In recent weeks, I’ve achieved significant success by adopting a fresh putting approach inspired by the teachings of Dr Joseph Parent’s “Zen Golf” book. For those seeking to enhance their mental game and become more present on the golf course, this book is an absolute must-read.
The Impact of Fixating on the Hole:
In the first chapter, titled “A Different Perspective”, Dr Joe delves into the concept that fixating too intensely on the hole during putting can hinder your success. When you focus too narrowly on the hole, your mind becomes smaller and your world becomes more constricted. This overemphasis on the hole as the final destination for your ball can trigger a fear of overshooting, causing you to leave more putts short of the hole. Dr Joe suggests that visually focusing too tightly on an object (in this case the hole) can make it look closer than it actually is. When coupled with our fear of hitting the ball past the hole, this often leads to under-hit putts.
Expand Your Field of Vision for Improved Putting Results:
Dr Joe challenges golfers to expand their field of vision when preparing to putt, encouraging them to see the distance to the hole within a larger context. Personally, I’ve discovered that focusing on a point 3 to 4 feet beyond the hole along the line I envision the ball rolling on increases my chances of reaching the hole and ultimately yields better results. This spot past the hole can be anything from a small piece of mud, loose leaf to a different shade of grass. Once I’ve committed to my new target beyond the hole, I visualise the ball rolling through the hole on my pre-established line. This mindset transforms the hole from the final destination to a bridge that my ball must cross to reach it’s ultimate resting place (the leaf 3 foot beyond the hole on my chosen line).
Sink More 3 to 4 Footers With This Approach:
This new approach works very effectively for short putts, allowing me to release the tension in my shoulders and execute more consistent putting strokes out the centre of the putter. When confronted with short putts I believe I should be making (e.g., 3 to 4 footers) I’ve often found myself trying to ‘will’ the ball into the hole rather than confidently stroking it along my intended line. This fear of missing a putt “I should make” results in a more hesitant, “jab-like” putting stroke. I’m so fixated on the outcome and more specifically the fear of missing the short putt, that I often approach the putt without a clear plan or repeatable routine. However, by shifting my gaze to a point past the hole, I eliminate the fear of missing the hole, as my attention is newly focused on delivering the ball to a new destination. The hole is now simply in the way of my target – if it goes in the hole great, if it misses and hits my target that’s a successful outcome. With this new mindset, even on the occasions when I miss putts using this approach, I find myself less frustrated as the hole was never my primary focus point. This results in less mental baggage carrying over to the next shot after missing a putt, which over the course of a full round yields better scores!
