The below email came from Simon (a Look & Shoot customer) and I think this is one of the most insightful emails I’ve received.
Why?
Because he highlights perfectly the path to real putting success. Here’s the email.
I had an average round in tough conditions last week – links course with severe coastal rough and heavy bunkers.
Shot 79 (I’m a 2 Handicap) but the group I was playing with remarked on my putting several times, and by the back nine – ‘That’s the best lag putting I’ve ever seen.’
Yes I made a couple of tricky 8 footers with heavy break for par. I even had a three putt on a Par 5. But for every other green, my first put was inside 2 feet, whether it was 40 feet or 15, uphill sidehill or flat.
Ivan, 80 year old former scratch player asked me about it.
I’ve been putting automatic for the last three years after reading your book. I read the green behind the ball. I pick a spot outside or inside the hole to start my roll at.
I walk to the ball, looking at the ball. I recite the alphabet slowly, every time. I shuffle and settle. I look at my spot briefly, look back, go. No practise swing.
I have become so used to putting like this I’ve (almost) forgotten the fear putting can create. I get lost in the process. And normally I putt well, every round.
Short story – the longer you commit to the process, and keep it the same, the better you get at distance/feel putting.
And here’s the stuff that I like:
He’s honest enough to share about a poor score. But despite that, he still got something good out of the round.
He keeps following HIS process.
He is so focused on the process that he doesn’t get distracted by nerves or fear.
And he’s committed. He is in it for the long haul and isn’t after a quick fix or some miracle cure. He understands that if you keep doing things long enough, you will see positive results.
And this has been my experience with golf for the best part of 25 years.
Last week I got to play at an amazing course over in New Zealand (Te Arai Links). And it’s definitely in the top 3 courses I’ve played anywhere.
And the one thing that stood out were the incredible greens. They were massive but also extremely quick – haven’t played on greens this fast for many years. They were probably running at 13+ on the Stimpmeter (and that’s really quick).
And like everyone in my group, I started poorly on the greens.
I three putted a few times and felt a little uneasy.
But I stuck to the process – I wasn’t about to change because of FAST greens or a few misses.
And while I still didn’t putt that well – I was good enough to be dangerous.
I made a couple of longer putts.
I sunk a few tricky putts.
I made a good 6 footer on the 18th to finish my day.
And I ended up with a decent score.
And when I think about it, I didn’t putt too badly all things considered. Lots of two putts with a few one & three putts thrown in.
But I did have the time of my life. As well as being a super-amazing course, I had a fantastic day and will definitely be doing everything I can to go back there and play again.
At this point in my golfing life, having a good time and enjoying the experience is more important to me than just the score.
And I know, if I got too anxious early on in that round, started changing things in my stroke or thought too much about how to putt, I almost certainly would have killed the enjoyment level…
… and probably played a lot worse.
And this is the reality of putting.
Some days we putt great.
Other days the ball just won’t find the hole.
And most of the time it’s a mixture of the above.
But we’ve gotta keep trusting in the process and putt freely.
Because as Simon says, “the longer you commit to the process, and keep it the same, the better you get at distance/feel putting”
Truer words have never been spoken.
If you’d like to explore this natural learning process further and see some of my amazing client case studies, you should check this out.