Golf - What Are The Yips, and Can They Be Cured?
The Yips are like momentary brain cramps or panic attacks that cause you to mess up a putt or other shot. Many good golfers get the Yips after they have reached their peak. Most of the time, the Yips affect the putting stroke. Any “touch” you used to have just disappears. Your thought pattern is no longer “I think I can make this putt”, instead it is “I hope I don’t miss this putt”, and that thought pattern alone will reduce your chances of making it. Ben Hogan got the Yips so bad that he stopped putting altogether (apart from competition), he would just play the ball to the green, and then pick it up and go to the next hole. Many pros are starting to use belly-putters or super-long shafted putters because of the Yips. I myself have overcome the Yips with method I call the “Poor Man’s Belly Putter”, which simply uses your forearm as an extension of the shaft, and your elbow touches your torso (instead of the shaft touching your torso). However, my worst Yips come from short wedge shots, which I fear will either be bladed (hit too thin) or chunked (hit too fat). I am totally aware of how to cure this, and when my concentration is good, it works. Keep the hands ahead of the clubhead during the follow-thru. However, if I lose concentration only for a moment, the Yips return and the hands flip too early. It’s a never-ending battle.

Freezing over the ball is a form of the Yips. Keep moving (but not as long as Sergio Garcia). Have a pre-shot routine such as 3 waggles, or a forward press, and start your swing without delay. Before you address the ball, have a key swing thought in mind that you are going to execute. If you do not like to waggle, try taking a deep breath, and exhaling half way, and then execute. (see www.geocities.com/golfwithjoey)