What Causes Your Putting to Change on The Course?
I received a messaged from Joe about his putting… He said the following:
“I can putt very well on the practice green. I was always a good putter. But now, once I get on the course with others, the yips enter the game. I get last minute twitches that send the ball everywhere but the hole, even on short putts. I’ve tried closing my eyes and focusing on the butt end of the putter with minimal success. I’m very open to solutions to overcome this.”
So Joe says he’s a good putter and can putt well on the practice green. When do the problems start? Only on the course.
Putting is the same task on the course, right? On the course with others is when the putter gets shaky…
So I can conclude that the worry is about what others think about his putting or the fact that it’s a round for score is the main source of anxiety.
What’s the trigger on the course?
It’s the perceived pressure for most golfers. Joe either is afraid of what others think of his putting or he badly wants to score well.
On the course, putting is now more important. When it’s more important, that leads to trying harder and or worrying about outcomes: missing or shooing a bad score.
For most golfers, this leads to over control, and over control or thinking leads to thinking too much about stroke, grip, stance, and mechanics in general.
Here’s the key in the yips cycle:
Missing leads to worry, and this leads to over thinking, which leads to the feeling of yipping.
What’s the solution?
You have to attach the yips cycle at every stage.
Back to Joe… The fear of embarrassment of others’ evaluation of his poor putting is keeping him stuck in the yips cycle…
To allow that “good putter” to return, he has to learn to putt without regard to others’ views and focus on what’s relevant to good putting.
9 out of 10 golfers with the yips worry about what others think of their game. They try to avoid the embarrassment that comes with missing short putts.
It’s not easy, but Joe has to learn to let go of trying to make a good stroke or analyzing what it feels like and focus on the target or pace of the putt.
Good putting is all about line and pace (after the read of course), not about stoke. In the yips cycle, golfers focus WAY TOO much on stroke.
Thus, you have to adopt an “I don’t care what others think about my putting” mindset and focus on the most important cues in putting line and pace.
Have you ever heard of the statement “get out of your own way?” That’s what Joe has to do to have his good putting come out on the course.
Start by checking my model of the yips cycle and see if it applies to you:
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?
“Two of your drills have been especially helpful: Eyes closed the eyes open and the tap in drill. I have only been able to make short putts for some time with my eyes closed and have been very effective with that. Both drills have improved my overall rhythm and putting success. Only used your drill sequence for one practice session so will step up the routine to 7 days in a row.”
~Trevor Morgan
“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
“I’ve read so many teachings regarding the yips, and you’re right on. I’ve read articles from top 10 teachers who have supposed cures for the yips, and realize, they don’t even know what the yips are… You know what they are, and I believe you know how to cure them. Thank you for your newsletters.”
~Kevin
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
“Yes! Awesome tips and they worked great. I was having a tough time mentally with putts inside of 4 feet for self imposed fear of missing them. After doing all of your drills I found myself just looking at the hole on the shorts putts similar to a free throw. Seems to be working. Thank you so much!”
~Shawn Barr
“Yes Patrick, I’m a five handicap and also mentally handicapped by the yips. What worked for me was the aim, set and go drill. You don’t have time to think about yipping. I played today and not one yip. I owe you big time. Thanks again.”
~Mike Helms