subject: Drive for show, putt for dough [print this page] sayingand it is truesayingand it is true. Most major tournaments, even local amateur club events, come down to a single stroke that is made on the green. It seems like the simplest part of the game, just roll the ball a few feet, but it can be the most challenging and important part of your game. Most golfers want to take strokes off their game and spend time on the range hitting drivers and irons, but unfortunately do not spend a proportionate amount of time with their putting game. If we two-putt every hole, that is 36 strokes! There is a lot of room there to shave off three or four strokes a round. How happy would you be if you could lower your score by three strokes in the next two months without buying new equipment or taking lessons focusing upon your mechanics?
When the pressure is on, those "Big Putts" get even tougher. A big putt might only be three feet; it does not have to be a downhill, discount golf clubs side hill thirty-foot putt for a birdie. Any putt that stands between you and wining the hole is a "big putt." When the pressure is on, the mental side of the game becomes more important than mechanics, because mental breakdown leads to physical breakdown. Physiological research shows that fear, doubt, apprehension and uncertainty lead to greater muscular tension and constriction; hence lack of coordination, fluidity and good swing mechanics. Good rhythm, timing and tempo break down when we get too tense. The adrenalin is flowing and we typically become quick and rush the stroke. We either decelerate on the follow through, because we are afraid to blow it by the hole, or we lose any sense of feel for distance and blast it past the hole because we do not want to come up short. To make things worse, when we are most nervous standing over a putt, we typically look up too quickly, because we want to see if we made the putt, and pull the stroke off line.
Tension inhibits our ability to visualize well. When we lose the ability to moderate internal states, we cannot read the green, see the breaks, and sense the speed. In short, our ability to make the "big putts" under pressure goes out the window. The resulting frustration is enormous. We make a great drive and second shot leaving a chance for a birdie, but we cannot convert. Tiger Wood's level of frustration was severe in the 2003 Buick Open because he just did not roll the ball as well as he is capable. He was only two stokes behind Jim Furyk. His putting game would have made the difference. discount golf clubs That is golf! Some days are better than others. However, there are some proven methods that can increase your chances of rolling the ball well and making those big putts.
Let's look at three factors that directly relate to putting and discuss some mental techniques that will improve your ability to roll the ball: Tension, Imagination, and Visualization.
Tension: The problem
We have discussed how tension basically blows your ability to putt well. Tension starts in the mind! Remember this: if your body feels tight, it started somewhere in your mind with a thought that was fear based. A common mental error that most golfers make is to be performance oriented. We think too much about the score and our results.
Thinking about our scores takes us out of the moment and takes our attention away from the process of playing the game. The simple fact is: if we stay in the moment, maintain our focus on each stoke, then the outcome will take care of itself. Great putting requires a good sense of feel. Increased mental, emotional and resulting physical tension kills our ability to feel our body and sense the roll of the green. We have to learn to manage tension if we are going to score well and make those important putts.
Tension: The solution
Diaphragmatic Breathing: The breath is a key to managing tension. There are several aspects to the breath that are important to know. Research has shown that diaphragmic breathing allows more oxygen to enter the blood stream and reach the brain. Simply beginning your breath from your diaphragm, rather than from your upper chest results in decreased heart rate, decreased cardiopulmonary stress, decreased muscle tension, decreased fatigue, decreased need for sleep, decreased perception of pain, increased blood and oxygen to the brain and heart, alpha brain wave activation, sayingand it is true. Most major tournaments, even local amateur club events, come down to a single stroke that is made on the green. It seems like the simplest part of the game, just roll the ball a few feet, but it can be the most challenging and important part of your game. Most golfers want to take strokes off their game and spend time on the range hitting drivers and irons, but unfortunately do not spend a proportionate amount of time with their putting game. If we two-putt every hole, that is 36 strokes! There is a lot of room there to shave off three or four strokes a round. How happy would you be if you could lower your score by three strokes in the next two months without buying new equipment or taking lessons focusing upon your mechanics?
