Putter Yips

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By Carl T

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  • 17 Replies
  1. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I am a yipper when it comes to putting. For those that have never experienced this it is hard to explain. It never happens on the practice green and never happens playing a putting contest with someone on the practice green. It only happens when there is pressure to make a putt playing on the course with anybody, friend or total stranger. On long putts over 10 feet it usually does not occur but you miss and leave a 3 footer and I get shaky and my nerves cause my putter head to uncontrollably open and close on the down stroke. It is absolutely the worst feeling you can have if you have played golf as long as I have. The cure for my problem was the long putter as the technique of putting with a completely different grip was like wiping the slate clean and starting all over. With the ban of anchoring the long putter I went back to my 35 inch conventional putter and had some success but every once in a while when the pressure was on I would yip. I recently bought a counter balanced putter with a 38 inch shaft and the yips still occur when you least suspect them. I now have decided on a grip change from the conventional right hand low to left hand low. I have practiced a lot with this new grip and I am hoping that the different feel will be like when I went to the long putter. I am going to put it in action in a few days in a monthly men's scramble tournament where there is really no pressure. Sorry for this long discussion but has anyone else changed over to left hand low to steady their putting because of the yips and did it work ?

  2. Christian J

    Christian J
    Massachusetts

    Carl,

    I had the same problem that you have currently just last year. Anytime a putt meant something (tournament, weekend match, even a birdie), I would tense up and yip it left or right. I had a few people tell me to try the claw grip and after a front 9 of missing 3-4 three footers, I decided to go with it and haven't looked back since. For some reason, this tricks the brain (my brain at least) into a smooth stroke. I have never been more confident putting, especially on the short putts. Give it a shot and I hope it helps you out as much as it has helped me.
  3. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Christian J said:

    Carl,

    I had the same problem that you have currently just last year. Anytime a putt meant something (tournament, weekend match, even a birdie), I would tense up and yip it left or right. I had a few people tell me to try the claw grip and after a front 9 of missing 3-4 three footers, I decided to go with it and haven't looked back since. For some reason, this tricks the brain (my brain at least) into a smooth stroke. I have never been more confident putting, especially on the short putts. Give it a shot and I hope it helps you out as much as it has helped me.

    CJ, Today was one of the worst mental hell games of golf I have endured when I got the full blown yips. Not only was the putter like a writhing snake in my hand but I could not keep my whole body still. I was missing 3 to 4 footers by a foot right or left. What was even worse was the silence from my playing partners. What could they say ? Then I remembered your response about the claw. Starting on the thirteenth hole I needed a six footer for par. I held the top of my 38 inch counter balanced putter with my left hand like you would hold a long chest putter and used my right hand kind of like a saw grip at the bottom of the grip. I admit it was a very unorthodox way to putt but it was so easy to start the ball on line and I hit the hole dead center for par. Finished the rest of the round with seven strokes. Like you said my brain was wiped clean like a hard drive and starting the ball on the line I wanted was easy. Can't wait to play again and use this technique for all 18 holes. Thank you very much for your story and response.
  4. Ben A

    Ben A
    Los Gatos, CA

    Sorry, this will likely be no help to you, but ya never know.

    I don't have the yips but I feel for you and hope my tip helps! I have been a left hand low putter for like 10+ years. I do occasionally have some putting issues, but am usually a pretty good putter. Something I focus on when I am putting well, is my right thumb. The left hand is simply on there to keep it smooth and work as one unit. My right thumb on the outwardmost part of the grip (facing away from me) I focus on keeping a good amount of pressure back and through, never varrying. That keeps my face exactly where I want it the whole time. Sometimes I forget to do this and my face slips/turns mid-putt.

    Best of luck!
  5. Tom B

    Tom B
    Northborough, MA

    Like you said it a round about way, it's mostly in the head....the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Get into a definite pre-shot routine for your putting and stick with it. Sometimes a simple forward press with the hands, can put you on the right track. Some do like Jordan and look at the hole. Do your best to change your mind set to that of confidence, believing you can make them all. Rock the shoulders and keep the V, and avoid doing much with the wrists. DON'T think of it as anything more than practicing on the putting green. Like B.A said concentrate on something else small like your grip being a certain way. Now all that being said, IF only it were that easy. Good luck and try not to think about it
  6. Sawyer Nix

    Sawyer Nix
    Belton, SC

    Left hand low can help, but is not the perfect cure. You can try looking at the hold like Spieth has done. Yips are both physical and mental, but the mental leads to the physical.
  7. ISplisgardt

    ISplisgardt

    I used to be a yipper. I got rid of the yips when I relaxed and just stopped caring. I'm playing because I enjoy it. My hands are loose and not tense and I have confidence over the ball. It helps alot to believe in your stroke
  8. Chris M

    Chris M
    Grindelwald,

    sometimes it helps to change the putter, just to get a mental push again
    maybe also some mental training can help you getting away from the yips...

