Beat the “Yips” Before it Beats You

Overcoming The Yips in Golf

Have you experienced a time where you were sinking putts with ease in practice but, suddenly and without explanation, you seemed unable to sink to the simplest of putts in a tournament?

Suddenly, any putt caused your muscles to tense, thoughts to race, pre-shot routine to take longer and anxiety to increase.

You were probably suffering from a condition known in golf as the “yips.”

It is estimated that almost 48 percent of golfers have experienced the “yips” at one time during their careers.

Many professional golfers have sought out and overcame the “yips” with the help of Golf Psychology Consultants and Mental Game Coaches.

Pádraig Harrington, a 42 year-old Irish professional golfer, is one such golfer who has hired a Sport Psychologist to help regain his putting form and overcome the “yips.”

Harrington’s problem with the “yips” has been well documented…

Related Article: Harrington Overcomes The Yips To Win

Harrington entered the PGA Tour in 2005 and won his first PGA Tour tournament at the Honda Classic in a sudden-death playoff. Two months later, Harrington won the Barclays Classic with a spectacular 65-foot eagle putt on the final hole for his second PGA Tour win.

Harrington has five PGA Tour wins including three Major Championships: The Open championship (2007, 2008) and the PGA Championship (2008).

Harrington’s problems started in 2009 when he ended the year win less on the European and PGA Tours. From 2009 to 2013, Harrington missed eight PGA Majors cuts and his issue with the “yips” became profound.

In the 2014 Volvo Golf Championship, he shared the lead going into the final day of play. Harrington proceeded to miss a handful of putts from inside six feet and finished tied for fifth extending his Majors slump that began in 2009.

Harrington summed up his “yips” issues at the Volvo Championships stating, “Like the end of last year, I’m happy with how I’m hitting the golf ball but distraught with how I’m putting.”

Harrington understands the mental nature of the “yips.

“For a good while my short game hasn’t been good enough but my chipping was excellent out of the rough this week. I just need to convert more birdie putts but I’ve been there for a while. I’ll just keep putting away and we’ll get there for sure. There’s nothing particularly wrong. At this stage, it’s a change of attitude and certainly not technique.”

With the help of his Sport Psychologist, Harrington knows how the overcome the “yips,”

“I’ve holed putts in my day and know it’s a question of figuring out how to get a bit more trust and confidence. I’m reading the greens well now and the day I start trusting it, I’ll be okay.”

Keys to Overcome the “Yips”:

  1. You can help your confidence by recalling the times you putted successfully.
  2. You need to trust in your putting stroke instead of over controlling it.
  3. You must let go of the result and focus on execution while putting to maintain a fluid stroke.
  4. You should challenge your fear about failing in order to combat your negative thinking.
  5. You should recall the duration of pre-shot routine when you putted successfully and replicate that routine on a consistent basis.

You can overcome the putting yips, but it requires more work than changing your putter or your grip.

I’m sure you have made lots of changes with your stroke and putter, but have you worked on your mental game?

Contact us if you want to learn about my mental coaching programs for golfers with the yips.


Overcome The Yips and Enjoy Golf Again!

Golf Yips

Golfers, do you suffer from:

  • Anxiety, tension and over control of the stroke or swing?
  • Performance anxiety about what others will think?
  • Inability to wing the club freely on the course, despite the fact that you can in practice?

Check out: Breaking the Yips Cycle

Golfers: Learn how to overcome the fear that keeps you stuck in a vicious cycle

Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game edge.

Coaches: Help your team members play with freedom instead of fear or tension.

Breaking The Yips Cycle: How to Putt, Chip, And Pitch Freely and Enjoy Playing Golf Again

What are Golf Psychology Students Saying?

“Thanks for all your help Dr. Cohn. You can rest assured that all our work came in very handy when I successfully qualified for the European Tour. I’m very happy and extremely thankful to you for helping me achieve this massive goal of qualifying for the European Tour! Thanks a lot again.”
~Alex Rocha, European Tour Player

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Download Our FREE Anti-Yips Putting Drills

Do you spend most of your practice time trapped by stroke or mechanics on the practice green?

Are you unsure how to practice to hep you overcome the putting yips?

Golfers: Learn how to putt with freedom using proven putting drills!

Download our FREE putting report and drills to help you unlock your putting potential today!

What are golfers saying about our putting yips drills?

“I went on to the putting green right after receiving your mail. What a great feeling of freedom. No tense at all, smiling and more consistent than ever before. I have great rounds during the years, but you have taken me to a new level with you tips for the yips. I am very grateful – if you visit Denmark I will invite you out for dinner.”
~Søren Meinertsen, Denmark


Overcome The Yips With Expert Mental Game Coaching!

Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.

You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!

What are our mental coaching students saying?

“I’ve had the yips for 30 years. With the anchor ban, I thought I needed to quit golf. It was frustrating hearing golf experts and commentators state that no amateur was going to quit golf because of the anchoring ban. Obviously, these experts don’t know anything about the yips. I’m so glad I found you. Your drills really helped. It might sound silly, but the biggest thing that helped me is knowing that the yips is mental. It might sound crazy, for someone to have the yips for 30 years, and not know it’s mental. I also believe I know my reason for having the yips, and I see how my insecurities in every day life contributed to the yips. Thank you for your help.”

~Kevin Stankewicz

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