What Causes The Yips?
Are the putting or golf yips caused my mental or physical problems?
Depends on who you ask about this phenomenon…
Golf psychologists will say the yips are all in the mind. Some golf instructors will say that it’s a physical problem.
I have the same debate with my motocross students who are afflicted with something called “arm pump.” Arm pump is when the racer’s arms get so tight due to lactic acid build up, he has to pull of the track. I’ve explained why I think this is purely a mental problem in my program Arm Pump Solved.
I do not think the golf yips are cause by a physical problem, such as poor nutrition or neuromuscular problems within the golfer..
Related Article: What Causes Yips Symptoms?
Maybe in rare cases. My view is the yips, in most cases, are due to mental game issues.
The majority of golfers get the yips from tension, anxiety, and fear.
If you only get the yips on the course or when putting in front of others, but not on the practice green, is this mental or physical?
It has to be totally mental when it ONLY happens to you on the course or in competition. If you get the yips on the practice putting green, we can also conclude that they are mental if you are concerned about what others think about your performance, what we call social approval in the sports psychology world.
I think you want to ask yourself:
Is there a time when you don’t feel the yips and the putter feels relaxed, such as when you are home alone putting on the carpet or in a hotel room?
If this is the case–you have times when you don’t feel the yips at all–we can assume that the golf yips are caused by mental game issues and not physical problems.
If you putt free of the yips some days and not others, can this really be a physical problem?
Most likely, it’s not physical or you would have them every time you play!
Start by downloading my anti-yips putting drills to help you learn how to free up your putter in practice.
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?
“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
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?
“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
“To play well, you have to believe you can play well. Confidence goes a long way in golf. Dr. Cohn has developed a great system that helped me improve confidence and my overall mental approach to golf.
~Brian Watts, 11-time Winner on the PGA Japan Tour
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 should really thank you for all the tools you have given me for learning how to perform and to help others perform.”
~Camilla Dettori, MGCP student and golfer
“My short game improved, I did not get down on myself, and dropped my handicap by two strokes.”
~Traci Bateman
I’ll share why I believe the yips are more than nerves. If I hold a putter with my right hand and move it back and forward in a putting stroke my right hand and henceforth the putter will twitch.I used to play squash but recently tried to play but could not serve forehand because of my yips…..:(((