UNCONSCIOUS PUTTING, the excellent book by Dave Stockton

I have just finished reading this very interesting book by  Dave Stockton, currently considered the number one teacher of putting and the short game in the world.

Unconscious Putting is quite a new book as it was recently published, for the first time, in September of 2011.

Stockton´s list of clients is, indeed, very impressive, and includes notables such as: Phil Mickelson, whom wrote the foreword, Rory McIlroy, Annika Sorenstam, Yani Tseng, Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar, JB Holmes, Martin Laird, Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel, among many others.

Dave Stockton, together with his two sons, Dave Jr. and Ron, have continued a longstanding family tradition of teaching golf´s short game, that was started by Dave´s father, Gail.

In must be mentioned that Dave Stockton, now aged 70, was a magnificent player on the PGA Tour and on the Champions Tour.

He won two Majors on the regular tour (the 1970 and 1976 PGA Championships) as well as nine other regular PGA Tour tournaments. On the CHAMPIONS tour he won a total of 14 tournaments, including three Majors (a US Senior Open and two Senior Player Championships).

To me, a firm believer in the value of controlling the mind on the golf course, the Stockton Method just made all the sense in the world . My putting has improved impressively using his techniques, and is for sure the reason that, for the first time in my life, y am playing off a + 1 handicap (-0.6 slope index).

Unconscious putting, or putting from the unconscious mind, teaches us that the putting stroke is a small and simple stroke, that depends almost entirely on the sensation of "feel". Stockton tells us that when the golfer is concentrating on technique or mechanical thoughts, the necessary sensation of "feel", that is so fundamental for a solid stroke, is alienated.

Instead of being trapped in the mechanics and positions for hitting putts, or thinking about the stroke, the golfer should only be concerned about focusing on the line and rolling the ball to the hole.

Dave Stockton

Stockton says: " The key is to transform each putt in an unconscious act, just as we do when we sign our name to a document".

The book isn´t very long, some ninety pages, but a fascinating read for golfers of all handicaps, specially those who frequently putt in pressure situations.

Not surprising at all are Rory McIlroy´s comments, after his great win in the 2012 PGA Championship, crediting Dave Stockton for his magnificent putting performance.