If you look at it, everything about a putt is easy and it is really difficult to understand why golfers find this stroke very frustrating.
A putt is easy to try because it really is a simple shot and anybody can do it without need of special training. Even small kids can be seen doing this stroke. And some routinely knock down putts that early. Often, kids who showed great promise with their putting continued playing the game in their adult life.
So why is it such a headache? How to explain then why even experienced golfers encounter all sorts of problems with their putting game? It really is one of life's many mysteries. This question has been asked for ages and even experts cannot give a satisfactory answer. The saying 'it's all in the mind' was probably never more true than in this golfing case.
There was an attempt by an American firm to invent the perfect putting machine. After extensive trials in a variety of conditions, it was found out that the much ballyhooed machine cannot put the ball in with consistency. They took that machine apart and tweaked every element of it until they were certain that it was in perfect working order. The result? It still failed below expectations. If this doesn't go to prove that there is at least an element of 'black art' about golf putting, then nothing will.
Golf players should look at the positive side of putting - that it is a challenge that makes playing golf fun and interesting. They should not feel any sense of shame or ineptness for their putting failures because even specially designed machines have proven the impossibility of perfecting the putt.
Golfers should not be frustrated if they miss what look like an easy shot and just play their normal game. The best players can have a bad day in the greens. Don't take it hard and ruin your game if you make a bad putt, tearing at your hair and gnashing your teeth will not achieve anything so just be philosophical about the whole thing and play the game.
At the same time, you can try to find out what will make you putt better. Well, apart from working on the mental side of things to inculcate strong belief that you really can putt (try some self-hypnosis tapes etc.) the best advice is to see if a change of putter will do the trick. Learn your lessons from the professionals. Bernhard Langer, a professional golfer who was constantly bugged by putting woes, tried the broom handle putter with success so maybe you can do the same and hopefully get the same result.
A putt is easy to try because it really is a simple shot and anybody can do it without need of special training. Even small kids can be seen doing this stroke. And some routinely knock down putts that early. Often, kids who showed great promise with their putting continued playing the game in their adult life.
So why is it such a headache? How to explain then why even experienced golfers encounter all sorts of problems with their putting game? It really is one of life's many mysteries. This question has been asked for ages and even experts cannot give a satisfactory answer. The saying 'it's all in the mind' was probably never more true than in this golfing case.
There was an attempt by an American firm to invent the perfect putting machine. After extensive trials in a variety of conditions, it was found out that the much ballyhooed machine cannot put the ball in with consistency. They took that machine apart and tweaked every element of it until they were certain that it was in perfect working order. The result? It still failed below expectations. If this doesn't go to prove that there is at least an element of 'black art' about golf putting, then nothing will.
Golf players should look at the positive side of putting - that it is a challenge that makes playing golf fun and interesting. They should not feel any sense of shame or ineptness for their putting failures because even specially designed machines have proven the impossibility of perfecting the putt.
Golfers should not be frustrated if they miss what look like an easy shot and just play their normal game. The best players can have a bad day in the greens. Don't take it hard and ruin your game if you make a bad putt, tearing at your hair and gnashing your teeth will not achieve anything so just be philosophical about the whole thing and play the game.
At the same time, you can try to find out what will make you putt better. Well, apart from working on the mental side of things to inculcate strong belief that you really can putt (try some self-hypnosis tapes etc.) the best advice is to see if a change of putter will do the trick. Learn your lessons from the professionals. Bernhard Langer, a professional golfer who was constantly bugged by putting woes, tried the broom handle putter with success so maybe you can do the same and hopefully get the same result.
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