fbpx
mental

Deadly sins of putting: Hit and hope

Never hit and hope when putting. You can lose your conviction..
 

Dr Bob Winter is one of the leading mental coaches in the world. Winter is a mind game coach at DLGA and has helped golfers rise to the international stage. Here he explains that hit and hope putting can cause you to lose your conviction.

‘Hit and hope’ putting

‘Hit and hope’ putting refers to a state of mind that lacks conviction or purposeful intent. The typical ‘Hit and Hoper’ gets over the ball and says to himself something like, ‘Well, fingers crossed this one goes in’, or ‘I hope I don’t three-putt from here!’

In other words a ‘hit and hope’ putter is a reactive putter. One who reacts poorly to the outcome of missing. This creates a negative anxiety spiral where they try to avoid missing, instead of focusing on what they have to do to make the putt!

putting

The ‘hit and hoper’ has lost the ability to stroke the ball with conviction. This player becomes mentally distracted to the point they almost try to will the ball into the hole. Rather than following a series of positive affirmations that will help them roll the putt with anything approaching confidence.

The inevitable result is a feeble attempt at starting the ball on line. Almost invariably with insufficient pace. The putt either falls away on the low side or comes up short.

This type of player is always waiting for something good in their putting to happen. But most of the time they are simply waiting. Nothing good ever shows up. If a putt does happen to fall in, it is mostly a matter of luck.

The achievement is not used as a base of positive reinforcement for future effective putting. But is viewed as a random gift that has been offered by the golfing Gods.

Action Plan

A ‘hit and hope’ putter needs to implement an action plan about what it is that they want to do with the putt. Instead of standing over a putt and wishing/hoping that the ball might fall in, a hit and hoper needs to be proactive. By that, I mean they need to create an action plan detailing what they want to do with the putt and how they want to hit it.

putting

In the first instance this action plan takes the form of a basic routine. A sound, repeatable pre-putt routine provides structure and rhythm to the overall process. And is a great foundation for rolling the ball with positive intent.

One more thing: whether the ball goes in or not, the key for you as a golfer is to take into account how the stroke was performed and to feel good about the process of executing your plan of action for that putt. The more specific you are able to be when it comes to identifying line, pace and execution, the more likely it is you will hit a solid putt.

Latest Posts

Course management

Should you get every putt past the hole?

Read full article - Should you get every putt past the hole?
What Does a Player Do In a Practice Round at The Open Championship?

Course management

What Does a Player Do In a Practice Round at The Open Championship?

Read full article - What Does a Player Do In a Practice Round at The Open Championship?
lanny wadkins phil mickelson

Iron play

What Training Aids Are Tour Players Using At The Open Championship

Read full article - What Training Aids Are Tour Players Using At The Open Championship
The SECRET To Breaking Par on Par 5s

Course management

The SECRET To Breaking Par on Par 5s

Read full article - The SECRET To Breaking Par on Par 5s
Easy Putting Fixes! Drills To Improve Your Putting

Putting

Easy Putting Fixes! Drills To Improve Your Putting

Read full article - Easy Putting Fixes! Drills To Improve Your Putting
how to break 70

Course management

Five tips to break 70

Read full article - Five tips to break 70
break 100 in golf

Course management

Five tips to break 100

Read full article - Five tips to break 100
Simple Tips To Improve Your Putting - done

Putting

Simple Tips To Improve Your Putting

Read full article - Simple Tips To Improve Your Putting
How to break 90

Course management

How to break 90

Read full article - How to break 90