Zen Putting

1. Cultivate Unconditional Confidence in Your Putting Ability

Unconditional confidence means taking a bigger perspective, independent of moment-to-moment results.

Confidence is key. Unconditional confidence in putting is not based on recent results, but on a deeply held belief in your ability to handle any situation on the green. This mindset allows you to approach each putt with a sense of ease and trust, regardless of past performance.

Shift your perspective. Instead of viewing yourself as a poor putter who occasionally gets lucky, see yourself as a skilled putter who sometimes faces challenges. This positive self-image reinforces your confidence and helps you bounce back from setbacks more quickly.

Practice visualization. Imagine successful putts before executing them. Visualize the ball already in the hole, reducing anxiety and allowing for a more relaxed, committed stroke. This technique, combined with a focus on process rather than outcome, helps cultivate a state of unconditional confidence that can improve your overall putting performance.

2. Focus on Process Over Results to Improve Performance

You may not hole every putt, but you can make every putt.

Redefine success. Instead of basing your putting success solely on whether the ball goes in the hole, focus on executing your process effectively. This means:

• Choosing the right path
• Selecting the appropriate pace
• Making a smooth, committed stroke

Embrace the relay race analogy. Think of putting as a relay race where your job is to:

1. Run your section (make a good stroke)
2. Hand off the baton (transfer energy to the ball)
3. Cheer from the sidelines (watch the ball's journey)

Develop a growth mindset. By focusing on process, you create opportunities for continuous improvement. Each putt becomes a learning experience, regardless of the outcome. This approach reduces pressure and allows for more consistent performance over time.

3. Master the Mental Game Through Mindful Awareness

Zen means waking up to the present moment, being open to information, holding no fixed ideas.

Practice mindfulness. Develop your ability to stay present and aware during putting through regular mindfulness exercises. This can include:

• Body scans to release tension
• Rhythmic breathing to center yourself
• Focused attention on sensory experiences

Cultivate panoramic awareness. Train your mind to maintain both a focused and expansive awareness. This allows you to:

• Stay attuned to the details of your putt
• Remain open to the broader context of the green and course

Apply mindfulness on the course. Incorporate mindful awareness into your putting routine. This helps you:

• Recognize and release distracting thoughts
• Stay committed to your chosen path and pace
• Respond skillfully to challenges as they arise

4. Develop a Consistent Pre-Shot Routine for Putting Success

Routine means customary; doing things in the usual way. Repeat the same process for every putt and you'll feel like the situation is more familiar, therefore more trustworthy.

Create a personalized routine. Develop a pre-shot routine that works for you, incorporating elements such as:

• Reading the green from multiple angles
• Visualizing the path and pace of the putt
• Taking practice strokes to reinforce feel
• Using a consistent setup and alignment process

Practice your routine religiously. Spend time on the practice green rehearsing your routine until it becomes second nature. This consistency helps create a sense of familiarity and comfort, even in high-pressure situations.

Stay flexible within structure. While maintaining a consistent routine, allow for slight adjustments based on the specific challenges of each putt. This balance of structure and adaptability promotes both consistency and responsiveness in your putting performance.

5. Understand and Apply the Fundamentals of Reading Greens

Always read your putts from the biggest view to the smallest.

Start with the big picture. Begin your green reading process by considering:

• Overall lay of the land
• Influence of nearby mountains or bodies of water
• General slope patterns on the course

Narrow your focus. Progress to more specific factors affecting your putt:

• High and low points around the green
• Fall lines near the hole
• Subtle breaks and undulations along the putting path

Use multiple senses. Incorporate visual and physical cues to improve your read:

• Walk the path between ball and hole to feel slopes with your feet
• Observe how other players' putts react near the hole
• Pay attention to grain direction and its effect on ball roll

By systematically analyzing these factors, you'll develop a more accurate and confident read of each putt, leading to improved performance on the greens.

6. Overcome Common Putting Challenges and Mental Obstacles

To change that behavior, first we have to recognize that the habit of putting without commitment was the cause of the missed putt.

Identify your tendencies. Keep a record of your putting tendencies, noting:

• Common symptoms (e.g., leaving putts short, pushing or pulling)
• Underlying causes (e.g., lack of commitment, coming up out of the putt)
• Effective remedies for each issue

Address mental obstacles. Recognize and overcome mental challenges such as:

• Fear of three-putting
• Anxiety over short putts
• The "yips" or performance anxiety

Develop targeted solutions. Create specific strategies to address your challenges:

• For fear of three-putting: Focus on making a committed stroke to an intermediate target
• For short putt anxiety: Treat knee-knockers as simple tap-ins by adjusting your mental approach
• For the yips: Work on softening your grip and maintaining a smooth, pendulum-like stroke

By systematically addressing these challenges, you can build confidence and improve your putting performance over time.

7. Continuously Improve Through Self-Coaching and Practice

Being your own coach is a lot like being your own best friend, or being your own caddie during a round of golf.

Develop self-awareness. Regularly assess your putting performance, noting:

• Areas of strength
• Opportunities for improvement
• Patterns in your successes and struggles

Create a practice plan. Design structured practice sessions that:

• Address your specific needs and tendencies
• Incorporate drills to reinforce good habits
• Simulate on-course situations and pressure

Be your own coach. Learn to objectively analyze your putting and provide constructive feedback:

• Use the "symptoms, causes, remedies" framework to troubleshoot issues
• Speak to yourself as you would to a friend or student you're coaching
• Celebrate successes and learn from mistakes without harsh self-judgment

By adopting a growth mindset and consistently working on your putting through targeted practice and self-coaching, you can continue to improve your skills and confidence on the greens over time.

Last updated: September 2, 2024