Tip From the Archives

Yips or Pressure

Problem

You suspect that you have the yips because you see unpredictable speed and direction.

Cure

It might not be the yips that haunt your putts. Uncertainty in your stroke might cause you to change the speed at the last minute, which will then turn the putterhead. Have a friend watch you play on the green to look to see if the head of the putter is turning just before impact.

Therapy

When you try to alter the speed of the putt in the middle of your stroke, it changes your gripping pressure. This in turn will cause you to turn the head of the putter. Do not focus as much on accelerating through the putt. Work on maintaining an even grip pressure while making a smooth pendulum stroke back and through. Practice making different swing lengths to get a feel for the speed and distances for each stroke. Make a couple of practice swings before putting, until you are confident about the putt. If you do not, you will increase the chances that you try to change the speed and grip pressure just before impact and miss the cup.

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4 votes

 
mike | 7 months ago

if you have yips, this advice wont help. You cant control anything with yips - you need to change completely the trigger that cause you to have them. This means finding a new way of putting that doesn't use the same motor neurons.

Crystal | 7 months ago

That's true, but it will help you decide if it is a difficult problem, like the yips or an easier one, such as changing the pressure applied by your hands on the grip. I think I'd like the grip problem over the yips!



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