Just found your channel. The yips on short putts and chips is something I have struggled with too. Oddly my long putting is really good but I obviously leave myself a ton of 2-3 foot putts which I should just knock in and walk away with an easy par or bogey……yeah, right! I laughed at all of this. It was soooo relatable for me. I agree that practice doesn’t work. It’s a psychological thing. My current ‘solution’ is that I have switched to a fat grip on my putter and for short putts I am standing much closer to the ball. I have missed one on each of my last two rounds which is still one too many so it’s a work in progress now but at least I am standing there expecting to make the putt at the moment rather than just hoping. At the moment I am struggling to work out what is a short putt for this purpose and it doesn’t seem to work so well over about 4ft so I am experimenting with that. With both the chipping and putting yips I have made myself more wooden in that the only thing I allow myself to move is my shoulders in a rocking motion. It feels robotic to me and probably looks funny but I find I get noticed far more when I keep missing really short putts and nobody seemed to notice what I was doing.
Hi Rob, great to hear from you. very similar story with me. Now use the prayer grip and down to 4 from 12 in the last year. Just practicing is definitely one of the most frustrating things to hear from others. It needs to be effective and correct and related to what you want to get better at. Your yips had nothing to do with technique on a practice green for example
Best description of the yips I've ever heard. Feel like I have little chance to make a 3 footer. Might try the grip change even though I know the problem is in my head
I watched your video when it was new but didn't want to change to claw since I didn't like the way it felt. I DID change my grip from traditional to trail index finger down the side of my grip and VIOLA, I am holing putts without even thinking about it. Thanks for the video!
Great to see you back long time subscriber is you aim of getting down to scratch back on I was the same with my putting off 4 hit it great take 40 putts lessons with great coach putting stroke awesome just waiting for this rain to bugger off so I can get down to scratch this year
Rob - thanks a mil for sharing this advice. You saved me from myself after suffering a dreadful bout of yips from nowhere! Your recommended pencil grip cured me. Also, when feeling anxious over short putts, a deep exhale of breath before putting helped relax the mind. With practice and persistence my confidence improved. Thanks again, keep well. 👍
For some of us, we have been using the claw grip for a long time...then got the yips. I have tried looking at hole, more success with eyes closed and recently a very firm grip with both hands and focusing on hitting through with my left hand on the shorter putts. Like most of use, it is shorter putts that are impacted.
Thanks for your explanation. I’ve been through most of what you talked about out. I just recently switched to the claw grip, it feels good and I can’t wait to try it under pressure.
I quit gold because of the putting yips. I’m a 12 HC so nothing great, but the feeling of hitting a good pitch/chip knowing that you’re going to miss the putt is incredibly defeating. It’s time to get back
Awesome video. I’ve had the identical year to what you’re describing with my putting and chipping - pretty laughable how similar. I’ll give this a go. Thanks!
Hey Rob, I have just finished watching your video and I can't believe how dead on you are about the yips. You described my putting woes exactly. I recently switched to a conventional grip from the claw because I thought I was over the yips, not so. I am going back to the claw grip!! The right hand just won't cooperate on short putts with the conventional grip and it just keeps getting worse. Thank you for doing this video, much appreciated. Also I think left hand low helps many people also.
Thanks Rob will try it as I have the yips. Everyting you said about missing puts is ne right now. Its terrible! Will go to course today and try it out. Thanks Brendon, ( from Australia)
This has been my story for past year. I gamed a new putter on the weekend in a stableford. Centre shaft. Had high hopes after practice but absolutely terrible. Shot 25 points with lots of missed short putts. Will try the pencil grip. Great vid thank you
Nice vid Rob. Recently had issues myself with short putts. Not the Yips but just missing putts from 12 inches. It’s amazing how quick it affects you mentally, within one round I started getting nervous leaving a 1 foot putt. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of rounds.
Great to have you back. Did you ever consider getting an arm lock putter? I thought people would judge me but no one cared and most people didnt even notice.
Probably would have gone there next if the grip change hadn't worked. Yeah I wouldn't be at all fazed if I played with someone who used one - I'd probably want to try it if anything!
