Every golfer has periods of poor putting. When things get really bad, a golfer ends up with a case of the yips an insidious “disease” that can dramatically boost your golf handicap. Technically, the yips are prevalent from anywhere on the green and in any putting situation. Most often, it attacks golfers on short puts, from about three feet in. Eventually, the golfer can’t sink even the shortest putt.
Having the yips is among a golfer’s worse ailments. It destroys self-confidence. It’s self-fulfilling. It perpetuates itself. And it demoralizes a golfer, affecting his or her whole game. What’s worse, the yips can appear without warning. Examining what causes the yips, however, is instructive. The exercise highlights the common causes of bad putting that all golfers must guard against, if they’re serious about reducing their golf handicaps.
Anxiety
Anxiety is among the most prevalent causes of bad putting. Anxiety occurs when the golfer starts thinking more about what will happen if she misses the putt than about sinking the shot. This creates tension, which in turn causes her to pull or push the putt with her hands. A lack of practice also generates anxiety. Practice breeds confidence. And confidence eliminates the jitters.
Steering
Instead of swinging freely through the swing, as you’re taught in golf lessons, you try to steer the ball into the hole. Steering is often attributable to tension, which can cause you to push the putter head toward the hole and get your wrists and/or legs into the act. Taking a deep breath just before you putt relieves the tension that causes steering and other mechanical flaws.
Alignment
Almost every golf tip on putting highlights the importance of alignment. Yet, some golfers still neglect to ensure proper alignment when putting. If you don’t align yourself correctly, your subconscious may cause you to alter your swing path to correct for the problem in mid-stroke. Mid-stroke corrections are difficult to realize. Read golf tips on alignment methods. Find one that works for you.
Wrist Breakdown
This mechanical flaw sends the putt off-line right from the start. Often, a breakdown of the wrist the right wrist for right-handers, and the left wrists for left-handers happens just before impact. Find and practice drills that guard against this problem.
Over-Analysis
Over analysis refers to getting so caught up in the mechanics of putting that you inhibit your natural movements. In other words, you become self-conscious. You start paying attention to all the wrong things your hands, your body position, your putting stroke, and so on instead of just letting everything flow. You also find yourself watching the putterhead go back and come though the ball or looking up prematurely to see how the ball rolls.
Lack Of Confidence
Most golf lessons on putting talk about confidence. It’s the single biggest factor in eliminating the yips and improving your putting. Without confidence, you allow negative thoughts to enter your head. Once that happens, you’re done. Your chances of making a putt long or short diminish greatly. Lack of confidence also results from a lack of practice. The more you practice, the more you build confidence.
These putting maladies can hurt every golfer. One of the best ways of eliminating them is by following a pre-shot routine. Following a routine with an emphasis on proper alignment prepares you mentally and physically to putt. If you don’t have a pre-shot routine, attend a golf instruction session on putting or scan a golf book or magazine for one.
In addition to preparing you to putt, a pre-shot routine allows you to play in your subconscious. And that’s where you want to be when putting. Actually, playing in your subconscious is where you want to be whenever you hit the ball. Playing in your subconscious improves your game. As for putting, following a pre-shot routine and practicing whenever you can eliminates the yips, improves your putting, and slashes your golf handicap.