Brad Faxon is one of the most fantastic putters ever to play the game. I heard him say something very interesting on Sirius/XM PGA Radio. He would sometimes do things far removed from his normal stroke when practicing. He might putt with his left-hand low. Or he would putt left-handed. Why? I’ll get to that in a bit.
Faxon is not Alone
I recently read The Practice Manual by Adam Young. Chapter 12 is titled Experimental Practice. In that chapter, Young extolls the virtues of doing pretty whacky things in practice. How whacky? He suggests purposely hitting topped and fat shots, hitting toe shots, heel shots, hitting shots standing on one leg, the list goes on! Why?
The Brain is the Thing
First, let me emphasize that your brain is in control of everything you do, sense, and feel. Yes, everything. Your eyes don’t see; they only gather light. Your ears are just sound wave receptors. It’s up to your brain to make sense of it all. I’m not a psychologist or neuroscientist, but I read a lot. So please stick with me! It’s safe to say our brain likes to do what it already knows how to do. If you make a minor adjustment to your grip, your brain will quickly adapt and provide the same results as before the change. The same goes for stance, posture, swing path, etc. Your brain quickly reverts to giving the same results. A minor change might tweak your brain’s interest, but soon you’re right back where you started.
Wake up call for Mr. Brain
Do something to shake those neural pathways and force your brain into unchartered territory. Putting is a great place to start. The next time you go to the practice green, putt while looking at the hole, not the ball. Does that scare you? Afraid you might miss the ball? Good, you might the first time or two. But soon, you’ll be able to strike the ball just fine. You might find your putting improves looking at the hole rather than the ball. (That’s a topic for another post.)
Close your Eyes!
Next, putt a few with your eyes closed, yes, closed! Sergio Garcia won the 2020 Sanderson Farm Championship putting with his eyes closed. Google it if you don’t believe me! Back in 2015, when Jordan Spieth was winning everything in sight, he looked at the hole, not the ball, when putting within about 5 feet.
What is Going on Here?
Why? Putting requires almost no athletic ability. Being overly technical about putting is a killer. You’re forced to abandon technique when looking at the hole or putting with your eyes closed. Your brain must rely on feel, which you want when putting. Make your brain work to break out of technique-centered putting.
Change Requires Exaggeration
There’s an old saying in golf instruction about comfort. “If the change doesn’t feel uncomfortable, it’s not a big enough change!” Force your brain to learn new things, the old will not be lost, and the new will provide insights you might otherwise never find.