I have played golf for 92% of my life, one would think that any tip or instruction that I read would be easy to comprehend.  Well, most of the time it isn’t.  How many times have you read an article or one of those 1/2 page tips in the common golf rags and been totally confused as to what they want you to do?  Or one that uses so many props that you need to increase your credit limit on the Home Depot card?  I ignore them now.  Way too much to think about during a golf swing.  Most of the time a simple change in grip, alignment or stance will produce the desired results.

I promise to provide simple, basic tips in this section of Get Ready For Golf.

Do you agree? Are most instructional tips too complicated?  Leave me a comment or complete the poll on the side panel of the blog!

Unconscious Putting by Dave Stockton is one of the best books on putting that I have read.  Not because of the helpful tips contained in the book, but because of the writing style that forces you to focus on what Stockton believes is most important to become a better putter.  Below are the important points that I took from Unconscious Putting?

• Worry more about distance control than direction;
• find the line of the putt;
• don’t take your eye off the putting line;
• stick to a routine, keep it simple, straight forward, and quick; and
• keep a positive attitude whether you make or miss the putt.

What I found surprising from the book is the lack of an opinion on a preferred stroke path or method.  Seems all I read about lately are two putting methods: straight back-straight through and the arc method…I’m so tired of hearing and reading about those two styles of putting.  Who gives a shit darn.  Stockton believes either method works if you are comfortable with it and can repetitively roll the ball over your target.  More on target later.

Stockton makes a point that finding a feel for distance is of utmost importance.  It is much more likely you will hit roll a putt 4 or 5 ft past or short of the hole than misread a putt that will miss the hole right or left by that distance.  Stockton also makes a point that you don’t hit a putt, you roll it.  This is more of a mental image of the contact between the putter and the ball than anything, but that lends itself to Stockton’s view on putting, it is more mental than physical.

The next point I took from the book is to find your putting line and don’t lose sight of it, make a mental image of the ball following the line, address the ball picking out a target a few inches in front of the ball and make the stroke.  Don’t focus on the hole, but rather your target spot.  You should have the same focus at address, don’t look at the ball, instead look at your target spot just ahead of the ball and make your stroke.  The quick stroke doesn’t allow you to freeze or tighten up over the ball.   You should follow this routine for every putt especially those important putts at the end of the round where making or missing will cost you cash, the trophy, or pride.  Changing your routine and pace will only tighten up your grip making it more likely to miss the putt.

In the end, don’t get down on yourself if you miss a putt, no one makes them all.  Stockton’starget spot comes into play here again.  If the ball rolls over your target, you made a good stroke and other reasons are to blame for the missed putt.  Keeping track of where you miss putts  (right, left, short, too long) is part of the learn process and you need to use these data to figure out if you are reading greens incorrectly, if your stroke has a preferred alignment, or possibility there are other factors contributing to your misses.

Of course the above is a synopsis of Stockton’s views and teaching methods, the book contains much more depth on each of the points.  Stockton also writes about choosing the correct putter, fitting it to you, putting practice, and much more.  Stockton’s writing style is persuasive, concise, and reads well.  Unconscious Putting was easy to read and I enjoyed the book.  Best of all he doesn’t seem to push his view points so hard that you feel like he is selling you an used car.  He states his opinion without making you feel guilty if you don’t stick to his methods 100%.

Cons:  I got a little tired of hearing about his career, kids and how great he thinks his father is.  I have no doubt he is proud of them all, but mentioning it once or twice would drive the point that his qualifications are first rate.  Moreover, the success of his students and followers attest to his credentials, his methods work and are good enough to make me a believer.  Stockton also repeats many of his main topics throughout the book, though I think this was planned to drive those points home.

Overall this is a great book and I would recommend it to everyone, beginner to accomplished golfer.  Pick up a copy!  I bought the book on Kindle and it was formatted well.

Buy the book here:

Or for the Kindle here: