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Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
The bestselling author of Zen Golf (more than 100,000 copies sold) presents a new book of profound wisdom and proven techniques for achieving the confidence in putting that all golfers know is the key to peak performance on the greens. Blending Buddhist wisdom, modern psychology, and practical golf instruction, Dr. Joe Parent’s 2002 book Zen Golf broke out to become the top instructional book in golf, and continues to be a steady bestseller. Now, in the eagerly awaited follow-up, Dr. Parent provides readers with a new approach to the aspect of golf in which mental skills have the most impact: putting.
Zen Putting takes a thinking-outside-the-box approach based on the idea that by tuning into the process of putting rather than worrying about the result, golfers can get out of their own way and maximize performance. Key principles include using mindful awareness to recognize and clear away distractions and negativity, and that confidence increases when golfers take the attitude that there is something fundamentally, essentially right with them rather than focusing on what’s broken or flawed. In succinct, informative chapters, Dr. Parent applies this Zen ideal to a variety of subjects for any putting situation.
Chapters include:
• “Unconquerable Confidence”: brimming with strategies to cultivate confidence and turn frustration into enjoyment.
• “Get Out of Your Own Way”: exploring the obstacles we create for ourselves in putting, and how to recognize and overcome them to get the most out of our abilities.
• “How to Make Every Putt”: on reading greens; visualization; putting routine; the key components of a putt—path, pace, and roll; and taking the ideal attitude before putting.
Unlike rigid how-to books on putting or fad coaching techniques, Zen Putting stirs each reader to cultivate their own unique style for synchronizing body and mind to achieve peak performance.
Zen Putting takes a thinking-outside-the-box approach based on the idea that by tuning into the process of putting rather than worrying about the result, golfers can get out of their own way and maximize performance. Key principles include using mindful awareness to recognize and clear away distractions and negativity, and that confidence increases when golfers take the attitude that there is something fundamentally, essentially right with them rather than focusing on what’s broken or flawed. In succinct, informative chapters, Dr. Parent applies this Zen ideal to a variety of subjects for any putting situation.
Chapters include:
• “Unconquerable Confidence”: brimming with strategies to cultivate confidence and turn frustration into enjoyment.
• “Get Out of Your Own Way”: exploring the obstacles we create for ourselves in putting, and how to recognize and overcome them to get the most out of our abilities.
• “How to Make Every Putt”: on reading greens; visualization; putting routine; the key components of a putt—path, pace, and roll; and taking the ideal attitude before putting.
Unlike rigid how-to books on putting or fad coaching techniques, Zen Putting stirs each reader to cultivate their own unique style for synchronizing body and mind to achieve peak performance.
- GenresSports
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
80 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 14, 2014
This is a complete book on the mental side of putting, which can be a pretty horrendous experience as it the only aspect of golf most amateurs can relate compared to professional golfers. I have been a fan of the author from his earlier zen book on golf. Like the earlier book, I found many mental techniques to help me enjoy a fulfilling golfing experience, as golf can be extremely frustrating game from time to time.
A word of caution though, this book is not about techniques if how to hit a putt, rather it is to be used as an accompanying guide once you have developed some sort of putting technique.
A word of caution though, this book is not about techniques if how to hit a putt, rather it is to be used as an accompanying guide once you have developed some sort of putting technique.
March 5, 2009
Really pretty darn good, and interesting to read. Taught me a little bit about Zen philosophy, and a lot of good guidance about a healthy mental approach to putting and golf in general.
September 12, 2024
Nice philosophical & practical way to look at putting as a microcosm of life..
...and roll a few more putts in as well!
...and roll a few more putts in as well!
June 30, 2022
one of my fave writers about putting is Mangum
---
Joe Parent
Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
(Gotham Books 2007).
Hardback, 207 pp. $22.50. Yet another "sports psych" inside the putting green ropes .... While he purports to limit the discussion to the "mental game," Parent inevitably slops over into technique, where he is just repeating the same old story that people came up with about these mysteries years ago. For example, pages 84-88 concern aiming, and Parent has no useful knowledge to share, but he shares it anyway. Similar tosh riddles the book, about "gravity" ("We can think of gravity as an ally instead of an enemy") and distance control (putt to the fringe and "guess" whether the stroke was too long or too short, and then "When you look to see how it turned out, the visual feedback lets you know intuitively how much bigger or smaller a swing to make on the next one."), and similar tough-nut issues that have next to nothing to do with Zen or sports psychology. At points, it appears that Parent has been raiding my kitchen for his teachings, without attribution (e.g., compare his up tiers and down, pages 141-145, with my prior article Putting Green Tiers are Taller than You Think and my "Intuitively Adding Sections of a Putt" in the ZipTips section for Touch) -- more power to him. Other than these mistaken and ill-advised forays into actual technique, Parent does a useful job of making SOME Zen mental control approaches compatible with good putting techniques (e.g., breathing and perspective) but not others (i.e., "soft gaze"). He should probably read James Austin's magnificant books about Zen and western neuroscience, Zen and the Brain (MIT 1999), 872 pp, and Zen-Brain Reflections (MIT 2006), 592 pp, which greatly outshine Parent's meager suggestions. Altogether, Parent and his "Chogyam Trungpa schtick" is not too hurtful if you don't take it seriously, and just suck a tidbit or two out.
