I am a failed human, I have the yips

[Shoxthemonkey 1983]

on any putt inside of 10'. I cannot get the putter triggered. I cannot develop a pre-putt routine that allows me to seamlessly take the putter away. When I finally get the putter to move, it is ,of course, jerky and halting. This has been brewing for almost a year but I hit rock bottom Sunday. I missed 3 putts inside of 4' that cost me about $45 in winnings. This is particularly maddening because I went 30 years being an excellent short putter. I have changed putters, stance, grip, you-name-it within the last couple of months. Nothing has made a difference yet. I am only afflicted while putting for real. I can practice putt without any hint of trouble and any putts over 10' don't lock me up. The two putter swings as part of my pre-shot routine are smooth as silk.  I used a standard Zebra mallet with a 1.3" oversize Stroke-saver grip for almost 30 years until I thought I needed a change up. I have been using a TaylorMade White Smoke MC 72 for the last few weeks without any better results. Maybe they are too similar to jar me loose. My buddy has 2 Scotty Camerons that I used with horrible results. The lighter heads made me swing harder and that made the spasm even more pronounced.

Talk mean to me, ridicule me, whatever but I need help. What do you think, Doctor?

[workswithseed 2121]

I hear when you start failing at something cocaine and scrippers does the trick.

[Yarbr 123]

Be the ball...

[Pato del Muerto 52618]

Have you tried the beer can shaped handle?

[52-80 19266]

have you tried playing a better sport?

[Surly Bevo 25190]

Have you ever just thought of getting over the ball muttering to yourself "I'm not on the fucking PGA tour, this isn't the Masters, nobody really cares what I do here and it won't be remembered by history in any way shape or form" and just gripping it and ripping it?

[Guest Lobo]

 

[Revolution512 1495]

Putt with a 2 iron

[txhorns 2413]

Try putting with your opposite hand.  I'm right handed and put right handed for anything over about 10 feet.  Inside of that 10 feet I putt left handed.

[Gatorubet 30323]

The lighter heads made me swing harder and that made the spasm even more pronounced.
Talk mean to me, ridicule me, whatever but I need help. What do you think, Doctor?

Take one old school brass Bullseye putter…and pay the co-pay on the way out.

[ztejas 43547]

So, first, I doubt it's the putter, second, it sounds like you are caring way too much about results. Just give it a read and walk up and hit the ball. 

[HornOnTheBayou 8950]

Maybe you just need more practice with a virtual simulator.

[ztejas 43547]

16 minutes ago, txhorns said:

Try putting with your opposite hand.  I'm right handed and put right handed for anything over about 10 feet.  Inside of that 10 feet I putt left handed.

Yeah sometimes when I'm struggling with my ball flight off the tee I like to hit a few drives left handed. 

?

(I'm assuming you mean switch your lead hand - not actually put left handed)

Edited June 28, 2021 by ztejas

[gyroprotagonist 2595]

31 minutes ago, txhorns said:

Try putting with your opposite hand.  I'm right handed and put right handed for anything over about 10 feet.  Inside of that 10 feet I putt left handed.

This.  get a lefthanded putter and practice.  Then put left-handed in situations where you would yip before.  sooner or later your brain will stop choking at those distances. 

 

[ztejas 43547]

3 minutes ago, gyroprotagonist said:

This.  get a lefthanded putter and practice.  Then put left-handed in situations where you would yip before.  sooner or later your brain will stop choking at those distances. 

 

I can't believe someone is actually agreeing with this concept. I have never heard of this. 

[Bill Clay 48]

12 minutes ago, Dr. Beeper said:

So you have two putters?  Did you eat paint chips as a kid?

Putts only break one way if you have two putters. You've eliminated 50% of the challenge. Best value club in the bag.

[gyroprotagonist 2595]

or watch Bull Durham again

[MoJames 8256]

Task Specific Dystonia

Time to go get some psychotherapy, maybe some Botox.

