Miles Bennett
Golfers of all skill levels can experience the yips, a phenomenon where they suddenly struggle to perform skills they have previously mastered. The yips are more common in short-range putts, but they can also occur in chipping and pitching. While the exact cause of the yips is still being researched, it is generally believed that they are related to a golfer's mental state, physical performance, or a combination of both. Focal dystonia, a neurological disorder involving involuntary spasms in the body's small muscles, has also been suggested as a potential cause. This condition can result from overuse or repetitive stress, which is common in golfers. To beat the pitching yips, golfers can try changing their grip, altering their technique, or using different equipment. Simplifying one's technique and focusing on the process rather than the outcome can also help. Additionally, drills such as practising chips with one's eyes closed can improve reliance on feel, balance, and tempo.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mentality | Try not to stress about the issue. Take a few days off golf and remember that it has happened to many talented golfers. |
| Technique | Try a new way of holding the club, such as a left hand low grip. |
| Change your grip and mechanical technique to create a new neural pathway. | |
| Try a drill where you practice a few chips with your eyes closed to rely more on feel, balance and tempo. | |
| Try a short backswing with a short club to encourage you to accelerate through impact. | |
| Try Dave Pelz's method for chunk-proofing your pitches: don't decelerate into impact when facing a shot that requires you to pitch the ball 10 to 15 yards over a hazard. | |
| Try different clubs around the green, such as a gap or pitching wedge, to keep the ball lower and easier to get rolling. | |
| Try Butch Harmon's drill for the chipping yips: focus on not pulling up with your left (leading) shoulder at contact. |
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What You'll Learn
Try a new way of holding the club
One way to beat the pitching yips in golf is to try a new way of holding the club. Here are some tips to help you do that effectively:
First, it is important to understand the concept of "going from 'normal' to 'short'". This means that you start by hitting some drives using your normal grip and swing, and then switch to a shorter grip for the next few shots. By gripping the club lower on the handle, you effectively shorten the club length, which reduces the yardage of your shots. This technique is particularly useful for lofted pitches.
When gripping the club lower, ensure that your right index and middle fingers wrap around the steel of the clubshaft. This will require you to adjust your stance by bending your knees slightly more and standing a little closer to the ball to maintain a comfortable posture. Practice this new grip with a few swings to ensure that your clubface makes contact with the ball in the desired manner. Additionally, remember to keep your clubface clean, as a dirty clubface will not impart enough spin to hold the shot once it lands on the green.
Another variation of this technique involves gripping your lob wedge at the very bottom of the handle. This method, popularized by Dave Pelz, is known as the "chunk-proofing" method for pitches. By combining a short backswing with a short club, you encourage acceleration through impact, reducing the likelihood of deceleration that can cause you to stub the ball.
It is worth noting that while these grip adjustments can help with pitching yips, they may not be suitable for driving, as they significantly reduce the distance of your shots.
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Focus on the process, not the outcome
To beat pitching yips in golf, it is important to focus on the process rather than the outcome. This means concentrating on the steps involved in the physical act of golfing, instead of worrying about the result of each shot.
One way to do this is to employ the "Look, Set, Go" strategy. This strategy involves using the steps in your routine to help you focus on the process. By concentrating on your pre-shot routine, you can avoid overthinking the potential negative outcomes and the fear of missing, which can lead to overcontrolling the stroke and ultimately, yips.
Another way to focus on the process is to change your technique or equipment. According to the Mayo Clinic, the yips may be related to the overuse of specific muscles, so changing your technique or equipment can create new neural pathways that disrupt the yip signal from the brain to the muscles. For example, you could try a new way of holding the club, which will require your brain to figure out how to move the putter with this new grip, creating a new neural pathway.
Additionally, you can try simplifying your technique. Instead of trying to be perfect, focus on making a smooth, brush stroke. For example, you could try the drill suggested by a golfer on peaksports.com, where you set up your shot as normal but then close your eyes before completing the stroke. This will force you to rely on feel, balance, and tempo, resulting in a smoother stroke.
Finally, it's important to remember that yips are common and fixable. They have affected even the most talented golfers, such as Tiger Woods and Tommy Armour. So, don't beat yourself up about it and instead focus on diagnosing the issue and finding the right cure for you.
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Try a different club
While the yips can seem catastrophic, there are several methods to overcome them. The yips are common in golf, but they can be fixed if you have the right attitude. Firstly, don't beat yourself up! Even Tiger Woods, arguably one of the best short-game players ever, suffered from the yips.
If you are experiencing the chipping yips, you might want to try a different club. For example, if you normally use a lob wedge but lately, it feels cursed, try a gap or pitching wedge. These clubs have less loft and will usually require a smaller swing similar to putting. The lower you can keep the ball, the easier it is to get it rolling like a putt.
Golfers sometimes trap themselves into playing the "right shot" or conventional shot, which may not be the right play to make a "scoring shot." So, pick the club and hit the shot you are most comfortable with in that situation. Don't feel like you have to play the perfect lob shot over the bunker to get it close. Free yourself up by having a strategy that will help you simplify the shot and use your strengths.
You can also try changing your grip. For example, a left hand low grip can help with putting yips. Changing the way you perform the affected task might help you find relief from the yips. For example, a right-handed golfer might try putting left-handed.
Finally, don't forget to make sure that your short game fundamentals are strong. Work on your pre-shot routine in practice, not just during your round. You want to practice it so much that it is automatic when you're on the golf course.
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Try a simple drill
Golfers can develop the yips for a variety of reasons, such as technical issues, performance anxiety, or mental factors. However, there are many ways to overcome them.
One simple drill to help you overcome the chipping yips is to practice a few chips with your eyes closed. Set up the shot as you normally would, including your stance and line, and then close your eyes before taking the stroke. By doing this, you will be forced to rely on your sense of feel, balance, and tempo, which will help you make the smooth, brush stroke required for a successful chip.
Another drill to try is the one-handed pitching drill, which can help you improve your technique and overcome the yips.
If you find that your left arm stops before you complete your swing, causing your wrists to break and the ball to shoot off course, you may want to try the ladder drill. This involves stepping up and putting the ball, and if you miss, you simply start over. This drill can help to take away the fear of missing a putt.
Remember, the yips are curable, and you are not the first nor the last golfer to experience them.
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Change your grip
Changing your grip is one of the most effective ways to beat the pitching yips in golf. The yips are common in golf, and while they can seem catastrophic, they are fixable with the right attitude.
The yips are often described as an uncontrollable stab at the ball, an automatic response that golfers have no control over. This can result in an inconsistent or shaky stroke, making it difficult to control speed and maintain a square face through impact.
One way to address this issue is to switch to a saw or claw putting grip, which can help smooth out your stroke and add touch to your game. This grip involves keeping the trail hand less active, allowing for a more pendulum-like motion. By freeing up the rear hand, you can create a fluid stroke that helps you sink more pressure putts.
Additionally, you can try a left-hand low grip, which can be combined with closing your eyes during the stroke. This technique helps you focus on the stroke length and tempo, rather than visual cues.
Another tip is to weaken your top hand when pitching or chipping. This gives you more freedom in your hands, allowing for better feel and control over trajectory and spin.
Remember, it's important to keep a positive mindset and not beat yourself up about the yips. They are a common issue for golfers, and with the right grip adjustments and practice, you can improve your game and overcome this challenge.
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