Jump to content
IGNORED

What is it (mental) that causes one to blow easy birdie putts?


Recommended Posts

I'm at a stage where I'm just starting to get GIRs and/or birdie opportunities (inside 3.5 feet) more regularly.

-- the really vexing thing is when I get a GIR or birdie opportunity, my putting suddenly goes south and I blow it.

Today's mistake: I didn't pre-think the hole at all -- I figured if I took too long about the putt, I'd blow it, so I forgot to take into account that I needed to aim for the top half of the cup because of the pitch of the green. Instead I aimed for the middle, and it went one ball width low for a tap-in par.

I was too birdie hungry and forgot a vital step.

Is this a pretty common barrier one has to hurdle at this stage?
What is it (mental) that causes one to blow easy birdie putts? What was your way of overcoming this hurdle if you faced it?

Made a sick 9 ft banana putt on the next hole, all instinct green reading. But where was that when the easy 3 footer was there?


(I'm starting to read Rotella, and I guess I gotta read on.]

........................................
McGolf-Doggie's stand bag & new and used club emporium:
Putter :ping: 1/2Craz-e | Irons :TaylorMade: RAC MB, 4i-PW (DG S300) |Wedges :Cleveland: SW&LW 56*DSG+RTG; 60*/4* DSG+RTG |Woods :Cobra: S1 5W; Adams TIght Lies 3W |Driver :TaylorMade: Burner 9.5 Fujikura Reax S | Maxfli Practice

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Survival instincts release adrenalin which tightens your muscles and cuts of your feel. Also, without a pre-shot routine, the situation can make you skip things you would normally do.

So, you need to not care. I do this by humming a happy go lucky song from the minute I start preparing to play. Something like I've Got The World On a String or Luck Be A Lady Tonight. Also, whenever I have a particularly important shot, I use say the following phrases:

I've just got an easy 7 (as in 7 iron)
I've just got a routine 4 footer
Just pop this one down the middle

Phrases like this help me settle into my normal routing instead of doing something 'special' for a particular shot.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


As you stated you are just getting more looks at birdies, your confidence will come. It really takes that familiarity to become more comfortable with it.

Driver:  R11S 10.5°, Fairway Woods:  909 F2 15.5°, Hybrid:  G10 21°

Irons:  Tour Preferred MC 4-P, Wedges:  Vokey SM 52.08, 56.10, 60.04

Putter:  Tei3 Newport II / Circa 62 #3, Ball:  Pro V1X / NXT Tour

Link to comment
Share on other sites


1) When you practice putting, putt as though ever putt is a birdie putt
a) and when you are playing an putting for birdie pertend that it is a practice putt.
2) have a pre-putt routine
3) go back to basics
a) grip and pressure
b) posture
c) distance from ball
d) tempo
e) practice straight putts

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

Link to comment
Share on other sites


The pressure/stress is causing you to tense up and its causing you to not make as smooth of a putting stroke as you normally would.
In time you will get used to it and will be able to relax, even on birdie or eagle putts.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Thanks for the insights. It's kind of relatively new territory for me, so this was very helpful.

........................................
McGolf-Doggie's stand bag & new and used club emporium:
Putter :ping: 1/2Craz-e | Irons :TaylorMade: RAC MB, 4i-PW (DG S300) |Wedges :Cleveland: SW&LW 56*DSG+RTG; 60*/4* DSG+RTG |Woods :Cobra: S1 5W; Adams TIght Lies 3W |Driver :TaylorMade: Burner 9.5 Fujikura Reax S | Maxfli Practice

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 12 years later...

Great replies. I have the same issue. I'm a total choker especially since good  Birdy opportunities are rare. I hit the greatest shot of my life today around a tree from 140 out to 3ft from the cup. I took a practice stroke, humming a tune, then putted. In my downswing I suddenly decelerated and pushed it to the right. I was afraid to hit the ball too hard. 

Again great advice thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I've played Bali Hai, Bear's Best and Painted Desert. I enjoyed Bali Hai the most--course was in great shape, friendly staff and got paired in a great group. Bear's Best greens were very fast, didn't hold the ball well (I normally have enough spin to stop the ball after 1-2 hops).  The sand was different on many holes. Some were even dark sand (recreation of holes from Hawaii). Unfortunately I was single and paired with a local "member" who only played the front 9.  We were stuck behind a slow 4-some who wouldn't let me through even when the local left. Painted Desert was decent, just a bit far from the Strip where we were staying.
    • Wordle 1,035 3/6 ⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜ 🟨🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Just lipped out that Eagle putt, easy tab-in Birdie
    • Day 106 - Worked on chipping/pitching. Focus was feeling the club fall to the ground as my body rotated through. 
    • Honestly, unless there's something about that rough there that makes it abnormally penal or a lost ball likely, this might be the play. I don't know how the mystrategy cone works, but per LSW, you don't use every shot for your shot zones. In that scatter plot, you have no balls in the bunker, and 1 in the penalty area. The median outcome seems to be a 50 yard pitch. Even if you aren't great from 50 yards, you're better off there than in a fairway bunker or the penalty area on the right of the fairway. It could also be a strategy you keep in your back pocket if you need to make up ground. Maybe this is a higher average score with driver, but better chance at a birdie. Maybe you are hitting your driver well and feel comfortable with letting one rip.  I get not wanting to wait and not wanting to endanger people on the tee, but in a tournament, I think I value playing for score more than waiting. I don't value that over hurting people, but you can always yell fore 😆 Only thing I would say is I'm not sure whether that cone is the best representation of the strategy (see my comment above about LSW's shot zones). To me, it looks like a 4 iron where you're aiming closer to the bunker might be the play. You have a lot of shots out to the right and only a few to the left. Obviously, I don't know where you are aiming (and this is a limitation of MyStrategy), but it seems like most of your 4 iron shots are right. You have 2 in the bunker but aiming a bit closer to the bunker won't bring more of your shots into the bunker. It does bring a few away from the penalty area on the right.  This could also depend on how severe the penalties are for missing the green. Do you need to be closer to avoid issues around the green?  It's not a bad strategy to hit 6 iron off the tee, be in the fairway, and have 150ish in. I'm probably overthinking this.
    • Day 283: Putted on my mat for a while watching an NLU video. Worked on keeping my head still primarily, and then making sure my bead is okay.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...