Freeing Up Your Golf Swing
How much should you think over your putts or shots?
Great question…
One golfer wrote in to tell me he’s starting to understand that over thinking or being too conscious of what he’s doing does not help….
This is what Mark had to say:
“The yips are definitely mental, caused by doubt and self-consciousness, not physical. The more conscious thought about the putt, technique, etc, the more likely you are to yip.”
He went on to say:
“A change of equipment or technique might be a temporary fix the yips, but equipment or technique are not a cure.”
I have to agree with Mark about the fact that the more you “think” about HOW TO putt or hit a shot, the worse your results.
In the yips cycle, tinkering and fixing can keep you stuck in a mindset of correcting your stroke and over thinking.
But it will get so bad that the mind and body become very confused. This leads to you tightening up and stabbing at the ball–due to too many conscious instructions (and of course fear about the outcome).
How do you not think when playing golf?
When playing golf, you are thinking about the target, landing area, or line for the putt–you have to plan the shot.
I call this the planning and programming phase of the preshot routine. For example, you read the green, select a line and/or pace and visualize the putt.
However, when you are over the ball, that’s when you have to shut off the over-active mind…
I call this the procedure stage of the routine because now you are executing the plan and what you see or feel in your mind. This applies to every shot.
The idea is your swing or stroke is already grooved from practice and repetition. This is the time to trust your motor memory (or what golf coaches call muscle memory).
You already know how to swing or make a good stroke. Get out of your way with the over thinking and allow your stroke to come out.
Interfering with a well-learned stroke is what cause you to bind up or tighten up…
This is why freeing up your swing or stroke is so important.
Related Article: Top Fears Related to Putting Yips
So how do you free up your swing or stroke?
1. Keep it simple with one image over the ball.
2. Practice my drills you downloaded every day and before rounds.
3. Address the fears that makes golf so challenging for you.
4. Win the fun trophy at the end of the day! Make score secondary.
You will free up the putter, when you can stop over thinking, worrying about the outcome, and regain your confidence on the course.
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?
“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