When the pressure is on, those "Big Putts" get even tougher. A big putt might only be three feet; it does not have to be a downhill, discount golf clubs =http://www.golfdiscountsale.comside hill thirty-foot putt for a birdie. Any putt that stands between you and wining the hole is a "big putt." When the pressure is on, the mental side of the game becomes more important than mechanics, because mental breakdown leads to physical breakdown. Physiological research shows that fear, doubt, apprehension and uncertainty lead to greater muscular tension and constriction; hence lack of coordination, fluidity and good swing mechanics. Good rhythm, timing and tempo break down when we get too tense. The adrenalin is flowing and we typically become quick and rush the stroke. We either decelerate on the follow through, because we are afraid to blow it by the hole, or we lose any sense of feel for distance and blast it past the hole because we do not want to come up short. To make things worse, when we are most nervous standing over a putt, we typically look up too quickly, because we want to see if we made the putt, and pull the stroke off line.
Tension inhibits our ability to visualize well. When we lose the ability to moderate internal states, we cannot read the green, see the breaks, and sense the speed. In short, our ability to make the "big putts" under pressure goes out the window. The resulting frustration is enormous. We make a great drive and second shot leaving a chance for a birdie, but we cannot convert. Tiger Wood's level of frustration was severe in the 2003 Buick Open because he just did not roll the ball as well as he is capable. He was only two stokes behind Jim Furyk. His putting game would have made the difference. discount golf clubs =http://www.golfdiscountsale.com That is golf! Some days are better than others. However, there are some proven methods that can increase your chances of rolling the ball well and making those big putts.
Let's look at three factors that directly relate to putting and discuss some mental techniques that will improve your ability to roll the ball: Tension, Imagination, and Visualization.
Tension: The problem
We have discussed how tension basically blows your ability to putt well. Tension starts in the mind! Remember this: if your body feels tight, it started somewhere in your mind with a thought that was fear based. A common mental error that most golfers make is to be performance oriented. We think too much about the score and our results.
Thinking about our scores takes us out of the moment and takes our attention away from the process of playing the game. The simple fact is: if we stay in the moment, maintain our focus on each stoke, then the outcome will take care of itself. Great putting requires a good sense of feel. Increased mental, emotional and resulting physical tension kills our ability to feel our body and sense the roll of the green. We have to learn to manage tension if we are going to score well and make those important putts.
Tension: The solution
Diaphragmatic Breathing: The breath is a key to managing tension. There are several aspects to the breath that are important to know. Research has shown that diaphragmic breathing allows more oxygen to enter the blood stream and reach the brain. Simply beginning your breath from your diaphragm, rather than from your upper chest results in decreased heart rate, decreased cardiopulmonary stress, decreased muscle tension, decreased fatigue, decreased need for sleep, decreased perception of pain, increased blood and oxygen to the brain and heart, alpha brain wave activation,Callaway X-22 Ironsand increased relaxation response. That is a lot of bang for the buck! All you have to do is breathe, which you are doing anyway, but breathe properly from the diaphragm.
Mindful Awareness Breathing: We have already discussed how tension starts in the mind with a thought, a negative, fear-based thought. " I can't make this putt, " "I am a terrible putter," "I always choke" are just a few of the thoughts most of us have heard in our head while preparing to sink the "big putt." Mindful awareness training teaches you how to mentally disengage and be unaffected by those "not so helpful" coaching tips that seem to come from some hidden demonic realm. Here is the technique. Sit with your eyes closed and watch your breath. I hope you realize that since your eyes are closed this is not something to do while you are driving your car!
and increased relaxation response. That is a lot of bang for the buck! All you have to do is breathe, which you are doing anyway, but breathe properly from the diaphragm.
Mindful Awareness Breathing: We have already discussed how tension starts in the mind with a thought, a negative, fear-based thought. " I can't make this putt, " "I am a terrible putter," "I always choke" are just a few of the thoughts most of us have heard in our head while preparing to sink the "big putt." Mindful awareness training teaches you how to mentally disengage and be unaffected by those "not so helpful" coaching tips that seem to come from some hidden demonic realm. Here is the technique. Sit with your eyes closed and watch your breath. I hope you realize that since your eyes are closed this is not something to do while you are driving your car!
