Yip Cures
The yips may be easier to fix than you think. Take a look at these 3
common culprits. Are they affecting your putting?
A. Over-analysis
Over-analysis is getting so caught up in the mechanics of your
stroke, that your natural movement is impeded. When you over-
anaylze a shot, you can become so self-conscious of your body position that it may hurt your score. It becomes difficult to move the
putter back in a simple, straight, targeted line. Furthermore, you may
find yourself concentrating on the putterhead itself as it goes back &
through the ball. None of these will be beneficial to a score. Avoid
over-analysis & let the shot flow naturally.
B. Steering
Instead of swinging the putterhead through the ball toward the hole,
you may find yourself trying to steer the ball INTO the hole. This
"steering" is typically a tension filled attempt to guide the ball into
the hole caused by a lack of putting confidence.
This tension can cause you to over push the putterhead toward the
hole & it will mistakenly get your wrists or legs overly involved. As
stated above, just take it naturally as it comes....
C. Insecurity
Getting nervous & insecure over a putt, especially a short one, is a
sure way to mess up. Without confidence, negative thoughts will
enter your head & they can really affect your play.
"What will I do to make the putt? Will it go in? Can I lose the hole
or the match I miss? Will I feel embarrassed in front of the other
players if I miss?"
Block these out. Learn to laugh them off.
The Belly Putter
The belly putter is golf's latest & greatest idea ­ a compromise
incorporating the advantages of a long putter with the practicality of
a traditional putter. The belly putter is longer than a traditional
putter, but shorter than a long putter.
You grip the belly putter just as you might imagine. Anchor the top,
"butt end" of your club into your belly. The anchoring of the putter
into your belly will create a stroke motion that is simpler & more
reliable. This result is a kind of a pendulem effect....bong!
Vijay Singh, the golfer who unseated Tiger Woods in 2004,
popularized the belly putter.
Ironically, when Singh took the top ranking from Tiger Woods, he'd
recently switched back to a traditional putter after a long period with
using the belly putter!
Regardless, if you are having trouble, try to search around the net for
a belly putter.
Here's an example search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=belly+putter
Avoiding Disasters
Ken Venturi is a long-time golf analyst who worked for CBS & won
the 1964 U.S. Open. He would often discuss the excitement of the
thrill of the last hole during a competition. His heart would be
beating out of his shirt knowing it was his last chance to win.
Talk about a guy that loved the game!
You too might feel like this on occasion. It seems to me that
moments like this always arise at some important numerical marker
in my life or game.
What if it looks like you are on your way to your best score ever?
Perhaps it's your first opportunity to break 90.
Or, you might be golfing with your boss. A good impression on the
course could get you closer to an important raise. You've got to keep
your cool when under pressure.
Stress & nervousness are things that pros know how to keep a lid on.
But, they also realize, some factors are outside of their "sphere of
influence."
A. "Outside" Variables
When it comes to putting, nothing creates more stress than worrying
about missing a shot. But, you have to realize that many factors are completely out of your control. There are outside variables around
the green that may have a great deal of influence on your shot. Keep
this in mind whenever you miss a break & start becoming frustrated.
1. First and foremost, the green that you are walking on is literally a
living organism. Grass is constantly growing & terrain changes all
the time. The green can change whenever a group plays through
ahead of you. In fact, just one group of four players can take as
many as 200 steps on a green before finishing a hole.
Those are a lot of terrain variables!
So, if you're playing on a busy Saturday or Sunday, 10 or 11
foursomes may have gone through the course ahead of you. We are
talking about over 2000 steps!
Golfers drag their feet can scruff up the grass. Pitch marks can be
found all over the place. This everyday wear and tear can ruin a shot.
2. Furthermore, small rocks & pebbles, sand, fertilizer, grass
clippings, mower lines, uneven grass, moisture, & (of course) divot
marks can also increase your odds of making mistakes on the green.
All of these can contribute to your ball being knocked off-course &
missing the hole.
C. Final Word
Due to it's precision, there is a very small margin for error when
putting.
Unfortunately, you usually cannot lose your cool & get frustrated
without it affecting your score.
All you can do is assess the shot as carefully as possible. Focus on a
controlled & smooth stroke & give it your best roll.
If you miss, don't worry. Sometimes it's just not your fault.....:)
But wait!
There's A LOT MORE than was presented here!
CLICK HERE For The Rest of the Story...
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