Dr. Joseph Parent: STOP 3-Putting with ZEN Putting (Flashback Friday)

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Oct 31, 2025

Dr. Joseph Parent, author and mental-game coach behind Zen Golf, shares putting wisdom and mental shortcuts. He redefines what it means to “make” a putt and teaches quick routines to calm the mind. Hear practical green-reading strategies, pace drills, ways to beat the yips, and a simple post-shot reset to get back on track.

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ADVICE

Define Making A Putt As Execution

Change your goal from "get the ball in the hole" to "love the way it leaves the putter."
If you love the start (line, pace, stroke) you build execution-based confidence, not outcome-based anxiety.

ADVICE

Breathe To Release Tension

Use breathing to release upper-body tension and promote a soft, trusting stroke.
Make practice swings that putt through and hold the finish so your actual stroke matches the rehearsal.

INSIGHT

Start Reading Greens From Afar

Read greens from the biggest perspective first, then narrow in on nearby landforms and edges.
Understanding surrounding geography reveals consistent tendencies in how greens break.

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Dr. Joseph Parent - the author behind Zen Golf (one of the best-selling golf books of all time, more than 1M copies sold) is back on the show.

Dr. Parent first appeared in episode #222 to talk about the mental game but today we're covering putting. He'll share some of his biggest mental tips to help you have more confidence on the greens with the principles from Zen Putting.

When you listen to this full interview with Dr. Parent, you will learn:

How to redefine "making putts."
How to get out of a putting slump fast.
What to do if you ever have the putting yips.
How to develop a quick post-shot putting routine.
The difference in reading putts on uphill vs. downhill ones.
The most common mental mistakes most players make on the greens.

And a lot more.

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