How Stenson Overcame the Full-Swing Yips

Golf Yips

Overcoming The Full-Swing Yips

The yips can drive your out of the game of golf. Standing over a five-foot putt knowing there is a good chance you will miss creates intense anxiety.

This leads to tension and over control of the stroke causing your to flinch or jab at the ball.

Imagine how difficult it is to play with the full swing yips! Yes, the yips can manifest in any part of your game.

The yips or even excess tension can affect your putting, chipping, pitching, or full shot.

The yips cause golfers to overthink and over control their strokes…

Related Article: Top Fears Related to Putting Yips

Over control leads to tension, the death grip, and wobbly legs.

The real fear: you are suddenly aware that everyone is watching you and the fear of embarrassment is overwhelming.

A game your once loved turns into agony when you have the yips and worry about how others view your game.

The yips are almost a taboo topic for golfers. Most golfers don’t even like to watch another golfer struggle with the yips for fear they may contract the yips by osmosis.

Henrik Stenson had a difficult stint with the yips. Stenson was touted as one of Europe’s most promising golfers as a rookie due to his skill with the long clubs.

But in the middle of his rookie year, the yips started… The full swing yips took what was once his strength and turned it into an unrelenting foe.

STENSON: “Driving the ball long and long irons were always the strong part of my game. When it all fell to pieces, that was the part I was struggling with the most. I couldn’t hit three football fields with my driver… I was in a pretty dark place.”

Stenson, now 40, has returned to being one of the game’s most consistent strikers and won both the 2016 BMW International Open and the 2016 Open Championship.

What helped Stenson to overcome the full swing yips and return to his successful ways?

Stenson had the belief that the yips were not permanent. He had the mental fortitude to focus forward in order to work through the full stroke yips. That doesn’t mean he will forever hit the ball straight and true. What it does mean is that he is in control of his play rather than the yips controlling his game.

STENSON: “It’s all about getting out of bed and keep working away and trying to be better. Sometimes you improve, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your results are going to improve over a period of time. But at some stage you kind of catch up, and you can get the rewards for your hard work. Given the ups and downs I’ve had in the past, it’s not like I’m going to get worried if I’m not producing the results I want. I’ve got patience.”

Tips for beating the full stroke yips:

What you believe, you will receive. If you believe the yips are an incurable affliction, you will either hate the game or retire from the sport.

You must stop searching for physical remedies and denying the mental part of your game. The first step to overcoming the tips is to accept that it’s a mental phenomenon.

Fear of failure and embarrassment are the main culprits, not your putter, grip or mechanics. You mechanics only change because of your mind.

Work to swing freely every shot of every round–that’s your main objective to overcome the yips…

Learn all of my secrets to breaking the yips cycle!


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

“I was pleased to find your website and tips to address the mental issues with the yips. Your drills made sense to me. Other people only tackled technique. That isn’t the problem with me as I can stroke them all nicely on the practice putting green. I can even hit the long ones on the course. I will keep working at it and thank you for your interest.”
~Pat Collins


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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?

“Patrick–something seems really weird here. You are giving out so much good material to help with the yips, and I feel like I am stealing from you! I really like your style! You don’t see that very often–ever as a mater of fact! You are an amazing guy!”
~O’Jay Omlid

“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 write you because it’s been 6 months since I started the program Breaking the Yips Cycle. Before that I was putting with a long putt and due to the ban on anchoring I switched to a short putt and started your program. The yips program has helped me a lot. I have been able to focus on what matters instead of thinking about the outcome or fearing a yippy stroke.”
~Ricardo Abogabir C.

“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

11 thoughts on “How Stenson Overcame the Full-Swing Yips”

  1. My yips lead to my inability to put the club directly behind the ball I feel I have to put the club 2 to 3 inches over and outside of the ball. Can you help? Please!!!

    Reply
  2. I developed the yips several years ago and I’ve sadly given up golf.
    with
    My problem is that during a full swing, mainly with woods but with long irons as well, my brain tells my wrists to turn in, causing the club head to close. The ball responds and goes low and left every time.

    I’ve tried lots of remedies but the problem persists. It actually is painful as I try to force the club head to remain true. Muscles tense and I have to give up.

    I’m not a great golfer but I do understand this is a mental thing. Just can’t make it stop!

    Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Try hitting balls with your eyes closed. Another option is to take practice swings with your eyes closed and ask someone to put a ball in the path between swings when you don’t realize it.

      Reply
  3. I have been struggling with full swing yips ( pulling the trigger) for 6 years. What happens is after my practice swings that feel good, i address the ball then at the top off my backswing it freezes and cant complete the swing. I have tried closing my eyes, singing, humming, even doing math, anything to trick my brain into not thinking about the swing. Sometimes it works but most of the time it does not. I played of 6 before this began and now 6 years later i play of 16. I love the game but this has destroyed my game, any suggestions.

    Reply
  4. I can hit balls at the practice net without a problem, my practice swing is exactly as I want it, but when I address the ball either on the tee box or fairway I freeze over taking the club away, I tense every muscle in my body, my legs wobble all over the place. My putting is fine. I am at the stage of quitting the game, I know the problem is mental but I just can’t crack it. Help!

    Reply
    • Make sure you have one positive image of the target or swing cue over the ball. If not, you’re not ready to hit the shot and have to adjust.

      Reply
  5. I can relate to Darren , giving it one last shot this year , 3 in my younger days now cant break 90 , stripe the ball on range and decelerate at ball on course , its all in my head for sure , any thoughts
    thank you
    warren in canada

    Reply
    • Same guy on the range with the same swing as the guy on the course…. You have to trust your swing on the course. Make sure you take a full ripped practice swing next to the ball–hold onto that feeling and replication it over the ball. I don’t have a quick fixe for the yips, but I do know it’s often about fear of embarrassment and worrying too much about what others think.

      Reply
      • you are right on there for sure , I will keep working at it ,is there any certain process or number counts you can suggest as I address and pull trigger? I read in one article to count backwards from 100. Thanks for response
        warren

        Reply

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