Putting help

[Mike O]

Anyone yip by closing the putter? His definition would mean that happens. Mine is an open.

Mine's "open" also.

I can fly in and perform an inexpensive lobotomy (performed with a Ping 9 iron) - $2,500 guaranteed results or all future brain surgeries are free.

In regards to your YIPS - based on my experience - you can get beyond them (don't give up hope). However, WHEN and HOW? Can't help you with that- you'll need to dig that out of the dirt.

 

[Jwat]

How would you know that the yips were caused by all these lousy grips, handsy strokes, moving bodies? Lots of people do those things and they miss putts but don't have the yips. I see a lot of slicer's that wear shorts and a hat do they slice because of that?

It's involuntary, like a spasm, the real experts aren't even 100% sure of the cause/causes. How to cure it or control it to a degree could be anything from a long putter i.e. Bernhard L. or a different grip ala Mark C.

I believe they knew how to aim before they had the yips and they know how to aim having the yips. Geez you think they haven't checked all their "fundamentals" first?

Checking your fundamentals and performing your fundamentals are two different things. Even the tour pro's have problems with basic fundementals of the putting stroke. Look at Sergio and Adam Scott. Scott got with Stockton and that is what they worked on was fundamentals and he won his next tournament out.

 

[Deadly_Scope]

Neurologically the mind must have a point where it knows its going to pull the trigger. After playing for a while the mind finds a point. Players can disrupt their own sequence and something inside them feels uncomfortable and that is because they are uncertain about when to pull the trigger. Then the concious mind has to be engaged to start their stroke due to this loss of linkage.

 

[footwedge]

Checking your fundamentals and performing your fundamentals are two different things. Even the tour pro's have problems with basic fundementals of the putting stroke. Look at Sergio and Adam Scott. Scott got with Stockton and that is what they worked on was fundamentals and he won his next tournament out.

By checking their fundamentals i mean their checking to see if they are performing them correctly, what else would you be checking for? I don't believe Scott had the yips, just lousy fundamentals, those are two different problems. Imo.

 

[Jwat]

Geez you think Adam Scott has lousy fundamentals. Any player who has won as many tournaments as he has doesn't have lousy fundamentals. You don't go from winning the caliber of tournaments he won and then go cold turkey and being almost last in putting and call if fundamentals.

Sounds like the yips to me.

 

[eddielaw]

I know them well

I have had them on & off for 25 years. I played college and lots of junior events. Never was a great putter, but made more than a few when I started this game. Tonight, a 37 in league play with 19 putts. When I hit it bad, I struggle to break 80.
I putted with the saw, like O'Meara for last two years with some success, but trying to put conventional this year has been ugly. So, I listened to the yip explanation by Mike Shannon, for the first time, last Sunday, after an 82 w/ 6 3putts. You know what, if he's right, it's all about retraining the dominant hand by letting the other hand take control with whatever grip will make that happen. Makes sense to me, but if it don't work, I don't know, I have tried it all and nothing else has helped to make them go away for good. So, like many of you afflicted, I remain open to listen to anyone who had been able to get rid of them. Heck, its like an AA meeting listening to what others have gone through.

 

[Jwat]

I have had them on & off for 25 years. I played college and lots of junior events. Never was a great putter, but made more than a few when I started this game. Tonight, a 37 in league play with 19 putts. When I hit it bad, I struggle to break 80.
I putted with the saw, like O'Meara for last two years with some success, but trying to put conventional this year has been ugly. So, I listened to the yip explanation by Mike Shannon, for the first time, last Sunday, after an 82 w/ 6 3putts. You know what, if he's right, it's all about retraining the dominant hand by letting the other hand take control with whatever grip will make that happen. Makes sense to me, but if it don't work, I don't know, I have tried it all and nothing else has helped to make them go away for good. So, like many of you afflicted, I remain open to listen to anyone who had been able to get rid of them. Heck, its like an AA meeting listening to what others have gone through.

You should really research some Dave Stockton tips. A big portion of what Brian teaches is exactly what Stockton talks about. The thing that has helped me out the most and alot of tour pros is not taking practice strokes before addressing the ball. And when addressing the putt to be staring at the line and the hole and not down at the ball. And then just stroke it with some forward press.

 

[footwedge]

Geez you think Adam Scott has lousy fundamentals. Any player who has won as many tournaments as he has doesn't have lousy fundamentals. You don't go from winning the caliber of tournaments he won and then go cold turkey and being almost last in putting and call if fundamentals.

Sounds like the yips to me.

Geez make up your mind in one post you say even tour pros have problems with fundamentals then you say Scott couldn't have problems it has to be the yips. Many players go from winning top tournaments to a slump where they can't buy a putt. That's the nature of the beast called golf.

Lot's of golfer's on tour thru out the history of golf have had prolonged slumps because they couldn't make enough putts to win and many didn't have the yips. If you have the yips your going to putt bad. If you putt bad it doesn't mean you have the yips or your going to get them.

 

[Jwat]

Geez make up your mind in one post you say even tour pros have problems with fundamentals then you say Scott couldn't have problems it has to be the yips. Many players go from winning top tournaments to a slump where they can't buy a putt. That's the nature of the beast called golf.

Lot's of golfer's on tour thru out the history of golf have had prolonged slumps because they couldn't make enough putts to win and many didn't have the yips. If you have the yips your going to putt bad. If you putt bad it doesn't mean you have the yips or your going to get them.

No you obviously are an expert on the matter so no point on anyone else giving an opinion. You know the tour pros so well. You must think you are one.

 

[footwedge]

Geeezzz, JWAT.

