Golf Putting Lesson: Missing and Still In the Zone

This mental golf putting lesson follows a hypothetical golfer that found himself in the zone, despite missing his putts.

This is a situation that many golfers may find themselves in, but few recognize it. As a result, their failure to recognize it knocks them right out of the putting zone.

However, Lagging Larry knew he was in the zone, despite the fact that he was near missing on the front nine. Even more, he did not let the ribbing from his buddies knock him out of the zone.

Below, see how Larry's recognition of the zone saved his round and earned him some bragging rights.

As a result, learn to recognize when your in the zone so that you can stay in the zone.

Lagging Larry Maintaining His Putting Zone

On the first hole, Lagging Larry left his approach shot 40 feet from the hole. He lines it up and putts only to see the ball rim out of the cup. To make it worse, one buddy in his group birdied for a skin.

"Dude, what bad luck you had. If you would have hit it a little softer that goes in." "But, I am glad you missed so I could get that skin." And on and on and on Larry's buddy went ........

The ribbing was good, but Lagging Larry knew that he had made a great putt and would not change a thing about his stroke. "Not every great putt goes in," Larry responds.

Lightning Strikes 3 More Times

On Hole 2, Lagging Larry did not take into account the uphill slope of the green on his approach shot and left himself a long putt. Larry grazed the hole with his putt. Big Mouth Bob skins with a birdie again.

On Hole 3, Lagging Larry hits his chip shot fat and left a long putt to save par. Larry's putt goes right at the cup and stops two inches short of falling. Loud Leroy skins with a par.

On Hole 4, Lagging Larry did not take the wind into account on his approach shot and left himself a long putt from just off the green. The ball hits the flag and comes out. Larry's son Junior gets a birdie for a skin.

Of course, the peanut gallery was relentless. "You played too much break." "Never leave it short." "Dude, you should have taken out the flag." Blah, Blah, Blah ....

But Larry knew that his putting lessons must have been working for him this day for his lag putts to be that close to going in. He knew that lag putting was not an exact science and that he must be on fire putting even though he was missing.

"I tell you guys what, if I stop making mistakes approaching the green and get some reasonable putts, you guys will be in trouble," Larry exclaimed.

Little Fan Fair

Holes 5 thru 9 were not very memorable for Larry's playing partners since noone made a skin.

However, for Larry, it was very memeorable. He saved three bogeys and two pars with a one putt. Larry's chipping had finally caught up with his putting. He knew his approach shots were soon to follow.

Let's Double The Back Nine Skins

They happily accept. They unhappily pay.

Larry goes par, par, par, birdie, birdie, par, par, eagle, double bogey, bogey. Despite the finish, Larry's back nine was worth 5 skins paid out at double.

"Man your putting caught fire after we doubled the skins," the peanut gallery stated with displeasure.

"Idiots, my putting was on fire the entire day," Larry explained.

While 50 cent skins don't pay much even when doubled, Larry gained a story worth telling for years to come.

Mental Golf Putting Lesson

First, don't let your poor tee to green play or joking buddies talk you out of a great round of putting.

Second, anyone can recognize that they are in a putting zone when everything is going in the hole. A stud recognizes when he is in the putting zone even when the putts are not falling.

May this mental golf putting lesson turn you into just such a stud.

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