I found I was opening the face up when I took my putter back. Subconsciously, I suppose, I knew something was wrong and my body would try to correct at the last moment. It was horrifying and demoralizing. Once I kept the putter face from fanning open on the backswing, the yips went away.
I have struggled with short putts on and off through my time playing golf. I went left hand low for a long time and had a lot of success with that grip, but started to struggle with pace control on lags, so have been experimenting for the last 6 months. what I've landed in currently is no practice strokes, a variation somewhere between prair and conventional grip. just look at hole, slight forward press and go. seems to be working great. if I'm uncomfortable on a short 2-3 foot putts usually a left to right breaking putt I use the claw. nobody says anything.
My shonky putting was largely fixed by a) a heavier, mallet style Spider putter which didn’t twist as readily on imperfect strikes as my old blade putter and b) discovering that putters typically have 3 degrees of loft which makes the ball take off spinning backwards when struck. Closing the loft down makes for a better roll and I’ve gone from an average of 36-38 putts per round to 29…
In my own experience the yips start with bad technique and then it becomes mental as you start to doubt yourself. What worked for me was fixing my technique and alignment. Over time you trust it and confidence grows. Interesting that such a simple change solved yours straight away!
I found I was opening the face up when I took my putter back. Subconsciously, I suppose, I knew something was wrong and my body would try to correct at the last moment. It was horrifying and demoralizing. Once I kept the putter face from fanning open on the backswing, the yips went away.
You're definitely talking about me, I've had the exact same journey( are all us yippers(!) the same??). Have tried everything else, will try the pencil grip and report back!
Congrats on beating your yips. I've never had this issue with putting. I've had the chipping/pitching yips for about 40yrs, not a fair comparison as many of those years I wasn't playing much golf, if any because of work or family commitments. If you have been a relatively good or competitive golfer, the yips can take much/most of the fun out of the game. Still battling them as grip changes like the claw or saw aren't functional solutions for fuller swings. I'm happy for you though, as any success story is an inspiration.
Had 'em for 6 - 7 months.. went left handed.. helped close putts but longer were terrible.. tried similar to ur grip but two fingers on top and I near cried ..no twitch at all ..hcp coming down.. look forward to playing each week now from thinking of packing it in completely
I’m a 2 handicapper and have had yips all my life it’s so demoralising still have it tried cack handed left hand pow the speith no look it helped a lot but still in me so it is I can drive the ball 300 hundred yards can hit my irons great but can’t putt the ball in the hole from 3 ft. I’m gonna have to try this grip il try anything
I had it... it stops u playing... hopefully it stays away for good , and gain confidence New technique helped me, . Long putter ... and i have a ROUTINE on every putt...
Glad you're over the yips. Putting was always a strength when you were on your scratch quest but golf works in mysterious ways! Do you use the pencil grip for long puts as well or just from close range?
it's a great feeling to shake the yips. Mine left when I switched to claw grip - after 2 years they sadly came back one day when I went to play for my club in an interprovinsial. Putting right handed these days (I play lefty) - so whatever works I guess. Being able to tap the ball in comfortably is so underrated haha
I have had the yips for over 10 years, I’ve tried every grip known to man with no success. My last ditch effort before I quit golf, I just ordered a left handed putter.
You’re not alone there. I play right handed and putt left handed. Works for me, would love to be able to putt right handed as I feel I can see the line much better but the stroke is awful. So get a few funny looks every now and again but who cares.
I switched to lefty 3yrs Ago. It helped get ball in hole. I will say - I just saw this video and went and tried it. It works. Legit worked for me. I know what you mean. It’s so frustrating - depressing and I lost many low playing friends because I was now the guy that was…you know, “that guy”. Good Luck my friend. I don’t know you but I know what you are going through
After trying everything to no avail I tried the Sam Snead method to much success. It’s just having to tell your playing partners the style is legal….over and over!
