You drive for show and putt for dough definitely applied to Keegan Bradley’s putting performance. No yips in sight with his long putter. He was holing long putts for birdie coming down the stretch, which was the key to his win at the 2011 PGA Championship. Sometimes you just click with the putter and you’ll have a great week.
He attributes his great play to his putting and attitude for the week. “Obviously to win any tournament, let alone a major, you have to putt well overall. I don’t know the exact stats of my putting, but I’m sure they are pretty good…. And in my round where I shot 64, I made three or four really good par putts that are burned in my memory right now. And I just played steady all week, all the way around, and most importantly in my attitude, my demeanor was where it needed to be, which is what you have to be like to win a tournament,” said Bradley.
He recently went to the long putter. Winning the PGA Championship with a belly putter, Keegan Bradley became the first player to win a major with a long putter. Many PGA Tour players have switched to the long putter because they battled the yips, most notably are Johnny Miller and Bernhard Langer.
Bradley switched to the long putter about two and a half years ago. But he had a dream of using it to win a major jokingly. “I’m also very, very proud to be the first belly putter to win a major. I remember people telling me when I first switched, they would go, ‘But nobody has ever won a major with it.’?And I remember looking at them and going, ‘I’m going to be the first one to win a major,’ just joking pretty much. It’s a surreal thing that it’s true.”
Many veteran players who have used the short putter for years have trouble switching to a long putter or belly putter. Some players have switched to overcome the putting yips including Johnny Miller. But Bradley thinks younger players can use it early in their career with no problem. “For a guy that’s 40 years old and has been playing with a short putter for 35 years, they grab that thing and it’s a bizarre feeling. For me, it was really easy. It just clicked right away. For the younger players, I think it’s easier for them to switch. I’ve been putting with the belly putter for 2 1/2 years now,” Bradley said.
Hot streaks on the PGA tour are using when a guy gets hot with his putter for a few weeks at a time. “It just seems like things are easier when you’re more relaxed. Golf is easier. Travel is easier. And the key is, whenever I’m on these streaks, my putting is above and beyond what I normally putt like,” Bradley said.
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
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?
“Hank has consistently improved over the summer. He is getting stronger and more confident. He often talks about the mental game techniques that you have shared with him for his success. We visited my home in Wisconsin last week and he shot a 69 on my old home course which is a one-under round. Thanks for your help.”~Billy Dettlaff, Hank’s Father
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’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