How a Preputt Routine Can Improve Putting

Preputt Routine

How To Improve Your Putting

Here’s the question of the week from my yips survey:

“How do I keep my concentration or routine on short putts? It seems like I have no control over my putting stroke in competition when I have 2-5 footers.”

Your putting routine is very important to helping you make putts and perform consistently. That’s because it helps you focus on the process and on positive thoughts, instead of missing…

Too many golfers, who have the yips, focus on all the wrong stuff during their routine:

You might think:

  • I hope I don’t jab another one.
  • Don’t embarrass yourself like you did on the last putt.
  • If you hit it too hard, you’ll have another three-footer coming back.
  • If I miss this, I’ll go to four over par.

What’s wrong with these thoughts?

The focus on the outcome, which produce the anxiety or fear about missing.

So one huge benefit of having a preshot routine is to help you stay locked into the process and not focus on negative outcomes–as long as you have a DEFINED routine.

What are the ingredients of a good preputt routine?

  1. Get a good read and commit to you line or path.
  2. Stay focused on your line/path as you approach.
  3. Use positive self-talk to help you feel confident.
  4. Take a couple free rehearsal strokes — feeling freedom.
  5. Set up and feel comfortable/relaxed over the ball.
  6. Focus on the target or feel the speed and trust it.

Top Breakdowns in the Routine:

You also want to be aware of the top breakdowns in your preshot routine.

Related Article: 3 Tips to Cure The Putting Yips

These include:

  1. Focusing too much on the outcome.
  2. Not committing to a line.
  3. Seeing a bad image in your mind (sculling a chip or missing a 3-footer).
  4. Second-guessing your approach overall.
  5. Not trusting your stroke or intuitive process.
  6. Fear of embarrassment or what others think.

When you can focus all your energy on your routine, it can help you feel more relaxed–as long as you stick to your routine and not allow fear of grip you…


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

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