Like the other three major dimensions of a game of golf, putting presents unique mental challenges. This is especially true when this final stage follows successful play. You’ve quickly moved your ball from the tee to the green with just a few strokes. Just possibly you will complete this hole under par. The pressure is on. Now all you have to do is not seize up. The unmanaged tension that occurs at this stage can quickly lead to disappointment.

At this point in your game, I am assuming that you have mastered all the basics of putting. You know how to grip your putter, how to stand, how to aim, know how assess and play the shape of the ground, and have a pretty good idea as to just how far your back swing needs to be. However, if you lack mental confidence, there is a good chance that your putt will lack the necessary authority and your ball will stop short of the target. And that’s not all. When this happens your feeling of disappointment will quickly translate into even more tension. This leads to even worse performance. Unfortunately, if unchecked, one short put gone wrong may very well affect the rest of your game. This does not need to happen.

In order to understand the mental dynamics of putting, you must also grasp what is going on in your brain. No, you don’t need to study neuroscience. You can leave that up to me. What you must come to realize is that your brain is a team of many players. There are few that are critical to an excellent game of golf. And, there are others that will get in the way. The trick is to activate the ones you need and deactivate the others. Realizing that your brain manages a limited supply of energy, if your reactions are activating the stress centers of your brain, you are at least partially deactivating the parts related to playing your best. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Imagine for a moment that you have the capability to put your mind and body in just the right state for any situation. Just like a football coach who is constantly deciding which players to put on the field for any given situation, if you could do the same, when you are in a putting situation you would turn on just the right combination of brain sectors. In order to do this you must control the content of your thoughts and your overall mental state – meaning the balance between stress, excitement, and relaxation. As an experienced golfer you have already installed all of the information needed for a perfect putt. By having the right mental balance and focus, you can translate your expertise into the right results.

Mental training and rehearsal is excellent for establishing the right mindset for the perfect putt. In fact, in many ways it is superior to physical practice – which may install and reinforce bad habits. Closed-eyes visualization is extremely helpful. However, realize that bad habits are hard to break. This is why I prefer doing mental training while in a hypnotic state. At that point, it is possible to get past resistance to change and do some very powerful mental programming. Working with a qualified hypnotherapist who understands golf is a big plus. My “Golf like the Pros” CD and MP3 session is also an enjoyable alternative.