Golf Information

Sports Psychology for Golfers: 4 Tips for Beating the Yips


When players labels themselves as having the putting yips, they think they have an incurable disease. Putting confidence declines and the fear of missing putts makes matters worse. Players who suffer from the fear of missing don't like to putt. The more they putt, the worse it gets, until it's intolerable. This leads golfers to believe they have an affliction that they must learn to play with. When golfers condition themselves into believing they have the yips, it is extremely hard for change to occur.

The yips start with poor results and missing short putts. The player then progresses to the fear of missing and the fear of putting. The player feels like it is a physical condition, which leads golfers to believe that it can be corrected with a change in technique or practice habits. But the yips come from the golfer's inability to gain neuromuscular control due to poor attentional focus or anxiety. Intense anxiety or fear does not allow the golfer to control his muscles and putt smoothly. The player freezes and can't draw the putter back from the ball and initiate the putting stroke. The player wants to move the club back, but his or her hands and arms are in a vise. It's like a deer that freezes in the middle of the road by the fear of an approaching car. Another form of the yips occurs when the player tenses up at impact and feels like he or she is stabbing at the ball.

The yips are curable. Several touring professionals such as Bernhard Langer, who suffered from the yips have putted free again. The first step is to stop labeling yourself as having a physical "illness" that causes you to jab at your putts. Next you have to realize that the physical symptoms of the yips come from a conditioned way of thinking about putting. Here are some suggestions for dealing with the yips:

1.The fear of missing is where it starts. Throw away the fear of missing putts. Fear and anxiety come from what you think might happen in the immediate future. It's very important to not let your mind wander to outcome of the putt or missing. You need to stay focused on the execution of the putt and how you are going to hit a good putt. Forget about what might happen, good or bad.

2. Forget about the past. You can't change the fact that you missed several short putts the last round. If you carry a poor putting round with you, you will have a monkey on your back. It's very hard to putt with a monkey on the back. Every round is different and every putt you have is different. You must look at each putt as a new opportunity for success!

3. Simplify your approach to putting. Often the tendency when not putting well is to search for the answer with your method or putter. Often, this can make matters worse-when you have too many thoughts about how to putt. Prepare for your putt with only one focus--to hit your target that you selected. Think about throwing darts. Focus on the bullseye (or your target in this case) and let your body do the rest. Look at your target and pull the trigger as your eyes return to the ball. Continuous motion helps prevent you from freezing over the ball.

4. See the ball going in the hole. How often do you imagine the ball missing as you are over the putt ready to start your stroke? It is very important that all your thoughts and images are focused on the ball rolling into the hole. As you read the putt and select a line, see the ball roll along that line into the hole. As you walk into the ball, stay focused on that image of the ball dropping into the hole. Over the ball, continue to have a powerful image of the ball rolling towards the hole, even if it is only for the last two feet of the putt.

Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/ or call 888-742-7225.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Times

Belly Putter Could Lift Golf-Equipment Sales
New York Times
Martin, a club professional at Deerwood Club in Kingswood, Tex., was among the thousands of PGA pros and golf shop merchandisers at the PGA Merchandise Show here last week, who sought out what many consider will be the hottest product in golf equipment ...

and more »


USA TODAY

Lawrie takes one-shot lead into final round of Qatar Masters
USA TODAY
Lawrie took advantage of calmer conditions at the Doha Golf Course to make six birdies for an 8-under total of 136 after two rounds of the wind-affected event, which has been shortened to 54 holes. The 43-year-old Scotsman birdied the 16th to move into ...
Paul Lawrie takes Qatar Masters leadESPN
Lawrie takes lead in Qatar despite penaltyLedger Independent
Lawrie the one to catch in QatarIrish Times
Times of India
all 293 news articles »


Yahoo! Sports (blog)

Pat Perez, Johnson Wagner give away $10000 at Scottsdale golf shop
Yahoo! Sports (blog)
By Jonathan Wall By Jonathan Wall | Devil Ball Golf – 2 hours 0 minutes ago You have to hand it to TaylorMade Golf: the golf manufacturer sure knows how to build up the hype for their new products. After running a series of commercials with the likes ...
After Hot Start to Year, Wagner May Keep MustacheNew York Times
Golf pros giving away $10000 in cashKPHO Phoenix

all 4 news articles »


Wrestling Inc.

