Today I am especially excited to have on our special guests, authors of the fantastic book The Lost Art of Putting, Gary Nicol and Karl Morris.
When I first read the book “The Lost Art of Putting,” it was completely different than what I imagined a book on putting would be. As you would imagine, I anticipated the text would entail an excessive amount of technical conversation on putting, styles, techniques, etc. however, it is refreshingly the exact opposite of what I expected. In my talk today with the authors, Gary Nicol and Karl Morris, we dive into the mental game, attention, and the art of not just putting, but golf altogether. These two world-class coaches explain in more ways than one how the most effective and long term strategies to becoming a great putter rely very little on the actual technical side of the equation, but depend more on your understanding of pace and your personal belief in yourself as a great putter.
Karl Morris’ Background
- Karl has worked as a performance coach to some of the world’s best golfers with over 100 PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour players including six major winners such as Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, and Darren Clarke.
- He is the co-author of the recently released book ‘The Lost Art of Putting’ as well as ‘Attention –the secret to YOU playing great golf’ and ‘Golf –The Mind Factor’ with Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke.
- He has personally trained over 1000 certified Mind Factor coaches worldwide.
Gary Nicol’s Background
- Born in Scotland, Gary Nicol turned professional in 1988.
- Since then, he has traveled the world coaching golfers of all standards from weekend players to tour pros including Ryder Cup players, Olympians, and winners of major championships.
- Gary is a certified TrackMan Master and Mind Factor coach and is based at the stunning Archerfield Links on Scotland’s Golf Coast.
Highlights from this Episode
- We kick off the episode diving into Karl and Gary’s book “The Lost Art of Putting,” and how the book approaches the technical aspect of putting in a different way than you might expect. Karl and Gary talk about the common questions and mistakes they see from their readers and students.
- Gary speaks to one of the six principles of putting they bring up in the book: Attention. It’s so easy for us to know what we should be doing, and yet our mind wonders and we whiff the putt (even though we nailed the same or harder putts earlier in the same game.) Karl takes that and explains the different tactics to hone your attention in when going in for that crucial putt.
- How their paths as teachers and coaches from two different areas of expertise crossed to culminate into their book.
- They talk about what each has brought to the book and what they have discovered from each other/together, like the idea of the after-image when putting, and the difference between thinking positively and positive questions.
Parting Questions
Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?
Gary: Caddy Shack Karl:
Caddy Shack
What’s you’re walk up song to the tee box?
Both: On Day’s Like These by Matt Monroe
If you could pick one person to play 18 holes of golf with, who would it be and where would you play?
Karl: Jack Nicklaus at Royal Lytham & St Annes
Gary: My Late Father, Seve Ballesteros, and Arnold Palmer at Anywhere.
Any last piece of advice for the 18Strong audience?
Karl: Be grateful for every opportunity you have to golf.
Gary: Pay more attention to what the golf ball has to do.
Find more information on Gary Nicol and Karl Morris and at:
The Lost Art of Golf – Twitter
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