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The Lost Art of Putting: Introducing the Six Putting Performance Principles
Does the stroke create the putt or does the putt create the stroke?To be child-like is to have a simple fascination in getting the ball into the hole and to love the task of doing so. To be childish is to expect a certain outcome will come your way, that you deserve to hole the putt or that you shouldn’t miss from a certain distance.The Lost Art of Putting will help you become more child-like on the greens and less childish.Leading tour coach Gary Nicol and performance coach Karl Morris have 60 years’ combined coaching experience. It is their belief that the game of golf is not about finding ‘the’ way to do it but more a case of discovering, or perhaps more importantly uncovering, ‘your’ way to do it. The perspective and concepts they share with you in this book have the potential to liberate you so that you can experience what you are truly capable of on the greens.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 24, 2018
The book was very polar.
On one hand, the main thesis of the book is wonderful and liberating: putt based on your intuition and feel while have a sound technical base (e.g., green reading as foundation). You yourself will make you successful.
On another hand, the book was written and finalized in sloppy fashion especially on two fronts: 1st) The ”afterwords” in each chapter felt like commercials that were glued on top and added negative value to the experience as they took away from the main messages (e.g., Trackmann + Odyssey pieces); 2nd) The Kindle version page layout was not working (e.g., unformatted titles for sub-chapters).
As a final note, you get better experience by listening Karl Morris on ”On the Mark” PGA Tour podcast, published 22nd of August 2018. All the content without the extra’s that dilute the messages.
On one hand, the main thesis of the book is wonderful and liberating: putt based on your intuition and feel while have a sound technical base (e.g., green reading as foundation). You yourself will make you successful.
On another hand, the book was written and finalized in sloppy fashion especially on two fronts: 1st) The ”afterwords” in each chapter felt like commercials that were glued on top and added negative value to the experience as they took away from the main messages (e.g., Trackmann + Odyssey pieces); 2nd) The Kindle version page layout was not working (e.g., unformatted titles for sub-chapters).
As a final note, you get better experience by listening Karl Morris on ”On the Mark” PGA Tour podcast, published 22nd of August 2018. All the content without the extra’s that dilute the messages.
September 20, 2025
An important putting book to read
This book is an important putting book to review. Also suggest reading Dave Stockton’s book afterwards. I did it in the opposite order, but think reading this one first would be better. I remember my best rounds were when I visualized the putt pouring in the high side of the cup with a perfect pace. Not only will you make more putts, but you will 3 putt less often because your 2nd putts will be shorter, but also because you will be equipped with techniques to avoid tops or anxiety about missing the putt.
This book is an important putting book to review. Also suggest reading Dave Stockton’s book afterwards. I did it in the opposite order, but think reading this one first would be better. I remember my best rounds were when I visualized the putt pouring in the high side of the cup with a perfect pace. Not only will you make more putts, but you will 3 putt less often because your 2nd putts will be shorter, but also because you will be equipped with techniques to avoid tops or anxiety about missing the putt.
March 9, 2023
Fascinating
I heartily recommend this book to any golfer who is not happy with his/her putting results. The authors showed me what to focus on, how to manage myself and correctly channel my reactions to missed putts. Their two questions posed throughout the book are excellent thoughts to consider in the early stages of planning the journey the ball makes to the hole. Well done guys!
I heartily recommend this book to any golfer who is not happy with his/her putting results. The authors showed me what to focus on, how to manage myself and correctly channel my reactions to missed putts. Their two questions posed throughout the book are excellent thoughts to consider in the early stages of planning the journey the ball makes to the hole. Well done guys!
August 29, 2018
A great read - that makes a lot of sense
I like the sectional approach building the themes / principles in a logical order. when put all together feels like a fantastic tool kit to have and flipped quite a bit of my thinking / approach to my putting on its head. I’m looking forward to starting putting them in to practice tomorrow. 😀
I like the sectional approach building the themes / principles in a logical order. when put all together feels like a fantastic tool kit to have and flipped quite a bit of my thinking / approach to my putting on its head. I’m looking forward to starting putting them in to practice tomorrow. 😀
September 22, 2020
Excellent book on putting!
This is the most wholistic book I have read on putting. It deals with the mental side, green reading, equipment, and practice. It doesn’t talk a lot about stroke because the authors believe the stroke is personal and less important to making putts. Great book!
