. Relaxation as part of your putting routine will ensure the mind-body connection communicates that you are in control, calm, and relaxed.

 

Keep track of putts. Set goals for total putts per round, front nine, and back nine. Prepare – be technically sound and learn to read the green.

 

So, what should you do when you really are faced with a putt that is the most important shot of your life?  Prepare now. Treat every putt as important.  Start right now to prepare as though some day you will have the opportunity to realize all your hopes and dreams by sinking one critical putt.  Develop the mindset of an athlete; welcome challenging situations; be prepared to deal with it successfully when destiny knocks at your door.  Ensure you are mechanically sound with your putting stroke, learn to read the green, then put your 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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