[ztejas 43547]

17 minutes ago, Dr. Beeper said:

Yep. Get a read on it, but putting is mainly about speed and touch (and it sounds like you have touch of a blacksmith).  You need to relax and stop grinding so much. 

I find putting and chipping and sand play pretty easy. 

I've always been a good sand player and putter. It's the other parts of my game that keep me around bogey golf.

But never have I considered buying a left handed putter. Or even heard of that. 

[Bill Clay 48]

Now a serious reply. Get a metronome app for your phone. 75 BPM is a good starting point, but adjust to what feels good. I like 72. Take away on one tick and make contact on the next, regardless of length of putt. Practice for an hour, then take away the metronome and practice another hour, but try to "hear" the ticks in your mind. Focusing on the ticks will take away the yips. Good luck and report back.

[40acredropout 2902]

Putt with your dick out.

[conVINCEd 21469]

Just keep buying new putters until the problem sorts itself out.

[Surly Bevo 25190]

Greatness courts failure Romeo.

[MoJames 8256]

Just now, Dr. Beeper said:

I can see why someone has the yips while chipping. Not while putting. You should probably just quit the game. 

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

2 hours ago, Shoxthemonkey said:

on any putt inside of 10'. I cannot get the putter triggered. I cannot develop a pre-putt routine that allows me to seamlessly take the putter away. When I finally get the putter to move, it is ,of course, jerky and halting. This has been brewing for almost a year but I hit rock bottom Sunday. I missed 3 putts inside of 4' that cost me about $45 in winnings. This is particularly maddening because I went 30 years being an excellent short putter. I have changed putters, stance, grip, you-name-it within the last couple of months. Nothing has made a difference yet. I am only afflicted while putting for real. I can practice putt without any hint of trouble and any putts over 10' don't lock me up. The two putter swings as part of my pre-shot routine are smooth as silk.  I used a standard Zebra mallet with a 1.3" oversize Stroke-saver grip for almost 30 years until I thought I needed a change up. I have been using a TaylorMade White Smoke MC 72 for the last few weeks without any better results. Maybe they are too similar to jar me loose. My buddy has 2 Scotty Camerons that I used with horrible results. The lighter heads made me swing harder and that made the spasm even more pronounced.

Talk mean to me, ridicule me, whatever but I need help. What do you think, Doctor?

Got the yips playing fast pitch softball. I'd been playing the outfield so long I was having trouble coming to the infield, and only making the throw across the diamond.  A real mental thing. You stop acting natural, and letting the force flow thru you, and start aiming, and thinking about throwing wild.

I eventually came out of it, not even sure how, but it really sucked while it was happening. I certainly hope that helps......

[40acredropout 2902]

Probably not gonna solve it with a new toy or a new technique.  It’s all in your head.  I can refer a good $250/hr sports psychologist.

[ztejas 43547]

6 minutes ago, Dr. Beeper said:

I can see why someone has the yips while chipping. Not while putting. You should probably just quit the game. 

That's a little harsh but kind on on brand on this site.

I guess I just can't relate. I've never been great at sports but pretty good at some during periods of my life and never experienced any yips. I had bad days or consistently did certain things well or others poorly but I always was able to rebound enough. 

[F250 28826]

5 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

You stop acting natural, and letting the force flow thru you, and start aiming, and thinking about throwing wild.

Sounds like something a Sith would say.

 

[Prepuce of Doom 21109]

Have you considered hiring local teens to do golf cart burnouts on each of the greens that are giving you trouble? 

[conVINCEd 21469]

12 minutes ago, 40acredropout said:

Probably not gonna solve it with a new toy or a new technique.  It’s all in your head.  I can refer a good $250/hr sports psychologist.

Lee Westwood’s new wife would be a good choice.

[Shoxthemonkey 1983]

1 hour ago, ztejas said:

So, first, I doubt it's the putter, second, it sounds like you are caring way too much about results. Just give it a read and walk up and hit the ball. 

You are correct. I know this. I say all that in my head and then, stiffer than a wedding dick.

[Revolution512 1495]

24 minutes ago, ztejas said:

I've always been a good sand player and putter. It's the other parts of my game that keep me around bogey golf.

But never have I considered buying a left handed putter. Or even heard of that. 

You’re questioning advice for a game you aren’t any good at? If you’re a “good” putter and bunker player you aren’t shooting bogey golf. Sounds like you make an occasional putt and can get it out of the bunker sometimes.

[ztejas 43547]

1 minute ago, Revolution512 said:

If you’re a “good” putter and bunker player you aren’t shooting bogey golf.

Lol what? I'm more than capable of costing myself a stroke on each hole between my approach game and chipping. 

Not sure what that has to do with the point at hand. Putting isn't my issue. A 3 putt for me is a fuck up and I'm not exactly hitting GIRs all the time. Why would I do something wacky like buy a left handed putter. 

[Hate 20146]

Have you tried putting from the rough?

[Revolution512 1495]

27 minutes ago, Dr. Beeper said:

Lulz. 

You’re a documented dipshit

[Shoxthemonkey 1983]

I play right handed but I'm amphibious. They forced me to the right side when I started school. Anyway, the LH putter approach isn't that farfetched. I have access to LH tools and will try it. It worked for Notah Begay.

[ztejas 43547]

18 minutes ago, Revolution512 said:

You’re a documented dipshit

That might be true but you're the one under the impression that bogey golf means that every part of your game sucks and switch-hitting certain clubs in the bag makes any sense whatsoever. 

Edited June 29, 2021 by ztejas

[ztejas 43547]

14 minutes ago, Shoxthemonkey said:

I play right handed but I'm amphibious.

Well that's kind of pertinent 😂

I'm actually cross-eye dominant myself, so I shoot baskets and hit right handed but shoot guns and bows left handed.

[Revolution512 1495]

7 minutes ago, ztejas said:

That might be true but you're the one under the impression that bogey golf means that every part of your game sucks and switch-hitting certain clubs in the bag makes any sense whatsoever. 

Yes there are no “good” bunker players that can’t break 90. I’d bet my life on it. And you’ve missed the point of putting left handed, it shows you don’t have one fucking clue about a dominant hand causing the issue 

[ztejas 43547]

4 minutes ago, Revolution512 said:

Yes there are no “good” bunker players that can’t break 90. I’d bet my life on it.

Then come play with me some time.

[High Plains Drifter 11052]

 

The Zen philosopher Basho once wrote "A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole is a danish."

 

 

[Gatorubet 30323]

I play right handed but I'm amphibious.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

35 minutes ago, Shoxthemonkey said:

I play right handed but I'm amphibious. They forced me to the right side when I started school. Anyway, the LH putter approach isn't that farfetched. I have access to LH tools and will try it. It worked for Notah Begay.

Wait...... you have gills ?!

[Shoxthemonkey 1983]

16 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

Wait...... you have gills ?!

Nah. I breathe through my eyelids.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Shoxthemonkey

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

45 minutes ago, Shoxthemonkey said:

Nah. I breathe through my eyelids.

Ahhh lava lizard....

[Quagmire 2147]

Am I the only one that thought this was code for his dick not working ?

[ChickenSandwich 9855]

15 hours ago, 52-80 said:

have you tried playing a sport?

FIFY

[HouTex 1894]

I have two friends that are right handed but putt left handed. One just thinks he is a better putter left handed and the other does it because of the yips. The second guy does not have the yips when he putts left handed. It is a thing and you should try it. I wouldn’t carry two putters though unless you really don’t mind giving up one of your other clubs. Also, private clubs often waive the 14 club rule for some of their events so you may not have to give up a club sometimes if you really want to putt right handed on longer putts.

[gurt 751]

Buy a 4 foot steel ruler and practice rolling the ball all the way down the length of it over and over in your living room.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11821]

23 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Have you tried the beer can shaped handle?

Yes, this is why you take up fly fishing.  All the alkie spasming seems like normal.