This is the most wholistic book I have read on putting. It deals with the mental side, green reading, equipment, and practice. It doesn’t talk a lot about stroke because the authors believe the stroke is personal and less important to making putts. Great book!
October 20, 2025
Great basic principles
I Have seen a dramatic improvement in my putting and enjoyment on the greens since reading this book. I now use the fundamentals as part of a structured process when I start approaching the green. I have gone from someone who used to beat himself up over missed putts, to someone who learns and celebrates success.
I Have seen a dramatic improvement in my putting and enjoyment on the greens since reading this book. I now use the fundamentals as part of a structured process when I start approaching the green. I have gone from someone who used to beat himself up over missed putts, to someone who learns and celebrates success.
July 26, 2018
A brilliant brilliant book
Quite simply one of the best books I've ever read on golf. It will make you fall in love with putting. The importance of pace, breathing, visualisation, how to read a putt: it's all in here, but completely accessible. It's a masterpiece.
Quite simply one of the best books I've ever read on golf. It will make you fall in love with putting. The importance of pace, breathing, visualisation, how to read a putt: it's all in here, but completely accessible. It's a masterpiece.
March 10, 2020
One opinion
While visualization is important before making the putt or any other stroke it’s absolutely imperative that the golfer understand where the face of the club is pointing. Without that element of control, visualization itself is useless.
While visualization is important before making the putt or any other stroke it’s absolutely imperative that the golfer understand where the face of the club is pointing. Without that element of control, visualization itself is useless.
June 29, 2020
As a scratch golfer I give it 3 stars as no earth shattering insights, It’s more a compilation of Karl Morris coaching. Although imaging the pace of the golf ball rolling into the hole has really helped my putt-Mark ratio!
July 6, 2021
Great book for concepts in putting
Loved the book. Gives great insights on the mental aspect of putting along with great pointers in what’s important when it comes to getting a putt to go into the hole.
Loved the book. Gives great insights on the mental aspect of putting along with great pointers in what’s important when it comes to getting a putt to go into the hole.
January 16, 2022
Words of Wisdom
The emphasis on emotions, visualization and
right brain thinking in all aspects of golf has not only improved my score but more importantly my enjoyment of the game.
The emphasis on emotions, visualization and
right brain thinking in all aspects of golf has not only improved my score but more importantly my enjoyment of the game.
January 4, 2019
Good read
Some really nice ideas in this short book, there isn’t a load of padding in it either, I’ll be trying 5-6 of them on the practice green later.
Some really nice ideas in this short book, there isn’t a load of padding in it either, I’ll be trying 5-6 of them on the practice green later.
October 16, 2019
Great, fresh perspective
Really nice to have a new way of looking at putting, and remove a lot of the stress and tension that I have felt.
Really nice to have a new way of looking at putting, and remove a lot of the stress and tension that I have felt.
December 27, 2019
How to putt by letting go and not getting in your own way
February 2, 2020
Simple yet effective
Some good insight on how to stay positive and a few simple & practical ideas to take onto the course
Some good insight on how to stay positive and a few simple & practical ideas to take onto the course
May 25, 2020
Best book on putting!
This is an outstanding book. I went from a streaky putter with little confidence to now i putt with confidence. Highly recommend!
This is an outstanding book. I went from a streaky putter with little confidence to now i putt with confidence. Highly recommend!
June 18, 2020
Great
Great book, interesting thoughts and techniques. Good for any golfer from screech to high ha i copes looking to help their game.
Great book, interesting thoughts and techniques. Good for any golfer from screech to high ha i copes looking to help their game.
June 23, 2020
There's some good content from Gary and Karl but I thought they are shamelessly advertising certain products from companies like Trackman
November 7, 2023
Great book on putting. Addresses the mental aspect of putting, as well as the art of finding the best line and pace and reading greens.
January 5, 2020
A few good key ideas but a lot of data which is useless for the reader. Nevertheless it made a difference in my putting. Lots of publicity at the end of each chapter.
July 29, 2019
Great read that has really helped with how I tackle putting
Really good book written in an easy to read way that asks questions of the reader. I'm hoping this book will see a great improvement on the greens....no, I know it will 😁
Really good book written in an easy to read way that asks questions of the reader. I'm hoping this book will see a great improvement on the greens....no, I know it will 😁
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews