PSYCHOLOGY
@DrJoshBrant
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Putt looking at the hole
Putting while looking at the hole has been around long before Jordan Speith and it is a great way to
practice target focus. Next time you are on the putting green, try hitting putts looking at the hole. The
way it works is to set up to the ball, the way you normally would after you’ve lined up a putt, but before
you take the club back look at the hole instead of looking at the ball. As you are looking at the hole,
make your stroke. A common stumbling block to this exercise is worrying about mechanics. When we
putt we often become so caught up in the mechanics of our putting stroke that we forget about the real
target, which is the hole. If this is you, let go of your concern about mechanics and just keep looking at
the hole. If you can truly focus your attention at the hole, you will be amazed by how pure your stroke
will become and by the accuracy of your putts.
Focus on your landing spot
When chipping or pitching the ball practice hitting a specific landing spot. Imagine where the ball would
need to land to get to the hole based on the lie of the ball, the loft of the club, and the height of the
shot. It can sometimes be helpful to first take a ball or two and toss it underhand on the green to mimic
the shot you want to hit. Once you find the landing spot, practice hitting shots to that spot to the best
of your ability. Sometimes placing a golf towel flat on the landing spot can serve as a stronger visual
target. Regardless, set up to the ball and connect to your targeted landing spot, taking a good mental
picture. When you turn back to the ball to hit the shot, do your best to keep that mental picture of your
landing spot in your mind’s eye (similar to the afterimage exercise) and try to hold it there throughout
the shot. This exercise can be done looking at the target in the same way as the putting exercise, but
it becomes more difficult the further you move away from your target given the physical limitations of
the body.
“Small distant target.”
During the 2015 Masters, which Jordan Spieth won, his caddy, Michael Greller would say, “small distant
target” as a reminder to Jordan right before he would hit a shot. I have no doubt that that swing thought
greatly contributed to Jordan’s success that week. If we want to practice target focus, especially the
further we get away from the green, choosing small distant targets will help. Our brains like certainty
and by choosing small distant targets, we create a much clearer and more precise plan for our brains to
follow. An additional benefit is that by being so precise with our targets, it can act as a barrier to outside
interference as our attention becomes so focused we lose awareness of external distractions. So, when
you practice or play, chose small, distant targets, and the more specific the better (e.g. a leaf on a tree, a
rock, a ball mark on the green, etc.)
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