Several months ago I got a case of the yips and was only able to cure them with a practice putting green.
It was just absolutely about as bad as it gets.
These were the kind of yips that make you want to quit golf.
My playing partners would all be “politely” looking at their shoes when it was my turn to putt.
It was like a train wreck every time.
The worst part about it was I was concerned that I would have the yips forever.
I wouldn’t be the first golfer.
Or the last.
WARNING: This next video is hard to watch and contains graphic content!
There are probably 4 things that will make a golfer quit golf.
The shanks. I’ve shanked a shot or two but I’ve never been afflicted with the shanks.
Knock on wood.
The shanks are so bad that most golfers won’t even say the word during a round of golf.
The second is a case of chili dipping.
I think Tiger Woods had a case of these a few years ago.
If he can get the chili dips, then anyone can.
Third is a snap hook or a power slice that you just can’t overcome.
Ian Baker-Finch’s snap hooks were legendary and may have even driven him to the broadcast booth.
He hit one out of bounds to the left on #1 at St Andrews.
Granted he had some help with the wind.
That’s still a long way to go.
Lost his hat too.
Sorry Ian.
And then there’s the yips.
The yips have probably knocked more pros off the tour than anything else.
Or at least caused them more headaches.
The yips are responsible for all the different designs in putters and all the different putter grips such as the claw, the backhand, the reverse claw, etc.
I’m somewhat of a traditionalist and stubbornly refuse to change my stance or grip to overcome the yips.
It just shouldn’t be that hard.
I did watch a few YouTube videos on how to correct them but ultimately what cured the yips for me was what I heard watching a tournament not so long ago.
One of the players who had disappeared for a few years was suddenly in the hunt on Sunday again.
The announcers said he had had a case of the yips and had finally broken through.
He had done it through practice and repetition.
I decided I could do the same so I bought one of these practice putting greens.
Got it on Amazon.
Took a couple of days to arrive.
This is the Putt A-Bout Grassroots Par 3 Putting Green.
I was a bit skeptical at first.
But it worked wonders!!
It was super easy to set up and the green rolls true and smooth.
When I use it on my back porch it even has a slight left to right break.
I dropped a 10 balls and would place them about a foot away.
I could only move a little further away until I could make all 10 in a row.
And so on.
The results have been pretty dramatic.
I’m putting short putts better than I have ever putted them before.
And more importantly I am hitting them with confidence.
My goal.
Putt like Phil.
In 2020 Phil Mickelson went 419 for 419 from 3 feet and in.
That’s amazing!
But not surprising when you watch him play.
He literally makes everything.
Got a case of the yips, get a practice putting green and work on them.
Know a fellow golfer who is struggling with the yips, get him one of these.
Thanks and good luck on your next round of golf.
