When it comes to putting, the technique isn’t always the biggest issue—it’s your mind. The key to sinking more putts lies in understanding that putting is all in your head. Your mental approach plays a crucial role in determining your success on the green. From handling pressure to maintaining focus and confidence, the psychology behind putting is often what separates good putters from great ones.
We teamed up with Karl Morris, one of Europe’s leading golf performance coach. Karl has shining resume having worked with 6 major winners and over 100 tour players. Notable names include Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Louis Oosthuizen. Karl isn’t a golf psychologist but helps players combine their mental game with performance on the course. Below, he discusses how your mindset can impact your putting performance. As well as giving expert tips that you can test out on the golf course.
Worry About Other’s Watching
Having someone watching you play creates a feeling of paranoia for many golfers. The issue of so-called ‘1st tee nerves’ revolves around the same notion: ‘I’m uncomfortable because people are watching and I don’t know what they’re thinking…’.
I’m sure you can relate to any number of scenarios. Say you are playing with a well- known player at your club and it is the first time you have been paired up. You want to impress that player. Over the ball, that little voice perks up inside your head, reminding you that they’re watching. The thoughts within your mind start to race and there is little you can do to shut off such a damaging, judgmental attitude.
