Instinct Putting: Putt Your Best Using the Breakthrough, Science-based Target Vision Putting Technique

The first thought that comes to mind when you see a book co-authored by a famous golf instructor from world-class resort and a Ph.D. is that they are going to take a simple concept like putting and pound a prodigious number of words into the smallest ideas and decorate them with complicated and convoluted graphs and charts. At least that was my thought. And then in the introduction I read "Your skill would improve dramatically if you learned to concentrate WHERE to putt the ball and didn't try to think so much about HOW to execute the stroke." How simple is that?? And when I read the rest of the book, and put it into practice, I discovered Alpenfels and Christina are right. I like simple. I like making putts. For anyone else who feels the same, check this book out.

Spent about 45 minutes at the practice green this morning. In short, I was amazed with this technique. I made three putts over 20'. Something I rarely do to be honest. I somehow could see the line so much better than usual. I almost felt like I could read the green for once. Not sure what the deal is, but it is obviously the fact that I am looking at where the ball is going, rather than the ball. On short putts under 7-10', I was less accurate. But just flipping through the book this morning I read that is to be expected. They actually lay out a 14 session training program and you are not supposed to pick it up overnight. But on day one, right out of the gate, my 10+ foot putting was much improved. To be honest, I was amazed at how much. I am going to start the 14 practice sessions soon as I can get back to the course. Short, very focussed sessions, but they graduate in complexity as you build skills. Sounds very logical and from what I saw this morning on the practice green, after a few weeks of this "Instinct Putting", I will change the way I putt forever. This was an unexpeted surprise to say the least. From the book, Jim Dent on the Champions Tour is using this now.

Instinct Putting: Putt Your Best Using the Breakthrough, Science-Based Target Vision Putting Technique This book instructs you to look at the hole and use enough speed to stop 18 inches behind the hole if you miss it. The authors compare it to sports such as football where the QB looks at the receiver while throwing, and say that that allows your athleticism to takeover. They also each you how to hold the putter in a way to treat it as part of your "bionic" arm. But this is AFTER you do all the usual things golfers do the to make putts such as adjusting feet, club face, and so on. It seems to work for me. It also teaches how to "read" a green and other useful things. It's a great book.

I have to admit I only skimmed this book in a book store. However, I'm a 7 hcp and have been putting like this for about 10 years and believe me, it's worth the effort to read this book and learn this technique. I average 12 to 15 putts per 9 holes and that is not a testiment to my chipping. This method makes perfect sense when you think about it; if you were firing a pistol or a rifle at a target would you be looking at the back of the bullet? Of course not. You would be looking at the target. Same idea here. It may take a leap of faith to try this on the course so try it at home first - get used to putting the ball without looking at it. Then, expect comments from the rest of the 4-some until you start averaging 12 - 15 putts per 9 holes.

Let me start off with a little information on myself. I am a scratch golfer playing for a Division 1 college. I averaged 32.1 putts per round last year with a scoring average of 74.1 in 13 tournaments. I was dissatisfied with length putting and the clutch 4-10 footers for par saves. This book makes so much sense it just isn't funny. I was skeptical before buying it, but followed Eric Alpenfels with great interest as a Teaching Professional at Pinehurst Golf Academy. I started the technique explained in the book with the putting test recommended. The results were phenomenal! I am easily making 2-3 more putts per round and am so confident over 50 footers. I probably 3 putted 1-2 times per round from 30-70 feet, and still have yet to 3-putt one single time since finishing the book two and a half weeks ago! This book is truely revolutionary and Mr. Alpenfels has really got it right. I beg you to please read this book and improve your putting. I beleive in it so much I had to gt on here and write this review. Go IP!!