In my last email (it was popular and you can check it out here if you missed it) I discussed my really simple chipping ideas…
… ideas which work wonderfully and over the journey, have probably saved me 1000s of shots. The big point I was trying to make here is that I’m still surprised at how many weekend warrior type golfers DON’T heed this simple advice.
They still persist with the harder shot and wonder why they don’t improve.
Anyhoo…
Today I want to talk about the putting game. And in particular, I want to explore a powerful mindset/attitude that also works like a charm.
It keeps me focused
It saves a bunch of shots
Is easy to implement (if you can leave your ego behind)
Helps you sink more putts (but not in how you would think)
What am I on about here?
I’m talking about two-putting
And in particular…
… being happy with two-putting most of the time.
Let me explain.
My last round I played was most pleasing for me because I hadn’t really hit a ball for around 6 weeks (due to a shoulder injury) so I was not expecting great things when I turned up at the course. But I did manage to play decently and even surprised myself a bit.
I warmed up as best I could (the shoulder was a bit stiff and sore) and committed to playing MY WAY. In really simple terms…
This means playing one shot at a time and selecting the easiest shot over and over.
Nothing that exciting but it can lead to extraordinary golf. Here’s how that played out on the putting green.
After a good chip on the first I was left with an 8 footer for birdie. It’s important to point out some things here;
It was my first putt of the day
I was not overly familiar with the greens (they were certainly quick)
I wanted to beat the guys I was playing against (it was a grudge match)
I had two putts to win the hole and didn’t want to do anything stupid
So, my mindset on the first putt was to treat it like a transition putt. Get the ball in or over the hole and then move on.
And that’s what transpired. The putt got to the hole but it didn’t go in. Yes, I could have played it with more speed, but that wasn’t my goal. I was happy with two-putts and then move onto the next.
And this repeated itself over the next bunch of holes. I was playing ok but I wasn’t setting the course on fire. I missed a few greens and chipped it close (saved par) and my birdie putts were too far away to be a certainty…
… so I kept putting with the attitude of
Be Happy With Two Putts
Get the first one close and then tap in the second.
My playing partners were all over the place.
They were trying too hard to sink their longer putts and ran them way past the hole.
They missed the ones coming back (multiple times). And because they had hit some putts way too hard, they left other putts way short too. It only took a few early holes for them to lose all confidence on the green.
“The greens are fast”
“I have no feel”
“I can’t putt”
“I am missing everything!”
My boring golf, after handicap adjustments, was more than good enough to be leading the match. Again, this required nothing exciting or amazing talent.
I made par on the first 12 holes.
On the 13th, I had a tricky 10-foot downhill putt for birdie. It was similar as the first putt of the day…
… and my goal remained the same.
Two putts is ok. Be happy with two putts.
I trickled the putt down the hill and this time the ball found the cup.
Birdie! A nice little bonus.
On the 15th hole, I had an eight footer for birdie (to tie the hole and effectively win the match). This time, the putt was uphill and straight and I committed to hitting the ball into the back of the cup.
BANG! Another birdie.
On the 18th, with no pain in the shoulder and full of confidence, I ripped my two best shots of the day into this par 5.
I was left with a 23 foot eagle putt. And my attitude was still about two-putting. I didn’t want to ruin a good day by letting my ego take over and try TOO HARD to make eagle (and almost certainly run the putt way past the hole)
I followed the same routine and mindset. I got a feel for the length of the putt, settled into my stance, took a peek at the hole and then putted.
The ball rolled beautifully along the green and went dead centre into the cup with dead weight. If the ball missed I would have had a tap in birdie. The fact that the ball went in was a nice bonus. And this is the point I want to make.
Two putts are ok. Once we get outside of say 10 feet, the chances of sinking the putt is greatly diminished. What we don’t want to do is take three-putts. Two-putts are fine and dandy.
Three putts kill your score (and confidence).
Your mission needs to be to sink the shorter putts (under 3-4 feet) and two putt the rest. This attitude maximises your scoring potential.
And if you stick with it,
You’ll still sink some longer putts too (maybe more than you’d think).
Most importantly of all,
You’ll avoid THREE putts.
And this is key.
This makes golf fun.
And turns what can be a black art for many…
… into a simple and easy to perform skill (because it is)
If you want the full story behind my natural learning putting ideas…
… and see some of the most amazing case studies of real golfers, then check this out.
Good golfing,
Cameron
P.S. I know many will have trouble with this putting advice because they will incorrectly believe they can sink ALL putts. But it isn’t possible. This works way better.
P.P.S. And don’t forget to check out my lesson on chipping – it’s one of the most popular lessons I’ve written in some time.