WWE WrestleMania Pro-Am Golf Tournament
MiamiHerald.com
WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter to battle The Blue Monster; former WWE caddie may also By Jim Varsallone During WWE WrestleMania Week, the WWE WrestleMania Pro-Am Golf Tournament is Friday, March 30 on the famous TPC Blue Monster at the beautiful ...
Kristofferson / WWE, Ziggler Talks 'Mania Golf Tournament, Barrett Vs. OrtonWrestling Inc.

all 2 news articles »


Austin American-Statesman

Golf news and notes, Feb. 3
San Francisco Chronicle
Qatar round canceled: European Tour officials reduced the Qatar Masters to 54 holes when they called off play Friday after strong winds moved golf balls and blowing sand reduced visibility on several holes. Officials initially suspended play at 9:13 am ...
Golf: Rising out of the sand: Levin leads in PhoenixArizona Daily Star
Golf: Eagle helps put Spencer Levin on top in PhoenixSalt Lake Tribune
Golf roundup: Palmer leads in PhoenixAustin American-Statesman
AFP -Waggle Room -Reuters Africa
all 824 news articles »


Bleacher Report

Waste Management encouraging golf fans to wear green to TPC Scottsdale
AZ Central.com
Saturday TV: Golf Channel, 11 am; Channel 5, 4:30 pm; Golf Channel, 4:30 pm (replay). Sunday TV: Golf Channel, 11 am; Channel 5, 4:30 pm; Golf Channel, 7 pm (replay). Tickets: General admission $25; children 17 and under admitted free when accompanied ...
Cut Line: Coarse ManagementGolf Channel
No. 16 at TPC Scottsdale: The only place golf fans can act like sports fansMetroWest Daily News (blog)
Nine things to do at the Waste Management OpenYahoo! Sports (blog)
ESPN -Bleacher Report -CBSSports.com
all 132 news articles »


OSU Beavers

Women's Golf Ready To Open Spring Season In Arizona
OSU Beavers
The Oregon State women's golf team opens its spring season Sunday through Tuesday at the 15-team Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Arizona after a successful fall campaign that saw the Beavers post two top-five finishes. FIRST EVENT OF THE SPRING: The ...
Women's Golf Starts 2012 Spring Campaign In ArizonaThe Official Site of Aztec Athletics
Women's Golf Opens 2012 Season at Wildcat InvitationalWashington State Athletics
Women's Golf Hosts Home EventArizonawildcats.com

all 4 news articles »


NAU Roundup: Women open golf season
Arizona Daily Sun
The Northern Arizona women's golf team jumps into the spring season at the 2012 Wildcat Invitational at 9:30 am on Sunday at The Golf Club at Vistoso with playing partners from New Mexico State and Oregon State. The tournament includes 15 schools; ...

and more »


USA TODAY

Video: Feherty tackles Tebow, gets lesson from Theismann
USA TODAY
By Nate Davis, USA TODAY Golf analyst David Feherty is one of the funnier chaps in the sports media business these days. He's done some NFL crossover before, too, appearing on programs like Showtime's Inside the NFL. Now Feherty has some football ...
Tebow To Guest On Golf Channel's Feherty LivePredominantly Orange
Highlights From 'Feherty Live' in Indianapolis Featuring Tim Tebow, Joe ...MarketWatch (press release)
David Feherty - February 3, 2012Golf Channel
Fox News -WEEI.com
all 20 news articles »


Globe and Mail

Golf greats compete to design 2016 Olympic course
CNN International
By Brad Lendon, CNN Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is bidding to design the course on which the 2016 Olympics will be played in Rio. (CNN) -- Golf returns to Olympics in 2016 after a 112-year hiatus and some of the greatest names in the sport are battling ...
Rio delays picking golf course designerESPN

all 279 news articles »

Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.