    all the best
  9. PRO V

    PRO V
    golf course

    Carl, first of all, it has nothing to do with your equipment. It's you. Specifically in your head. I had them for 2-3 months. It's something that drives one crazy. You must stay the course, so to speak. Keep at it. They will go away. They may or may not come back, but that is something you will have to work through again. "Conscience doth make cowards of us all," says Wm. Shakespeare. Thinking about it only makes it worse. But thinking about not thinking is still thinking. You have to completely let the mind go. Detach from the body. As one does after a long, strenuous day right before we go to sleep. Relax and let go. There is a great book by Dave Stockton called "Unconscious putting." Keep us posted...
  10. Bob T

    Bob T
    East Otis, MA

    The yips happen to a lot of us and for me when it happens I change to another putter and the frame of mind with something different works. Eventually I go back to my favorite putter that I've had the most confidence with and results. Good luck and “Yippee ki-yay”!!!!!!
  11. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Played in the monthly men's scramble and put my new left hand low grip into play. I was a little nervous and admit I had some anxiety if I was going to yip. I missed some putts after seeing the line from my partners but not by much. Then I missed a simple tap in not because I yipped but just did not go through my set up routine. This led to more anxiety and I started looking up as I putted and started loosing the ball weakly to the right. I told my self that on the next hole I would concentrate on keeping my head down and just make the stroke and trust my line. Bingo, I rolled in a ten footer and then I felt as if a cloud had been removed from my head. I have been told from players in past games that I need to keep my head still and that I move to much and I guess they were right. At least now I know what to really start working on is to keep my head still and just make the stroke. A simple thought but for me a hard thing to do. Thanks for listening and wish me luck.
  12. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    One more thing that is helping is after I line up my putter and address the ball I am looking at a spot about an inch in front of the ball and I just the roll the ball over this spot. Very simple but it really keeps my head still and I don't yip because I am not looking at the ball. Just making a stroke and accepting the results good or bad.
  13. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    I would also suggest trying a SC Dual Balance Putter....according to Scotty these putters are designed to cure the Yips. If you want to try a quick fix this might help!

    www.titleist.com/.../dual-balance

    Good Luck!
  14. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    Hi Carl.
    That sounds tough. No 1 putting style is right for anyone. My suggestion is to find a putter you like and then practice like you play by placing yourself in pressure situations. Dedicate to hitting 10-15 3 footers in a row-and don't leave until you do. If you miss one, you start over. I promise you putts 8,9, and 10 will feel different than putt 1. When that gets easy, up the number or choose a tougher putt.
    Sometimes I do another drill at home and sink putts from 30, 15, 10 and 4 feet in my living room. It's more for lag putting, but if I miss one I have to start over.
    If I miss the 4 footer, I have to do pushups and then the 10 in a row drill, doing push ups every time I miss. It takes some discipline, but the next time you step over a shorty that "counts", you'll know that you've been there before.
    Good luck
  15. EStan

    EStan

    As a mental health professional/provider of psychotherapy, and as a golfer who has suffered from the yips this season, the advice along the lines of just don't feel the pressure doesn't cut it. I got to the point where I put a 10 footer 4 feet left or right, not knowing which direction the miss would be.

    Gone on the practice green, returning on the course.

    I had much less severe forms in the past, and switching back and forth between two putters I owned end usually brought me back to form.

    This time though, the claw grip was my saviour. I apprehensively took it to the course after good luck with it on the practice green. So far there is no looking back. What's even better is that I'm hitting putts more consistently than I ever did with my old grip. Found claw to have more feel than left hand low. It's funny how many comments I've already relieved from fellow clawer's when they see me putt with it, also saying it saved their short game.

    Bernard langer had some interesting interviews about 4 different episodes and what he would change each time.

    It's an awful awful feelingI know, but it's so satisfying when you finally put a 4 footer confidently in the back of the cup again.

    Best of luck!
  16. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Played again and never had anymore putter yips using my modified claw. Bad news I had the worst round of the year. Had nothing to do with putting. What a game !
  17. DV

    DV

    Carl,

    I had the putting yips for 5 years. it was real bad and I almost gave up the game. I decided to get help that wound up with changing me to a left hand low grip. It took me 2 years before I became comfortable using this grip. Also, my coach had me changed my practice routines which are much more specific than previous practice which amounted to just hitting putts from different distances. My coach also changed me from putting with range balls to only practice with golf balls that I use in tournaments (Pro Vs). These changes helped me build confidence in my putting game and I would consider myself an excellent putter now. So, to answer your question, yes there is hope. Develop a good pre-putt routine. Work on specifics in all your putting practices, and leave the range balls to the range rats.

    Regards,

    DV
  18. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    The claw has been my savior for putting. I call my technique the modified claw. I line up the putter and ball on my intended line with a conventional grip and then rotate my left hand where the thumb was down to thumb up making an OK sign at the top of the grip and my right hands rotates down to the bottom of the grip with a claw type grip. I then use a piston type of swing which is straight back and straight forward just as you would use a long putter anchored to your chest which by the way also was a yip free method for me to putt until they banned the anchored style. I have now been using this method for around 10 rounds and have been putting rock steady without any hint of yips. Sure, I still miss an occasional 4 or 5 footer but not because of yipping. It is a great feeling to know when you get on the green you are going to two putt at the worst if you are over 6 feet and inside that you are going to make a lot of one putts. I now love this game and the advise to try the claw was my cure. Thanks again Team Titleist.

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