Why the Putting Yips Appear When the Pressure Is On

Why Match Pressure Triggers the Putting Yips

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about why golfers get the putting yips when they think it’s important to make putts. Here’s the question of the week:

PAUL: I’m a 10-12 handicap, 54 years old, play about twice a week, and I have the putting yips but, I don’t think it is about fear of embarrassment. Instead, it is about being seen as good by winning the match. The longer I wait my turn to putt, the worse it gets. When I don’t care about the putt—I’m out of the hole, then I have no issues. Only when it matters does the yips kick in.

Related Yips Articles and Podcasts

• Stop Caring And Make More Putts
• How Kevin Na Battles The Yips
• Ernie Els Putting Woes at the Transitions Championship

Get Help With the Yips

Struggling with the putting yips, chipping yips or full-swing yips? Work one-on-one with Dr. Patrick Cohn and his team of golf mental performance coaches and learn how to putt, chip and swing freely again.

Patrick Cohn

Dr. Patrick Cohn is a sports psychology Ph.D. with 40 years of experience coaching 1,000+ athletes, from the NFL, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and Olympic athletes. He founded Peak Performance Sports in 1996 and has published 25+ books and workbooks on mental performance training. He's the architect of the Mental Edge Framework for athletes, coaches, and parents seeking competitive advantage. He is also the creator of the MGCP certification programs for coaches and life coaches.

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