When I first got the putting yips, I switched my grip to left hand low, which worked for a while. When that stopped working a couple of years ago, I went to the claw (or "saw") grip. Now, however, I've been yipping putts even with the claw grip. What now??
I’ve struggled with similar for some time and went to the claw grip which has worked well for me. However, I sometimes try to revert back to the “normal” grip and everything feels fine on practice strokes but the moment I try to stroke the ball my right hand is all over the place at impact and just after. Very frustrating. As a matter of interest I recently threw some darts at a dartboard (right handed) and the same thing happened, whereby I struggled to let go of the dart. Weird.😅
Mate had yip issues.... Told him to commit to the line and then...... Close eyes before taking the stroke!! It actually worked for him. He's now far better at putting and rarely has to resort to eyes shut trick Btw what has been your strokes gained from your improved putting? Or don't you bother with that stuff??
Nice! I think finding a way to get past the issue then means you can go back to 'normal' if you want to at a later date. No I've stopped using the ShotScope watch that was giving me strokes gained stuff.
Funny you should say that - I filmed a video about exactly that but decided it came across too dry and preachy so didn't publish it. Will find a better way to get that across as I think it's probably more important than anything else.
Just found your channel. The yips on short putts and chips is something I have struggled with too. Oddly my long putting is really good but I obviously leave myself a ton of 2-3 foot putts which I should just knock in and walk away with an easy par or bogey……yeah, right!
I laughed at all of this. It was soooo relatable for me.
I agree that practice doesn’t work. It’s a psychological thing.
My current ‘solution’ is that I have switched to a fat grip on my putter and for short putts I am standing much closer to the ball. I have missed one on each of my last two rounds which is still one too many so it’s a work in progress now but at least I am standing there expecting to make the putt at the moment rather than just hoping. At the moment I am struggling to work out what is a short putt for this purpose and it doesn’t seem to work so well over about 4ft so I am experimenting with that.
With both the chipping and putting yips I have made myself more wooden in that the only thing I allow myself to move is my shoulders in a rocking motion. It feels robotic to me and probably looks funny but I find I get noticed far more when I keep missing really short putts and nobody seemed to notice what I was doing.
Awesome to have you back doing golf content again
Cheers mate, it's good to be back on it!
Good to see you back playing rob. Keep grinding and not caring it will come
Hi Rob, great to hear from you. very similar story with me. Now use the prayer grip and down to 4 from 12 in the last year. Just practicing is definitely one of the most frustrating things to hear from others. It needs to be effective and correct and related to what you want to get better at. Your yips had nothing to do with technique on a practice green for example
Great to have some more content from you. I tried this, didn't work for me. But I see the logic behind it. people should try it.
Best description of the yips I've ever heard. Feel like I have little chance to make a 3 footer. Might try the grip change even though I know the problem is in my head
Love it. Keep grinding bro. Season is almost here
Can’t wait, just wish someone would tell the weather! 🌧️🌧️
I watched your video when it was new but didn't want to change to claw since I didn't like the way it felt. I DID change my grip from traditional to trail index finger down the side of my grip and VIOLA, I am holing putts without even thinking about it. Thanks for the video!
Great to see you back !!
I went to claw 2 years ago and it did exactly the same for me!!
Sure am. Very nice!
Great to see you back long time subscriber is you aim of getting down to scratch back on I was the same with my putting off 4 hit it great take 40 putts lessons with great coach putting stroke awesome just waiting for this rain to bugger off so I can get down to scratch this year
Let's do it! Roll on the decent weather...
Rob - thanks a mil for sharing this advice. You saved me from myself after suffering a dreadful bout of yips from nowhere! Your recommended pencil grip cured me. Also, when feeling anxious over short putts, a deep exhale of breath before putting helped relax the mind. With practice and persistence my confidence improved. Thanks again, keep well. 👍
For some of us, we have been using the claw grip for a long time...then got the yips. I have tried looking at hole, more success with eyes closed and recently a very firm grip with both hands and focusing on hitting through with my left hand on the shorter putts. Like most of use, it is shorter putts that are impacted.