But in general it is not a good idea to think that something "Zen" is needed, when competence and paying attention is really about all there is to mental control.
There are NO Zen "tricks" that anyone should try to learn, as this is a goofy dead-end street. Relax the eyes and jaw and use certain breathing techniques and stay in the present with perceptions of the body and the world, yes, but that does not require "Zen" packaging.
The book has the unfortunate "look and feel" of one of the insubstantial offerings by Dr Bob, so now we have Dr Joe. A bit too faddish for my tastes.
Unenthusiastically Recommended.
Geoff Mangum
---
Joe Parent
Zen Putting: Mastering the Mental Game on the Greens
(Gotham Books 2007).
Hardback, 207 pp. $22.50. Yet another "sports psych" inside the putting green ropes .... While he purports to limit the discussion to the "mental game," Parent inevitably slops over into technique, where he is just repeating the same old story that people came up with about these mysteries years ago. For example, pages 84-88 concern aiming, and Parent has no useful knowledge to share, but he shares it anyway. Similar tosh riddles the book, about "gravity" ("We can think of gravity as an ally instead of an enemy") and distance control (putt to the fringe and "guess" whether the stroke was too long or too short, and then "When you look to see how it turned out, the visual feedback lets you know intuitively how much bigger or smaller a swing to make on the next one."), and similar tough-nut issues that have next to nothing to do with Zen or sports psychology. At points, it appears that Parent has been raiding my kitchen for his teachings, without attribution (e.g., compare his up tiers and down, pages 141-145, with my prior article Putting Green Tiers are Taller than You Think and my "Intuitively Adding Sections of a Putt" in the ZipTips section for Touch) -- more power to him. Other than these mistaken and ill-advised forays into actual technique, Parent does a useful job of making SOME Zen mental control approaches compatible with good putting techniques (e.g., breathing and perspective) but not others (i.e., "soft gaze"). He should probably read James Austin's magnificant books about Zen and western neuroscience, Zen and the Brain (MIT 1999), 872 pp, and Zen-Brain Reflections (MIT 2006), 592 pp, which greatly outshine Parent's meager suggestions. Altogether, Parent and his "Chogyam Trungpa schtick" is not too hurtful if you don't take it seriously, and just suck a tidbit or two out.
But in general it is not a good idea to think that something "Zen" is needed, when competence and paying attention is really about all there is to mental control.
There are NO Zen "tricks" that anyone should try to learn, as this is a goofy dead-end street. Relax the eyes and jaw and use certain breathing techniques and stay in the present with perceptions of the body and the world, yes, but that does not require "Zen" packaging.
The book has the unfortunate "look and feel" of one of the insubstantial offerings by Dr Bob, so now we have Dr Joe. A bit too faddish for my tastes.
Unenthusiastically Recommended.
Geoff Mangum
Read
June 16, 2024Interesting, thoughtful
I have read the other ppl in this series, Zen golf. This book reinforces some of the points as well as getting very specific about putting. Putting can e close to Half the strokes in a round of golf, so reduce that and your score improves. This book does not preach but also "free your mind" to putt better, but more importantly enjoy playing golf..
I have read the other ppl in this series, Zen golf. This book reinforces some of the points as well as getting very specific about putting. Putting can e close to Half the strokes in a round of golf, so reduce that and your score improves. This book does not preach but also "free your mind" to putt better, but more importantly enjoy playing golf..
September 12, 2024
Pelkäsin, että on tyhjää self helpiä koko kirja. Toki sitäkin oli, mutta ihan hyödyllisiäkin käytännön asioita ja ajattelutapamalleja löytyi. En pelaa pallogolfia, joten putin puhdas tekninen läpikäynti ei itselle ollut niin mielenkiintoista, mutta uskoisin että golfaajalle olisi.
November 7, 2018
Good book on mental aspect of putting with good practice drills as well. If you are a golfer, read it!
