Any cure for the "yips"?

eoghan104

I have been playing golf for about 8 years and started off like most by playing pitch and putt. I was always a decent putter but in the last year and a half ive developed the yips and its making me want to give up the game!!!

My Hcap has gone out to 12 from 9 in that time and i literally cant get a ball in the hole from 4 feet in. Its embarassing. I sometimes 3,4,5 putt from inside 10 feet which is obv ridiculous!!! What happens is that at the point of impact my right hand twitches and the ball could go anywhere! I have absolutley no control over my right hand at all! This doesnt happen from outside 5 feet though!!!!

Ive tried putting kak handed and left handed to see no great improvment, I can stand on the putting green and hole 10 2 footers in a row then when i get out on the course i dont get one.

Anyone ever been through this and is there anything I can do to stop it?

Any advice appreciated!!!

jampotjim

eoghan104 wrote: »

I have been playing golf for about 8 years and started off like most by playing pitch and putt. I was always a decent putter but in the last year and a half ive developed the yips and its making me want to give up the game!!!

My Hcap has gone out to 12 from 9 in that time and i literally cant get a ball in the hole from 4 feet in. Its embarassing. I sometimes 3,4,5 putt from inside 10 feet which is obv ridiculous!!! What happens is that at the point of impact my right hand twitches and the ball could go anywhere! I have absolutley no control over my right hand at all! This doesnt happen from outside 5 feet though!!!!

Ive tried putting kak handed and left handed to see no great improvment, I can stand on the putting green and hole 10 2 footers in a row then when i get out on the course i dont get one.

Anyone ever been through this and is there anything I can do to stop it?

Any advice appreciated!!!

I know that feeling ohhhhhhhhhh too well...

I have struggled with the short putts ever since I started and just found hitting the putting green and sinking hundreds of putts and trying to train my brain to remember that stroke by putting with my eyes closed etc....

I have recentlty started closing my eyes on the course if I am struggling to try and regain the stroke from the putting green...

It is all caused by pulling the club back to far and decelerating at impact so try putting a little more weight on your left side and shorten the back swing and ensure you push through the stroke..

mickyt

I might be wrong. but if you had a belly putter would that help any way no?

Just with it sitting against your stomach, it may kurb the twitching.

I had a friend having trouble more so with his grip etc and he changed over and seemed to work for him. Not sure though

Draupnir

My advice to you would be to do two things:

1. Buy this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Putting-Out-Your-Mind-Rotella/dp/1416501991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218451890&sr=8-1

2. Take your putter and fifty balls to the practice green and just knock in 1 or 2 yard putt, maybe even 3 yard putts. You'll be amazed to see the benefit to your confidence. The reason you are missing right now is just confidence.

stockdam

I had a mild bout so I know what it's like. All of a sudden your right hand decides it knows best..

Cross handed worked for me as it made me putt from the shoulders.

All I can say is to develop a routine. Pick your line first and then stick to that. Don't putt until you are happy with the line. If you make a good stroke but miss then you got the wrong line. Once you are ready then line yourself up and take two or three smooth practice strokes. Keep your grip light and make sure you are accelerating smoothly. Then all you do is to replicate the last practice stroke and don't look up until the ball is in the hole.

You've got to get the negative thoughts out of your head and to stick to a routine. If you miss then it's better to miss because you didn't see the line rather than a poor stroke.

ShriekingSheet

A single figure golfer being this bad from short range is 100% mental so to accept that there's very little wrong with your physical ability would be a good start.

I'd also be inclined to say that practicing more may not be of much benefit, given that you find the yips only crop up in competition.

I'd hazard a guess that your spending a bit of time on these short putts, perhaps more than over a 15 footer, reading them and over the ball psyching yourself up for them? Maybe taing a good few practice strokes?
If so, instead of being more careful as you putt worse, get more care-free? Literally walk up to 2-5 footers, get a quick read, no practice swing, one look and bash it...

Somethings obviously going on in your head (subconciously or otherwise) over short putts so just don't give yourself time to worry. After all, they are simple shotts.

PhilipMarlowe

I suffered badly at the end of last year, hit 15 greens in regulation and had 8 3-putts on my worst day...
I changed my putter (against my wishes really because I wanted to conquer it myself) to a Rife Hybrid which is heavier, so it tends to be more stable for me. It also has strong lines on it so I feel it is aiming where I want it to go.
A belly putter might work great but it's just not golf IMO.
I'm not saying that the equipment is to blame - it's just that when you hit a mental obstacle like this, you need something to help you overcome your lack of confidence.

In terms of focus, pick out the excact blade of grass on the lip of the hole that you want your ball to roll over as it drops... I found that on longer putts I was able to hit them much more on my intended line but on short ones I'd miss the hole completely - seems bizarre but picking out a much more defined target (as in the exact blade of grass, not just left-centre or whatever) certainly helped me.

It could be worth considering a lesson or even a SAM lab putting analysis where your stroke will be measured (by ultrasound? look it up) and you may be able to learn more of what you do wrong and correct it better.

BUACHAILL

Quick tip, when practicing your putting place two tees just wide enough apart for the ball to fit through to get to the hole. start at inside a foot and work your way back. then master it,when you go out on the course the hole will feel huge and you will have much more confidence and you wont even be thinking about your stroke

worked well for me

eoghan104

Thanks for all the advice folks!! Some good tips there ill be sure to try them out and report back!!!

Swinging Looney

Just my sixpence worth:

Try looking at your target when putting as well as the old eyes closed trick. This way you stop focusing on approaching the ball correctly and more on making a stroke in the right direction.

I suffer from the same trouble and have tried various grips and methods. In the end, I am back to my original grip but this time with a firm left hand grip and a very, very light right hand grip. My right hand is only there now to control distance. My left hand controls the direction.

Also, try regripping your putter with a fatter grip. This helps take some of the wristiness out of your stroke too........