Stop Aiming Your Putts

Summary

This video is a golf coaching session, not a broadcast of a complete match. The players recap a round from the previous day in which one golfer shot a personal-best 69—his first score under 70. He was two under par through four holes and began to feel nervous as the round took shape. He says the mental framework they had practiced—intention, attention, and acceptance—helped him focus on playing rather than fixating on his score.

The players also describe improved shot dispersion: misses stayed closer to their intended lines, and several shots flew where they had pictured them.

Key Moments

• Around 0:18 — Recapping the previous day: The players discuss how intention and attention gave each shot a clearer purpose. One golfer recalls choosing a specific target for a 9-iron from 140 yards, then watching the ball launch toward it without getting caught up in swing thoughts.
• Around 2:06 — The 69 is confirmed: The group confirms the score on camera and celebrates the golfer’s first round under 70. He recalls being two under through four holes and feeling the pressure rise.
• Around 3:34 — Nerves, anxiety, and the “zone”: Coach Randy Joyner distinguishes nerves, which he describes as readiness, from anxiety, which he defines as worry about the future. Chasing a target score, tensing up, or piling on swing thoughts can pull a player away from the present shot. The group also discusses diagnosing misses through clubface, path, and angle of attack rather than inventing a long list of body-mechanics explanations.
• Putting-green session — Speed-control drill: Joyner says putting comes down to speed control and green reading, not perfect-looking mechanics. Rather than rehearse common 8–15-foot putts, he has the players roll three balls from about 25–30 feet: one with the right hand, one with the left, and one with both hands. The goal is to cluster the balls at similar distances and learn the green’s speed. In the demonstration, one player’s first two-handed attempt comes up short; Joyner attributes it to tension and encourages a freer swing.
• Green-reading practice: Joyner advises visualizing a broad entry path instead of a narrow “tightrope,” and reading the break backward from where the ball would enter the cup. He recommends first looking at the larger terrain, such as the low side and the direction water would run, before focusing on the putt. A long putt rolls through the suggested wide gate.
• Putting setup and stroke: Joyner discourages forcing acceleration through the ball and describes the putt as a natural release: draw the putter back and let it swing. His one setup detail is to align the right forearm with the putter shaft. The session ends as the group heads to short-game practice and prepares to tee off; no further round result is shown.

Participants and Golfers Cited

Presenters and participants: Randy Joyner, Ricky, Nate, and Ernie.

Golfers cited as examples or sources: Tiger Woods, Brad Faxon, Jack Nicklaus, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Ian Baker-Finch.