Great Putters Don’t Fear The Putting Game

Your Mindset That Can Determine Your Putts

Jack Nicklaus once said: “Most make-able putts are missed because of fear or a negative attitude, not because of faulty technique.”

Here is one of the best players ever, who putted great under pressure, saying that your mindset determines whether you will make a putt.

Attitude is everything in putting!

Related Article: 5 Tips to Develop Confidence in Your Putting Game

I want you to consider the following questions about your attitude.

  1. Do you cringe when you pull the putter out of your bag on the putting green?
  2. Do you think putting is the weakest part of your game and wish you were a better putter?
  3. Do you miss putts in your mind before you even hit them?

In golf, two types of players exist when it comes to your putting attitude:

  1. Players that fear putting
  2. Players who love putting

You can see these two opposing attitudes on the faces of players when the get on the green.

Players who putt with fear don’t like this part of the game. Putting is the stumbling block that is holding them back from playing good golf or rising to the next level.

Fear-ridden putters dwell on negative outcomes.

For the scared putter, standing over a long putt, the goal is to avoid three-putting. This result-driven negative mindset causes them to putt tentatively and defensively. Standing over the ball, the pressure of missing yet another short putt is too much, which can lead to the yips.

Players with great attitudes love the challenge of putting. They enjoy this part of the game. They approach each putt with excitement, enthusiasm, and positive emotion. When on the putting green, this is their chance to shine. Their enthusiasm for putting allows them to focus on execution and the process of making putts, which is a key to great putting.

To illustrate the importance of creating your putting attitude, I’d like to tell a story about Hollis Stacy, an LPGA player. I was doing research on career low rounds for a book I was writing. I talked to Hollis about her career low 10 under par 62 at the Safeco classic, which is a record for 18 holes on the LPGA at the time.

The first day of the tournament she shot 78 and was ready to pack her bags after the first round. She threw the putter away because she putted so poorly. She got a new putter from a friend for the second round. Hollis struggled with putting early in her career. Hollis was constantly searching for the magic cure to turn around her putting. She changed technique, putters, and her routine.

But then she realized that it wasn’t the putter or the method that was holding her back–it was the player herself.

She didn’t believe in her putting and was too tentative. She knew she had to change her attitude. It was time for her to believe she was a good putter if she wanted to putt well. She made a commitment to herself that day that she was going to believe in her method.

The very next round with a new putter and attitude she shot 62 and leapfrogged the field. She told me that believing in her putting allowed her to shoot a career low round 62.

I’ve talked to a lot of great putters over the years and when I was researching for the book, The Mental Art of Putting. They all agree that a powerful attitude is your best asset on the greens.


Overcome The Yips and Enjoy Golf Again!

Golf Yips

Golfers, do you suffer from:

  • Anxiety, tension and over control of the stroke or swing?
  • Performance anxiety about what others will think?
  • Inability to wing the club freely on the course, despite the fact that you can in practice?

Check out: Breaking the Yips Cycle

Golfers: Learn how to overcome the fear that keeps you stuck in a vicious cycle

Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game edge.

Coaches: Help your team members play with freedom instead of fear or tension.

Breaking The Yips Cycle: How to Putt, Chip, And Pitch Freely and Enjoy Playing Golf Again

What are Golf Psychology Students Saying?

“I was pleased to find your website and tips to address the mental issues with the yips. Your drills made sense to me. Other people only tackled technique. That isn’t the problem with me as I can stroke them all nicely on the practice putting green. I can even hit the long ones on the course. I will keep working at it and thank you for your interest.”
~Pat Collins


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Download Our FREE Anti-Yips Putting Drills

Do you spend most of your practice time trapped by stroke or mechanics on the practice green?

Are you unsure how to practice to hep you overcome the putting yips?

Golfers: Learn how to putt with freedom using proven putting drills!

Download our FREE putting report and drills to help you unlock your putting potential today!

What are golfers saying about our putting yips drills?

“Patrick–something seems really weird here. You are giving out so much good material to help with the yips, and I feel like I am stealing from you! I really like your style! You don’t see that very often–ever as a mater of fact! You are an amazing guy!”
~O’Jay Omlid


Overcome The Yips With Expert Mental Game Coaching!

Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.

You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!

What are our mental coaching students saying?

“Last weekend Lisa played in a Florida Junior Golf Association tournament in Gainesville. She played great and won (74-70=144) over 43 other competitors! She’s starting to really believe in herself and her stats are improving each tournament. She is thinking better and making much smarter decisions on the course. Thanks again for your help Dr. Cohn.
~Scott Tyler, Father of Lisa Tyler

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