SupHer Power Golf--Putting with Confidence

My father, the Pro, said, 

"Tissy, when playing as my partner with the men on Thursday's remember

 you are responsible for paying your half of any debts for lost holes."

Making $15 every two weeks for working 7:00 am--2:00 

Tuesday-Saturday in the golf shop, didn't leave me

1965 USGA 
Jr. Girls
Championship

 much spending money in the early 1960's.  Consequently, I would much rather win money than lose money. 

He went on to add, "It could cost you a quarter a hole."

My math skills were not strong, but I could certainly figure out that I could lose $4.50 in 18 holes, or more I later learned. Pondering that with my pride, I asked, "How do I win every hole?"

"Practice your putting every day and pay attention to the break and speed."

I did practice, but I was young and worked in the golf shop, so when there was nothing else going on for a few minutes I stepped outside to putt. For the most part my dad and I tied or won our matches. One day, I will never forget, I had to hand over $.50 to Dr. Kenny Richards, my golf coach at NEO. It was a painful experience, and one that made me realize how important putting can be. 

Ever since those early years, I make time to practice my putting. I am still a very active learner when it comes to doing something better.  

Recently, I watched the SupHer Power Golf for Women zoom program on Confidence and Putting. Click on this link to watch the program (about 40 minutes). The demonstration by Nancy McDaniel, Hall of Fame Women's Golf Coach from UC Berkeley, is dynamic.  

 https://zoom.us/rec/play/vsF5Jrqur203GIHAtASDAKUtW9Xvf6ushidIq_sMykiyUiRQYwemZLYWN7SQptKDtXzUJsFYVseKuQlO?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=UyLzpMABRj6WvP99vR9_Nw.1591044687347.fb558db54778d025ff0be2e6493cb396&_x_zm_rhtaid=582

BELIEF DRIVES CONFIDENCE

I can say that I am a confident putter, not perfect and I most certainly have unpredictable days when I putt like like the tortoise and the hare. That is when I want a tool kit to help me practice. SupHer Power Golf has given me just that, a tool kit of learning that I can follow. 

Keys to Set Up: 

• Feet hip width apart
• Knees, hips shoulders in alignment
• Light grip pressure
• EYES OVER THE BALL

Prairie Dunes CC

The keys help me while I am playing if I need an adjustment. However, if all goes wrong I know it is time to practice on the putting green correctly.

For instance, in the video (link above) Nancy McDaniel demonstrates this practice putting technique: she putts three 4' putts to a target with her normal grip; then three 4' putts using only the right hand; followed by three 4' putts using only her left hand; and finally both hands again. This shows her balance and which hand takes over, giving her a lesson in adjustment. 

Confidence is a choice, to help us 

play closer to our own potential. 

A few years ago Annika Sorenstam made a commercial that showed her in a recliner listening to a recording of a ball being struck by a putter, the soft rolling sound of the ball on the green, followed by the clinking sound the ball made when it dropped into the hole.  

If I begin to miss the target left or right (inconsistently) I realize that I am most likely peeking at the target causing my body and alignment to be off the target line. When I take a moment to think, I imagine Annika listening to her ball drop in the hole. It helps when I am playing. 

SupHer Power Golf added these Annika tips for practicing with the putter.

• Set up properly.
• Hit the ball once with eyes closed; twice focus on the hole; three times hit the putt regularly.
• Listen for the ball to go in the hole.
• Place a quarter under the ball and see it after you stroke it

So simple. Why do we insist on making this game miserably difficult? One thought is that we all have an inner critic, or in my case I call her ‘the evil twin.’ Some days and weeks the ‘evil twin’ makes the game of golf exhausting.

Downhill putt at Oakwood CC, Enid
1986

April Kenyon,USGTF Certified Golf Instructor, suggests that we can choose to merely view the inner critic, instead of following it. 

We are NOT that voice.

We are just the person observing that voice.

 

Next time I play, I plan to remember that when I hear the ‘evil twin’ I will acknowledge the voice, but realize that it is not me. I am only observing that negative voice. With my imagination I may think I hear that voice coming from a garish neon orange bucket. I will observe it and kick it. Kick it hard away from me. 

As Annika stated:

You just have to try and keep on grinding and hope that things will turn around eventually. More importantly stay patient. 

SupHer Power Golf for Women will host a zoom Virtual Play Day on Friday, July 10 at 6:00 Central Time Zone. See their Facebook page for details: SupHer Power Golf

 

For other posts about SupHer Power Golf click on these links:

SupHer Power Golf This landing page will direct you to the future classes and events. 

SupHer Power Golf Warm Ups on the Go  https://literallyletty.blogspot.com/2020/05/supher-power-golf-warm-ups-on-go.html

SupHer Power Golf   https://literallyletty.blogspot.com/2020/04/supher-power-golf.html

Letty Watt, golf blogger

 

Golf Gypsy: And then....

And then, there are truly some bad days on the golf course, even with cool temperatures and a breeze blowing. After all, there are those moments when all a body can do is sigh and say, "Thank you Lord for this day." 

The Pro, Johnie Stapp.

Like my father, I am generally a fairly lucky golfer and a respectable putter, but few weeks ago, my golf game tested my strengths and sense of humor.  It began on a Monday at Lincoln Park West, after having "not" practiced a single shot and still unsure of my body's endurance after nearly six months of rehab.  First of all, my putter didn't have any zip or ping to it when I fluffed the ball.  In fact, the ball didn't even scare the hole after a putt, it just sat there 3-4 feet short of the hole, and so the putting continued to be feeble.  In order to laugh I initialed myself LWB, for Letty Weenie Butt! Nothing worked, 18 holes later and 36 putts I was frustrated.

But then, that's not all.  My tee shot landed in a divot, not once but four different times during the day.  Even the ladies in my threesome noted my bad luck.  Still I chuckled and reminded myself that somedays are like that, even in Australia.  (I'd still like to go to Australia to see if that is true.)  On number 10, a short par 3, my tee shot landed in the water and mud filled bunker.  Hump, I slammed it out leaving my glasses and clothes pock marked with muddy sand. After the shot, my ball wasn't on the putting surface, so I could not clean it before I putted it back onto the green.  It is interesting how a ball rolls when it is caked with mud!  After five shots, the ball gave up and went in the hole.  Imagine my relief.  

A few holes later we came to a large water hole that only required a easy rescue club over the water and onto the green, except the dry land between the green and the water's edge was packed with gaggle of geese, honking and eating the lush green grass or bugs??  As I swung through the shot,

Canada Goose lurking near the water.

I happened to look up early to make sure I didn't hit a goose. I watched and then screamed the ball over the water's edge, And Then ...I hit a goose, right in the wing.  Ouch, I cried, and the poor goose went wobble walking toward the safety of the rough.  The day ended, and I realized I had paid my bad luck dues.  The next day I rallied, and improved my putting by nine strokes.  I smiled, and thought of dad.  He taught me well; that you must take the bad luck with the good.  

Luck returned the next week when I volunteered to help the Women's Oklahoma Junior Girls Golf

Championship at Southern Hills.  I was back in my element of being with children who were passionate about learning the game of golf.  I'm so thankful to have enjoyed sixty plus years of golfing moments and the amazing people I've met along the way.  

"Beans" Factor golfer.

To my friends along the way Salute! and as the shirt says, "Kiss my putt."  


*Letty Stapp Watt
historian and storyteller