April 20, 2021
I have heard much of this before, just not with the “Zen” spin. I will try it, but I am skeptical, so my commitment will probably be less than optimal.
February 22, 2016
Golf bookshelves are filled with every aspect you can think of to improve your game. Increasingly, since golf is the absolute metaphor for life in my estimation, the mental side is attracting as much attention as the physical these days. Dr. Joe Parent, a PhD psychologist and coach, teaches amateurs and pros alike how to succeed in golf by developing strong mental habits, including various aspects of what is now fashionably called "mindfulness". He also augments his theories around how to become mentally strong and balanced with several excellent practical physical tips and drills to focus on.
As a career and life coach, my mantra is one that Parent espouses too: i.e. stop getting overly invested in the outcome and your chances for success and better yet, fulfillment, increase exponentially. Worrying about what others think, for example, can cripple us on the golf course,as well as in life. This theme is repeated over and over in many self-help and therapeutic endeavors and while a simple concept, its subtitles and ramifications are quite complex.
While Parent's teachings can be applied to everyday life, they are most relevant here in trying to sink a tricky downhill, sidehill putt or the knee-knocking three footer that threatens us with the dreaded yips when we feel we really have to make it. While I can't guarantee you will ever putt like a pro after reading the book, I do think it might be worth a stroke saved a round, which is more than worth the price of the book.
As a career and life coach, my mantra is one that Parent espouses too: i.e. stop getting overly invested in the outcome and your chances for success and better yet, fulfillment, increase exponentially. Worrying about what others think, for example, can cripple us on the golf course,as well as in life. This theme is repeated over and over in many self-help and therapeutic endeavors and while a simple concept, its subtitles and ramifications are quite complex.
While Parent's teachings can be applied to everyday life, they are most relevant here in trying to sink a tricky downhill, sidehill putt or the knee-knocking three footer that threatens us with the dreaded yips when we feel we really have to make it. While I can't guarantee you will ever putt like a pro after reading the book, I do think it might be worth a stroke saved a round, which is more than worth the price of the book.
January 15, 2015
Wait, even if you're not a golfer...read this review. I know you think it's overrated, but golf really is like life...it both builds and reveals character. And that is nowhere better displayed than on the putting green - a mini movie of you, life, stress, expectations, failure and reward.
Dr. Joseph Parent captures perfectly the mental struggles of putting, preparing to putt, missing putts, making putts and the overall stress we face on the putting green. Do you get irate when you miss putts? Do you freeze over the moment of impact? Do you consistently miss the path or pace of a putt? More might be wrong than your technique - it's probably what's going on between your ears that impacts most your putting zen.
Zen Putting will help you realize where your problems are, and how best to tackle them. The techniques he teaches you are techniques that can help you in any stressful situation you face. Highly recommend!
Dr. Joseph Parent captures perfectly the mental struggles of putting, preparing to putt, missing putts, making putts and the overall stress we face on the putting green. Do you get irate when you miss putts? Do you freeze over the moment of impact? Do you consistently miss the path or pace of a putt? More might be wrong than your technique - it's probably what's going on between your ears that impacts most your putting zen.
Zen Putting will help you realize where your problems are, and how best to tackle them. The techniques he teaches you are techniques that can help you in any stressful situation you face. Highly recommend!
May 28, 2020
Originally bought the Audiobook and was so enthralled that I bought the hardcover as a reference and read corresponding chapters after listening to the chapters. Made notes on practice sessions and performed them.
The day after completing the book I had 29 putts on the course compared to my average of 33 putts per round. Enjoying putting again and the breathing techniques really help me stay in the moment. I really like the quote in the book of "Every putt is makeable and every putt is missable."
This book will stay on my bookshelf as a reference book to go back to as needed. If you are struggling with this aspect of your game it is a must read.
The day after completing the book I had 29 putts on the course compared to my average of 33 putts per round. Enjoying putting again and the breathing techniques really help me stay in the moment. I really like the quote in the book of "Every putt is makeable and every putt is missable."
This book will stay on my bookshelf as a reference book to go back to as needed. If you are struggling with this aspect of your game it is a must read.
September 2, 2013
Does wonders. Trust me.
October 5, 2014
I reread this every golf season, that's why I'm never done with it. I'm putting it away for now but will bring it out next year.
August 27, 2013
Good, clear, concise process improvement. No real technique but there's hope it helps.
May 4, 2016
Meh. Visualization wins out is the message.
July 10, 2020
Good Book and standard advice but worth reading... i am going to read Zen Golf...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews