Learning To Shut Off The Mental Chatter

Understanding The Yips

Are you frustrated with the yips?

You probably feel like you are one of the few that contracted this horrible golf ailment. Well, you are not alone…

Approximately 40 percent of golfers will experience the yips at some point in their career as estimated by some sport psychologists.

Most golfers avoid talking about the yips because they don’t understand the nature of the yips, such as:

  • What are the yips?
  • How and why the yips occur.
  • How to overcome the yips.

By understanding the inner-workings of the yips, you can start finding ways to counter their effects and, possibly, develop preventative strategies to keep the yips at bay.

What are the yips?

The yips are those spasms or jerks that occur in your hands right before striking the ball that interferes with a smooth golf stroke or swing.

How and Why the Yips Occur

One yips misconception is that a couple horrible shots lead to the yips.

Just because you miss a few easy putts or drove some tee shots off course doesn’t mean you have or will have the yips.

A second misconception is that anxiety causes the yips. Anxiety doesn’t cause the yips, but it can make the problem worse.

The truth of the matter is that over-analyzing and over-thinking are the biggest contributing factor to the yips.

Think of those moments where thoughts swirled around your mind about your stroke, your plan for your shot and the possible outcomes of your shot…

You probably talked yourself through the technique of your stroke as you were attempting the shot…

It is no different that hearing rude spectators talking while you play… That intrusive self-talk interferes with your ability to focus and play optimally.

It is these times where your mind is no longer your ally, but your enemy.

Dr. Debbie Crews, a sports psychology consultant for Arizona State University women’s golf team, summarizes the problem of analyzing your stroke while you are attempting your shot:

“What often interferes with performance is when the left side of the brain becomes overactive. That analytic, verbal side can’t shut down, and it tries to over-control the motion.”

When you over-analyze and over-think and try to figure “what’s wrong with you,” you will increase your anxiety and become more firmly entrenched in the yips.

Tips to Counter the Yips

  • Tip #1: You need to reduce the amount of pressure you put on yourself. Golf as if you were playing with your buddies. If you think about it, the course doesn’t change… It’s your thoughts about the game that negatively affect you.
  • Tip #2: You should find evidence to support you can make THIS shot. The yips are centered around those few times in the recent past that missed a similar shot. Recall the times when you routinely made those shots over and over in the past with no problem.

Related Article: Coming Out of The Closet If You Have The Yips

Successful golfers have learned how to perform with ultimate confidence in competition. We’ve developed The Golfer’s Mental Edge Workbook and CD program to help you do this.

P.S. If you struggle with the putting, chipping, or full-swing yips, please take one minute to complete my survey. Help me to help you better: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/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?

“I wanted to tell you I have broken out of the yips short putt issues. I have won 2 of the last 3 competitions. Right now my putting confidence is sky high. I HAD the putt yips for past 6 years. I contribute the success to two of your drills. First focus hard on the hole, forget about all else. It took awhile to get the 100% focus, but I could see the results coming. Then your advice “Let go and trust your ability.” Immediate result. Wow what a relief. Having putted for so long under yip pressure, I now feel I can be put under extreme pressure to win the club championship. I now look forward to short putts.”
~Ian Dodd


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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 am a PGA Professional and when I connected with you, I just wanted some ideas to help my students. But thanks to you, my own game has improved! I think I will shoot 69; negative thoughts have vanished; and my self-talk and confidence has improved tremendously. I will be referring my students to your web site.”
~Bill Allen, PGA Pro


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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