Overcome Yips With Visualization
Putting is a game within the game. Golf presents no greater mental challenge than your inner battle on the putting green.
To putt great everyday, you first have to win the inner battle so you can then focus on getting the ball in the hole.
The weird part about putting is that you can have the best stroke in the world and still not be a good putter. You may be able to read greens better than anyone, but that won’t help you make putts if you can’t hit a ball on your intended line.
You can have the utmost confidence in your ability to sink putts, but it doesn’t matter how much confidence you have if you don’t have the touch to roll a ball with the correct speed.
Great putters do everything well.
To putt your best, you have to:
- read greens well
- visualize how putts will react on the green
- have confidence in your ability to sink putt
- trust your stroke and aim
And you have to start with the belief that you are a good putter or can become a good putter. And that’s what I’d like to discuss today….
Related Article: Mental Imagery And The Putting Yips
As I’ve stated in other articles here, putting is not and should not be mechanical, but most players focus too much on the mechanics.
Most great putters in history, including Jack Nicklaus, who the top clutch putters in history, agree that putting is two percent mechanics and 98 percent confidence and “touch”.
Larry Mize told me, “When you’re putting good, you’re not thinking mechanics, you’re thinking about picking out a line and rolling it down that line.”
How do you become a great putter when you label yourself as having the yips?
Or you call yourself a streaky putter, or a hot and cold putter? I call these negative labels.
When you label yourself as having the yips, you live with this label until you can change your perception of your putting. Just calling yourself a poor or streaky putter can keep you stuck in a cycle of poor putting.
Great putters are decisive, have loads of confidence in their ability to make putts, and understand how to get the ball into the hole.
They believe they are great putters, love to putt, focus on getting the ball in the hole instead of worrying about missing, and can easily forget about missed putts. The first step to shedding your self-label of the yips is to begin to see yourself as a great putter.
Great putters know that they will have good days and bad days. They understand the fact that they are human and they can’t putt perfectly every day.
If they have a bad day on the greens, they know the next day can be better. Start by listing the qualities you possess to become a great putter or to return to being a great putter, such as good speed control.
Have you had one great putting round (or nine holes of great putting) in your career?
If so, you have what it takes to become a great putter and begin to see yourself as a great putter. Don’t label yourself into putting oblivion.
Overcome The Yips and Enjoy Golf Again!
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?
“Yes! Awesome tips and they worked great. I was having a tough time mentally with putts inside of 4 feet for self imposed fear of missing them. After doing all of your drills I found myself just looking at the hole on the shorts putts similar to a free throw. Seems to be working. Thank you so much!”~Shawn Barr
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