Putting Out of Your Mind

Bestselling author Bob Rotella, the guru-cum-sports psychologist of choice among the world's top golfers, lines up a perfect double entendre with Putting Out of Your Mind. To putt out of your mind--to master this crucial part of the game--you've got to get putting out of your mind--to make it so second nature that you're not actually thinking and stressing once you're standing over the ball.

As Brad Faxon, a Rotella devotee and one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, emphasizes in his introduction, "The secret of great putting is not in the stroke. It's in the mind. When you putt, your state of mind is more important than your mechanics." Once you can imagine yourself sinking a putt, you've exponentially improved your possibilities of actually knocking it in. It's an important lesson, and he learned it from Rotella.

Rotella demystifies the mechanics, accenting instead the importance of a pre-shot routine to help you more effectively visualise your putts and serve as a security blanket when you're facing a breaking downhill five-footer with the match on the line. Most important, Rotella preaches the idea that putting is actually fun for good putters. It's the part of the game they relish most. You'll no doubt find yourself relishing it, too. --Jeff Silverman

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Well worth a read ! - Rated
Started reading this book last night having been suffering recently from the yips. I was happy being around the fringes of the green rather than being on it. Reading this book made a lot of sense - some of it was common sense ! Decided to try the pre-shot routine advice from the book for my Wed Medal Round. After holing a 10 foot putt to save par at the first, I holed a 12 footer for birdie at the second. The confidence spread to the rest of my game and I reached the turn in a 1 under par 34.
The advice from the book helped me record a scratch 75 net 69 after struggling in recent weeks.
Reading this book has got me back to basics but oh how it works. Can't wait to read some of the authors other books !

One day 25 putts per round will be my average!! - Rated
I bought this book on the recommendation of my club pro and was not disappointed. I play off scratch and have always felt my putting was a part of the game that was just not good enough. I am a firm believer in getting the mechanics right and this book does not go into this element of the game. The prose purely focuses on your mental attitude which is a big part of putting. I have bought the putting to win DVD from Bob Rotella and this book is a good supplement. The biggest thing to take out of the book is that putting should be fun and not so "you must make this at your standard".. it takes the pressure out of the whole scenario. My one criticism is that it is difficult to put the thesis into practice and that is where the DVD is better. Unless you have Bob Rotella stood over you it means you are constantly racking your brains to remember things he is recommending to try / execute. Great read though, especially if you are struggling with your putting and putting pressure on yourself to make putts!

Putt better with no practice - Rated
Like all Bob Rotella's books, it's his simple common sense approach I like. I have this on Audio book too and listen to it in the car. I have never considered myself a strong putter, but playing off 5 for many years now I needed to improve this aspect. The views are simple, as Bob says, always putt to make it, not just to get close enough so you next putt is easy. My putting from 8 feet and over has improved and my confidence over every putt is much better, if the ball misses, I just stand up and go through the same thoughts and hole it and move on. How many putts do you need to hole in a round to make you the player you want to be? Get it and read it and you'll be on your way.

My putting bible - Rated
If you are an amateur and like me, you can't (couldn't putt!) this is the book for you. Sure if you don't ever have to go to work, are a millionaire so you can afford all his stupid gadgets and have the patience to read 400 pages of repetative scientific wittering please go with Dave Pelz's Putting Bible. If you are a twice a week amateur who has a life outside of putting and doesn't want to be sent into an eternal sleep from reading a book, then this is the book you want. Rotella keeps it simple. He's worked with the best and thus his method is proven. There is no scientific rubbish or stroke mechanics, just plain simple common sense for the average golfer. Although i'm sure the likes of Sergio Garcia (Who can't seem to putt anymore) would find this sort of help a site more useful than Pelz's warbling garbage...

Getting the sense back - Rated
I used to think of myself as a good putter. Good touch and feel around the green, and even in a golf lesson the pro told me more regarding why a good putt may not always go in, rather than attempt to challenge my technique.
Then that classic day in a pairs competition, where I had missed one short putt, my partner started going on about my putt, and started me thinking. For weeks it was all down hill form there. I was unconfident with a 12" putt let alone 4 feet. At least the 4 feet putt you are expected to miss now and again.
This book has put the sense back into putting. To trust my putt however unorthodox, and to get into a routine that overcomes those little jitters. Early days yet, but the mind is right.
My only criticism may be that he is American, and examples of similar sports are of course Basketball, Baseball etc, but even through that it is easy to see his point. A nice easy read also, so even if you only take one point away afterwards, well worth the read.