| Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau | | | | the ball to the target of your choice. Learn to select |
| Putting is a game within the game of golf. Your | | | | a smaller target, such as a broken blade of grass, or |
| golfing success depends on your putts, and your | | | | a tiny edge of the hole. Your brain works better |
| putts are affected by your mind. | | | | when the target is smaller, and your brain |
| A good putter knows how to control the mind by | | | | subconsciously has better control of your body's |
| focusing on something small and simple. | | | | functions, especially your muscles and reflexes. |
| In good putting, you clear all the clutters in your mind | | | | You may have one of the best strokes of your life |
| by narrowing your mental focus as much as possible. | | | | when you see the target, and your mind simply |
| Learn to empty your mind of instructional thoughts | | | | reacts to it with little interference from your |
| from books, fellow golfers, or your coach. Just let | | | | conscious thought. |
| your subconscious mind take over your strokes. It is | | | | In any sport, gaining control of the situation is |
| like a runner on the track would let the subconscious | | | | important. Some people believe that you must try |
| mind take over the breathing to increase the oxygen | | | | the hardest in order to control the situation. |
| intake; a runner does not have to consciously | | | | However, in putting, trying your hardest may not be |
| breathe harder in order to get more oxygen into the | | | | equivalent to doing your best. |
| lungs to win the race. | | | | Why is that so? |
| So neither should you consciously focus on your | | | | That is because putting requires spontaneity, and |
| strokes. Instead, just focus on the target. | | | | spontaneity is controlling the mind and hence the |
| For the same reason, if you worry less about scores | | | | response, but without striving your hardest to control |
| or competitions, you would putt much better - you | | | | the resulting action. Essentially, spontaneity is focusing |
| might even just roll the ball right into the hole in a | | | | on the process, and never on the outcome. In this |
| perfect putt. | | | | way, your efforts may become "natural" and |
| In good putting, you must realize that harboring on | | | | "effortless." As a result, your strokes may become |
| thoughts of the outcome of your putts will not help | | | | more confident, free from doubt or hesitation. In |
| you roll the ball to the intended target. Learn to | | | | putting, confidence means overcoming any |
| develop a mental discipline to shut off those | | | | unconscious attempt using excessive muscular |
| conscious thoughts from your mind. In your mind's | | | | strength to steer the shot to the target in the swing. |
| eye, you should see only a mental picture of the hole | | | | Confidence means using your conscious mind to |
| or your target. | | | | remember only the good shots and discarding the |
| Tiger Woods' father was said to have trained his son | | | | bad ones. Confidence also means putting the |
| while he was still a very young kid to roll a ball to a | | | | outcome of a shot in perspective - golf is only a |
| hole, and then roll it to the hole again with his eyes | | | | game and whatever the outcome may be, it is not |
| closed. That was how Tiger Woods received his | | | | the end of the world. Finally, confidence means |
| training in developing his mental golf. | | | | staying in the present moment. The past has nothing |
| A good putter not only focuses on the target, but | | | | to do with the present, and only the present is real |
| also narrows down the target. Therefore, a good | | | | to you. Make the most of what you can do at the |
| putter's target may not simply be the hole. | | | | present moment, and the future is beyond your |
| Remember, the smaller the target is, the better | | | | control. When you control your mind, you control |
| control your brain and your body may have in getting | | | | your confidence, and hence you control the game. |