It's a fact that lot's of pros stuggle, why is that a surprise? Don't need to be an expert when common sense will do. And i'm not the one who knows all about Scott's yips, and made two conflicting statements about Tour players you did.

So who thinks they know about the pros? By your personal attacking it shows you can't handle the pressure of a debate, sort of like debate yips... lol

 

[Jwat]

Footwedge, being critical is not debating. My inital statements were to back up softconsult. He made some valid suggestions for Mike to look at. Your goal is to get on each thread and be critical and opposite of everyones view's and opinions. So you can go stick your foot or your wedge up your a$$! I am over this thread and you.

 

[footwedge]

Footwedge, being critical is not debating. My inital statements were to back up softconsult. He made some valid suggestions for Mike to look at. Your goal is to get on each thread and be critical and opposite of everyones view's and opinions. So you can go stick your foot or your wedge up your a$$! I am over this thread and you.

Geezz, JWAT. Who was been critical? not you, right!

Having opposing views is required for healthy debate, i have my opinions on the yips and i don't contradict myself in successive posts as you have and now your mad that someone pointed that out.

So now like a crybaby your upset and have attacked me twice because i don't agree with your opinions. What's Softconsult have to do with my disageement with your opinions? I also don't respond to "each thread" Oh i see, your S.C.'s backup. lol..

My opinion is just as valid as yours i just don't agree with yours, your taking it a bit hard for an adult with such strong opinions don't you think. Have a nice day.

 

[bcoak]

Here is video of my stroke. Not great but all I have
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdNcDfatF8M[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCM6bnFQXAw[/media]

 

[vjsinger]

I only watched a couple of strokes, but didn't see a yip stroke.

It's funny, but I had a picture in my head of what I thought your stroke would look like before I saw the video and the real matched my mental image.

Things I notice right away, You have a TON of head movement, especially in the through stroke. The SBST method that you are seemingly trying to perform may not be the right way to go. IMO, you could really benefit from a very connected big muscle/TOUR type stroke. I looked at all of the Mike Shannon stuff on the net and he has a good bit of info. on this type of method, I'd start there. Some bungee chord and some hard work on a technique change would help alot I think. Best of luck.

 

[softconsult]

Additionally, what I think I see is right hand dominated stroke. This sort of goes with the head rotation thing. Putter head is going high off the ground in the backswing, versus lower on the backswing.

However, the resulting roll on these putts looks great to this eye.

 

[softconsult]

I'll bet your curiousity head movement gets earlier on the course under pressure.

 

[greenfree]

Your head tilts back as you stroke the putt which pulls the putter up and away slightly from the ball, so you don't get as solid of a contact as you should and the putter doesn't release as it should. It also can affect your sight line on the thru stroke. causing a last micro second adjustment in the stroke, thus the yip. Just a guess.

It's far from bad or the yips on the practice green. It might increase on the course and cause you to miss alot that you think you should make. Then it get's into your confidence and you feel a miss coming even before the actual stroke.

Try working on keeping your head from tilting back, maybe a friend can help you.

 

[Damon Lucas]

Hi bcoak,

Some thoughts seeing that I know what you have been working on ...

Mostly, you do a pretty good job!

Ignore the head movement suggestions....you keep your sternum very stable, and that is what is most important - to keep it steady/rotating still in space,

I see some adding in the impact area....some handle dragging/some right hand, and definitely you add some acceleration on some putts(especially in the first video).

You have to commit to the quiet hands through the impact area. To help this, make sure the left shoulder does not pull through(it did on some strokes). If your shoulder works decently, I think you can develop the trust that the putter will swing on line through the strike.

I think you have the knowledge about delivery speed. Commit to it again. On those short ones, don't sweat if there is a little more speed as long as,
a) you make a bigger stroke rather than adding a hit at the bottom,
b) maintain your rhythm

I realize that you just let the video run, but if that is how you typically practise, I would change it up...

You look slack in your aiming routine, and that a little left/a little right aim translates into a little push/pull or a little more acceleration/deceleration to find the hole.

Instead, put a tee in the low side of the front of the cup and work the ball into the hole monitoring delivery speed(1), your rhythm(2), your stroke mechanics in the downstroke(3), your ability to let go of the result(4)....in that order of importance.

With respect to the yips, I believe that there are mainly two types - Speed yips, and rotational yips. Focusing on dystonia as a possibility removes control from you, and has not been proven by Mayo or anyone else(read the follow up stories!)

Focus on the movements that you know you need to for both. We all get tied up thinking about the results from time to time. Prove to yourself that the various skills work, and then trust that they will do the best job possible.

I had them bad about fifteen years ago, and it did not take a year to get rid of them. I flinched on less and less each year, and now don't feel there is any chance of ever having them again(how is that as a challenge to the golf gods?)

 

[Mike O]

Bcoak,
A lot of good observations here. The down the line video looked great - no opportunity to see a problem there for me. The first video showing you putting on the practice green - looks to me that you have an odd - shoulder turn stroke WITH a right arm straightening motion going on at the same time - I'd do one or the other but looks like you could have timing issues with that stroke.

Since you were practice putting - probably didn't have the yips on this video. I never did but always thought I should videotape my YIPS on the course when I had them - to see what it looked like - might be something to do and compare to these putts - and that would also tie in with Steve's comment that on the course you may have a different stroke.

Again, I don't know what combination of conditions creates the YIPS but good luck with the game.

 

[footwedge]

You do move your head. It can affect your putts because when it moves it affects your vision. I wouldn't ignore it. Your sternum doesn't have a conversation with your brain telling it where to direct your stroke, but your eyes do. You can do both head still and sternum stable.