Hi Rob, played in 3 comps and 3 matches since watching the vid and my yips HAVE GONE! Many thanks, owe you a beer. All the best
Thank you very much for the video. The bloody yips just reared their head on me recently. Will definitely be giving this a try. Cheers
Thanks for your explanation. I’ve been through most of what you talked about out. I just recently switched to the claw grip, it feels good and I can’t wait to try it under pressure.
I quit gold because of the putting yips. I’m a 12 HC so nothing great, but the feeling of hitting a good pitch/chip knowing that you’re going to miss the putt is incredibly defeating.
It’s time to get back
Awesome video. I’ve had the identical year to what you’re describing with my putting and chipping - pretty laughable how similar. I’ll give this a go. Thanks!
Great to see you back
Cheers mate, good to be back :)
Hey Rob, I have just finished watching your video and I can't believe how dead on you are about the yips. You described my putting woes exactly. I recently switched to a conventional grip from the claw because I thought I was over the yips, not so. I am going back to the claw grip!! The right hand just won't cooperate on short putts with the conventional grip and it just keeps getting worse. Thank you for doing this video, much appreciated. Also I think left hand low helps many people also.
I've had the yips for 20 years. I've tried just about everything... Will try the pencil grip tomorrow. Thanks.
Hi Rob, I started with the yips 2 weeks ago and it's driven me mad!!! I'll try the new grip and give you feedback after a comp or 2. Many thanks
Thanks Rob will try it as I have the yips. Everyting you said about missing puts is ne right now. Its terrible! Will go to course today and try it out. Thanks Brendon, ( from Australia)
This has been my story for past year. I gamed a new putter on the weekend in a stableford. Centre shaft. Had high hopes after practice but absolutely terrible. Shot 25 points with lots of missed short putts. Will try the pencil grip. Great vid thank you
Nice vid Rob. Recently had issues myself with short putts. Not the Yips but just missing putts from 12 inches. It’s amazing how quick it affects you mentally, within one round I started getting nervous leaving a 1 foot putt. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of rounds.
Yeah it's such a mental thing.
I had putting yips for 2 seasons. The claw grip got rid of them for me as well. I never went back to conventional even when I could do so.
Great to have you back. Did you ever consider getting an arm lock putter? I thought people would judge me but no one cared and most people didnt even notice.
Probably would have gone there next if the grip change hadn't worked. Yeah I wouldn't be at all fazed if I played with someone who used one - I'd probably want to try it if anything!
I found I was opening the face up when I took my putter back. Subconsciously, I suppose, I knew something was wrong and my body would try to correct at the last moment. It was horrifying and demoralizing. Once I kept the putter face from fanning open on the backswing, the yips went away.
Thanks for the video. Your miss montage is me right now. I’ll try the pencil grip.
Great to see you back in the game my guy
Cheers big dog!
Are you using the apex irons? Saw your fitting on yt the other day, I had a fitting today will be going with a combo CB and Pro
I have struggled with short putts on and off through my time playing golf. I went left hand low for a long time and had a lot of success with that grip, but started to struggle with pace control on lags, so have been experimenting for the last 6 months.
what I've landed in currently is no practice strokes, a variation somewhere between prair and conventional grip. just look at hole, slight forward press and go. seems to be working great.
if I'm uncomfortable on a short 2-3 foot putts usually a left to right breaking putt I use the claw. nobody says anything.
My shonky putting was largely fixed by a) a heavier, mallet style Spider putter which didn’t twist as readily on imperfect strikes as my old blade putter and b) discovering that putters typically have 3 degrees of loft which makes the ball take off spinning backwards when struck. Closing the loft down makes for a better roll and I’ve gone from an average of 36-38 putts per round to 29…
In my own experience the yips start with bad technique and then it becomes mental as you start to doubt yourself. What worked for me was fixing my technique and alignment. Over time you trust it and confidence grows. Interesting that such a simple change solved yours straight away!
I found I was opening the face up when I took my putter back. Subconsciously, I suppose, I knew something was wrong and my body would try to correct at the last moment. It was horrifying and demoralizing. Once I kept the putter face from fanning open on the backswing, the yips went away.
