Comments for Beat Golf Putting Yips

Comment on Is the Belly Putter a Crutch – Keegan Bradley Says “No Way” by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:08:38 +0000

What was said by Roberto pretty much echoed my thoughts on anchoring and the Long Putter and is pretty much what I told the USGA in my angry letter to them a few months ago. The USGA and R&A really blew it. They didn’t have a problem with anchoring until a couple guys won majors with them, then all of a sudden it was bad for the game. Eventually it was going to happen and I believe long putters are used by more PGA pros than ever before too. There is no proof of any advantage in anchoring, in fact on longer putts the bulk and size of the putter is probably a disadvantage to some degree, and there was never a rule banning anchoring to start with, but now after 30 years or so the USGA comes out and says that it doesn’t fit the tradition of the game or however in the hell they put it. Absolutely crass. There is probably more downside to upside with an anchoring ban.

No doubt a lot of folks using short putters feel like they are now at a disadvantage on the greens, which is probably not true, and a certain percentage of people are going to develop the yips over time and when that happens some opinions on anchoring and long putters will change, but of course by then anchoring might be banned. I am using a long putter but still am trying to work back to using a short one again. I would much prefer a short putter and used to be very good with one before the yips came along. I am pretty much mediocre with the Long 50 inch putter after about 2 years, have had streaks of pretty good putting but over all just average at best, and not near as good as I was with the short putter. Hopefully will find a cure for the yips. A long putter is pretty cumbersome and adds weight to the bag too. Anyway, I hope the USGA and R and A pulls their head out and decide not to ban anchored putting or my bet is that they WILL hurt the growth of the game.

Comment on Does Tiger Woods Have the Yips? by DocCohn

DocCohn — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:18:52 +0000

I appreciate any ideas that can help my readers. But if yips are about anxiety or fear, the solutions is to address the anxiety and fear. Sometimes quick fixes and bandaids can work and maybe even change how you think about putting.

Comment on Does Tiger Woods Have the Yips? by robert dyson

robert dyson — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:48:58 +0000

Please give this a bit more thought rather than just say it is a bandaid approach. The more you crouch/bend the more the stroke is with the rocking of your shoulders rather than the hands. The yips also come from the hands making anxious/unplanned movements. With the hands out of the stroke the yips also significantly reduce.

Comment on Does Tiger Woods Have the Yips? by DocCohn

DocCohn — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:51:24 +0000

Although this physical band aid might work for you, it’s a temporary fix to the putting yips. It does not address the real cause of the anxiety. Anxiety comes from worry about missing or embarrassing yourself. What you are doing is covering up the symptoms of the anxiety: lifting up. This is a typical approach a golf instructor would teach golfers to overcome the yips. If it works for you, run with it. But do you really want to putt with anxiety?

Comment on Does Tiger Woods Have the Yips? by robert dyson

robert dyson — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:00:31 +0000

I think the yips is all about being anxious. This results in looking up to quickly and even lifting. The solution is then to crouch/bend over more on the putt – it is much harder to be anxious and lift from a more crouched/bent over position. An added advantage is that the shoulders move more in line with the putt, rather than around – the putter head also travels more in a straight line – back and through. It is also easier to hold your putting finish.

This method has given me a smooth and no yip putting stroke (over 3 months now).

The best example of this is Jack Nicklaus – he never seemed to have yip problems – he was more crouched/bent over than any other good player that I know of.

Comment on What are Golf Swing Yips? by john reynolds

john reynolds — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:38:10 +0000

i have developed the yips when i have to hit over water,there is a dam on last hole i have put so many balls into it,only the dam gives me trouble the rest of the round no trouble at all,try as i might on the downswing it feels as if my right arm is bending and i hit the ball about 15=20 feet into the dam,any clues what to do cheers –john australia.

Comment on What are Golf Swing Yips? by DocCohn

DocCohn — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:36:11 +0000

Make sure you put you focus into something effective or positive, such as the target or one swing thought such as tempo.

Comment on What are Golf Swing Yips? by Tony

Tony — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:40:04 +0000

I am a 12-ish handicap. I consistently hover around breaking 80. I have been playing for about 10-12 years. I have had the full swing yips hit me twice. One time in a big time member guest and it was completely debilitating. I don’t know how I finished the tournament. The next time was in a club fitting and again I was totally worthless trying to swing the club. My instructor was there and worked with me for a couple of hours afterwards to try and fix things. I have had a number of mild episodes but usually if I change the club I am hitting and take half swings with my feet together I can manage it. My yips hit me when I have the club back about 6 inches. At that point I completely panic and can feel the face wide open as it approaches the top and at this point I have no hope of finishing the swing in any competent manner. This happened to me about one year apart and I am hopeful it won’t happen again. I used to laugh at Charles Barkley…I will never laugh at him again. It is a horrible feeling and if I were to ever quit golf that would be why. I am open to suggestions…before I have to play tomorrow!

Comment on Kevin Na Battles the Full-Swing Yips at the Players by Chris

Chris — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:49:19 +0000

Boy can i relate lol. My golf game is ruined now, went from a 1 hcp to mid 80′s almost overnight! Takeaway yips, peer review yips, chipping yips, fear of high scores, hitters impulse.. So bad i’ve considered switching to other side of ball to start over! Been over 8 months since i came close to a red # for 18.

Comment on What are Golf Swing Yips? by DocCohn

DocCohn — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:29:44 +0000

How do the full swing yips manifest? In other words, what changes for you? Is it hard to start the club back or the downswing feels jerky or wrong?

Comment on What are Golf Swing Yips? by Conor

Conor — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:48:24 +0000

I’ve had full swing yips for 30 years and have tried everything many times over. I putt and chip well with no issues. my handicap has gone from 5 back to 12 then back to 6 during a period of remission. In the horrors again and would appreciate any new suggestions

Comment on Is the Belly Putter a Crutch – Keegan Bradley Says “No Way” by Roberto Vallarino

Roberto Vallarino — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:46:48 +0000

What is most interesting to me is that argument that the LONG putter should be outlawed because players are being succesful by using them . The corollary is that it would be OK if people were not being succesful with them. Do we really need to be chasing away people by making whats their prefered tools unavailable.
I dont have a vested interest ,I dont use or like the long Putters but its hypocritical saying, ITS OK as long as you werent winning?
My beef is symply the hypocresy in allowing something for more than 20 years as long as it is not advantageous, but prohibiting it once some players become proficient at its use.

Comment on Is the Belly Putter a Crutch – Keegan Bradley Says “No Way” by Vin Costello

Vin Costello — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 02:29:07 +0000

It’s not personal, some of my favorite pros use a belly or broomstick, but there still illegal in my mind.
Technology can be good in some ways, but its starting to ruin the tradition of the game. As usual
its all about MONEY!!!!!!!!!

Comment on Is the Belly Putter a Crutch – Keegan Bradley Says “No Way” by John Strickland

John Strickland — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:55:45 +0000

It’s hard to putt with a long putter without a lot of practice! Do we want this sport to grow?

Comment on Tiger Woods Wins Bay Hill Invitational With Improved Touch by DocCohn

DocCohn — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:19:43 +0000

Hi Jeoff: Let’s not over-complicate the concept of touch and feel in the greens. I don’t focus on the tempo of the stroke, but I’m sure that;s one way to improve it. I think having the correct practice drills and getting clear feedback from your performance is the key to working on touch on the greens. Can you give your version without the psycho-babble?