Eliminating Yips

[Shorty]

Eliminating Yips By Strengthening The Putting Triangle
What is the Putting Triangle?

Dave Pelz introduces the concept of the putting triangle[1] of Figure 1 in describing pendulum motion with a fixed period independent of distant to hole. Dave Pelz in his “Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible” book defines it as the muscles between the two shoulders and wrists (Figure 4.5.3). “A pendulum stroke works under pressure because adrenaline-filled muscles don’t get to determine how far the ball rolls. In this stroke, putting speed and roll are determined solely by the length of the stroke motions. As a result, if you practice controlling speed this way, you can be sure that it will work on the course and under pressure the same way. And that’s what you want.”

A Cure for Yips

Yips can be defined as inadvertent wrist action during the putting stroke. The idea behind its elimination is to strengthen the putting triangle..
Do the following experiment:
Without the club-
1.Bend forward from the waist and let the arms hang relaxed in front of you.
2.Point your left thumb down so that it is inline with your left arm.
3.Reach across with your right arm and grasp the thumb with your right hand.
4.Pull down on the thumb so that you feel muscles tightening in both arms and across your chest.
You’ve just strenghtened the putting triangle Now in actuality, when using the putter, in step 3 you would be grasping the putter grip instead. In step 4, you would be pulling down on the club, but the results are the same, whereby the putting triangle is strengthened. No more yips!!
Yips Can Be a Problem Even For The Best

As stated in the book Golf For Dummies [1]
[1] Gary McCord, David Feherty, Golf For Dummies, Wiley Pub. 2006


--
“Some of the best players in history have had their careers — at least at the top level — cut short by the yips. Ben Hogan, perhaps the steeliest competitor ever, was one such player. His great rival, Sam Snead, was another. Arnold Palmer had a mild case of the yips. Bobby Jones winner of the Grand Slam in 1930, had the yips. So did Tommy Armour, a brave man who lost an eye fighting in the trenches during World War I and then later won a British Open and a PGA Championship, but whose playing career was finished by his inability to hole short putts. Peter Alliss, a commentator on ABC found that he couldn’t even move the putter away from the ball toward the end of his career. “

[1] Gary McCord, David Feherty, Golf For Dummies, Wiley Pub. 2006






[1] From Figure 4.5.3, Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible, Wiley 2000

[gailsmurf]

Re: Eliminating Yips

Yips are absolutely an issue with the mind. Something that stops you from performing when you have been able to perform at the top level is not about suddenly losing a skill but about losing your belief in your ability to do that skill.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Eliminating Yips

I have been told that a fishing pole, and tackle will help with the yips. Might be something to that....GJS

[David Lake]

Re: Eliminating Yips

Gailsmurf is right on target. Yips are nothing more than a lack of self confidence. After watching Tiger Woods hole every putt within ten feet we get the impression that we should be doing the same thing, and when we cannot our confidence level takes a nose dive. The fact is that there are only two outcomes of a putt - you either make it or miss it. It does not matter if it is a ten foot putt or ten inch putt or whether you are considered a great or poor putter, the two possible outcomes are always the same. The sooner a golfer realizes and understands this concept the sooner his putting improves. You will notice that those with the yips have no problem on a long putt since their is little likelihood of making it and, consequently, no pressure. However, on those two and three foot putts where your mind shouts out "you have to make this" the yips take over.

Personally, I am really not concerned if I make a putt or miss it because in all cases I am making the best putt that I can. Some of them fall and others skirt the hole, but without the self-induced mental pressure of "having to make it" I tend to sink a lot more than I miss.

[Kurt in Kalamazoo]

Re: Eliminating Yips

At the risk of going against conventional thinking about the yips - and that is: "If you get'em, you got'em - and there is nothing you can do about it." - I would like to provide some hope for all you golfers out there who are suffering from the "maddening" putting curse known as the yips.

I had a severe case of the yips for years - and I tried all of the standard "remedies" to get rid of them, but nothing worked for me. Then in 2006 - I discovered a simple putting technique that cured my yips - yeah, you heard me - cured my yips! And for you golfers out there who are suffering with the yips - I would be happy to share my technique with you. You can e-mail me at: kurtpugh3591@hotmail.com - and I will provide for you in detail the technique that has cured my yips and I have been able to help other golfers as well.

Basically - the yips are a neurological disorder - but they are "triggered" by the physical movements of a golfer's hands & arms during the putting stroke. The key to the success of my technique is that the golfer's dominant hand & arm do not move during the putting stroke. And since there is no movement of the dominant hand & arm - there are no movement signals going to the brain to trigger the yips. I just know it works - and I have been putting "yip-free" since 2006 and currently play to a 7-handicap.

In fact, I have been in contact with Dr. Charles Adler from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Adler is heading up the research they are doing on the yips and I have offered to have him test my technique to see how effective it can be in curing the yips. Dr. Adler informed me that the research they are doing now only focuses on the movement disorders with the yips - and not on any promising techniques. But he did indicate he would like to research promising putting techniques in the future based on the amount of future funding he receives.

I have also been in contact with many of the Top 100 Golf Teachers about my technique - and many of them requested the book I wrote on the subject. Some of these top teachers include Dr. Jim Suttie, Dr. Gary
Wiren, Mark Wood, Kellie Stenzel, Jane Frost and Tom Kubistant. I was also able to meet Butch Harmon at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and discussed my technique with him.

I am not claiming that my technique will help all golfers with the yips - but I know I will be able to help thousands of golfers worldwide and to me that is worth sharing. So if you have the yips or know a golfer who does, please contact me. You have nothing to lose to try it - and everything to gain. And I hope my technique is as effective for you as it has been for me.

Take care, play well and remember - "Master golf...and you master life itself."

Kurt in Kalamazoo