Putting is More Mental than Physical
“Putting is more mental than physical. Good Putting is mental balance where you make a decision that is not guessing. Feel at ease, lack worry, and no guessing as you hit the ball.”
Walter Hagen - American Golfer Magazine 1929
Walter Hagen our first inductee into the Good Putting Hall of Fame. I am sure if he were hear to accept the award he would be highly honored.
We can teach you all the physical parts of putting, but none of it matters unless you get the mental side down. A well struck putt after a lot of planning can still miss if the stroke is not a confident one.
I am convinced that all the putts that I make that are of any significant length are made because I know without a doubt exactly how to hit the putt and how to aim it.
On the other side I am convinced that every putt I miss I am not totally convinced and at ease that I know exactly what is going to happen.
There are a lot of putts that all golfers take that are a bit of an educated guess. I think that if you talk to poor putters they would say that most putts are an educated guess, and the pros make a lot because they are lucky. Pros do not make most of their putts because they are lucky. They make them because they make an educated decision and make a confident stroke.
What can you take from this? Practicing will make you a more confident putter. With practice you will gain confidence in your reads, and in your putting motion.
Once you get on the green take a simple stroke, and just trust yourself. You are probably already a better putter than you think.
