ABSTRACT
Golf is a global game. Effective ways to improve golf performance, especially putting, the club that is mostly likely used the most, are of value. Commercial putting programmes abound, as does, of course, advice – wanted or unwanted – from fellow golfers. Besides solid putting mechanics, what else should a beginning golfer know about putting? A body of scientific research, most of which is experimental, exists on the psychological techniques or constructs affecting putting performance. Hence, the purpose of this chapter is to quantify this body of literature. By using effect-size values and through grouping the literature into common topics, it will be possible to suggest concrete psychological techniques that will positively benefit the beginning golfer’s putting performance. To achieve this, 30 scientific papers, spanning eight different countries, were identified, with beginning golfers as participants putting with a variety of applied psychological topics. Nearly all of the participants in these studies were university students. Studies fit into the following topic areas: attention, imagery, pressure, and achievement motivation. There was also one study examining social support and one with a very comprehensive intervention. The effect-size values clearly indicated the importance of an external focus of attention, being more confident than one’s fellow golfers, approaching putting in a positive manner, using any golf-related imagery, avoiding ironic or avoidance thoughts, and feeling supported. It appeared that pressure, for the most part, did not affect the novice golfer’s performance simply due to a floor effect during the control condition. Considering the large meaningfulness found in many of the studies, novice golfers should find one technique to be beneficial among the many options for laboratory short, flat putts. Hopefully, the effectiveness of the techniques extends to the golf course.
