Mental Game - Putting

[Game]

Today was my first try at a 'competitive' event and I just completely failed at it. I shot 20 (yes 20) strokes higher in competition than I did in my practice round the day before. The thing is that at least 15 of those are putts. I just got over the ball and the hole seemed impossible to hit from any distance. The day before I was rolling them in from 12' but today even my 2' putts were going out. Usually I have a clear feel of what I want to do over the ball but today it was like static mixed with despair.

How do you guys re-center yourselves and get back in the zone when you're competing?

[saevel25]

experience, few people can just step into competitive sports and do well. Learn from this experience and get better, thats the best way. If you feel the wheels falling off go back to something you know you can do.

For example, if you know you hit a draw, but you got to fade the ball, just draw the ball into the green and give yourself a little more longer putt. The feeling of hitting a green can be a good trigger, its a feeling you had before.

Also get out of wanting to see the ball go in the hole on short putts, just wait for the sound of the ball dropping in the hole, you might be lifting your head being anxious.

Get a routine for putting, and get a trigger to get you focuses, maybe after you read your line you take a deep breath or tap your putter on the ground, something to tell your self its go time.

[ks8829]

1) pre shot routine
2) pre putt routine
3) play match play with friends
4) play more tournaments
5) It normal to experience feeling uncomfortable in a tournament, I remember my first tournament and what I learned was that I needed a pre-shot routine to steady my nerve and become comfortable before my shots or putts.