@@tdaveniii Yeah, absolutely! So until you diagnose the issue you have no chance and your confidence just plummets!
You're definitely talking about me, I've had the exact same journey( are all us yippers(!) the same??). Have tried everything else, will try the pencil grip and report back!
Hope it helps! 🙏
Congrats on beating your yips. I've never had this issue with putting. I've had the chipping/pitching yips for about 40yrs, not a fair comparison as many of those years I wasn't playing much golf, if any because of work or family commitments. If you have been a relatively good or competitive golfer, the yips can take much/most of the fun out of the game. Still battling them as grip changes like the claw or saw aren't functional solutions for fuller swings. I'm happy for you though, as any success story is an inspiration.
Your vids are great man
The hair still looks great! 😉
Had 'em for 6 - 7 months.. went left handed.. helped close putts but longer were terrible.. tried similar to ur grip but two fingers on top and I near cried ..no twitch at all ..hcp coming down.. look forward to playing each week now from thinking of packing it in completely
I’m a 2 handicapper and have had yips all my life it’s so demoralising still have it tried cack handed left hand pow the speith no look it helped a lot but still in me so it is I can drive the ball 300 hundred yards can hit my irons great but can’t putt the ball in the hole from 3 ft. I’m gonna have to try this grip il try anything
I had it... it stops u playing... hopefully it stays away for good , and gain confidence
New technique helped me, . Long putter ... and i have a ROUTINE on every putt...
Will try been struggling for a few months myself but with long putts its really hard to get your head round it untill you’ve had it 🤷♂️
Going to try it tomorrow 🙏
Glad you're over the yips. Putting was always a strength when you were on your scratch quest but golf works in mysterious ways! Do you use the pencil grip for long puts as well or just from close range?
Was using it for everything but lately mixing in a bit of normal grip for longer ones. I think that's what Tommy Fleetwood does too.
Great advice
it's a great feeling to shake the yips. Mine left when I switched to claw grip - after 2 years they sadly came back one day when I went to play for my club in an interprovinsial. Putting right handed these days (I play lefty) - so whatever works I guess. Being able to tap the ball in comfortably is so underrated haha
I have had the yips for over 10 years, I’ve tried every grip known to man with no success. My last ditch effort before I quit golf, I just ordered a left handed putter.
You’re not alone there. I play right handed and putt left handed. Works for me, would love to be able to putt right handed as I feel I can see the line much better but the stroke is awful. So get a few funny looks every now and again but who cares.
I switched to lefty 3yrs
Ago. It helped get ball in hole. I will say - I just saw this video and went and tried it. It works. Legit worked for me. I know what you mean. It’s so frustrating - depressing and I lost many low playing friends because I was now the guy that was…you know, “that guy”.
Good Luck my friend. I don’t know you but I know what you are going through
After trying everything to no avail I tried the Sam Snead method to much success. It’s just having to tell your playing partners the style is legal….over and over!
Didn’t realise you got down to 3! Congrats. Must be playing a bit!!
Cheers man, yep, playing and practising as much as I can 😁
When I first got the putting yips, I switched my grip to left hand low, which worked for a while. When that stopped working a couple of years ago, I went to the claw (or "saw") grip. Now, however, I've been yipping putts even with the claw grip. What now??
Struggled at RND in the foursomes, Saunton on the 2nd day holed everything.
Thank you!
I’ve struggled with similar for some time and went to the claw grip which has worked well for me. However, I sometimes try to revert back to the “normal” grip and everything feels fine on practice strokes but the moment I try to stroke the ball my right hand is all over the place at impact and just after. Very frustrating. As a matter of interest I recently threw some darts at a dartboard (right handed) and the same thing happened, whereby I struggled to let go of the dart. Weird.😅
Mate had yip issues.... Told him to commit to the line and then...... Close eyes before taking the stroke!!
It actually worked for him. He's now far better at putting and rarely has to resort to eyes shut trick
Btw what has been your strokes gained from your improved putting? Or don't you bother with that stuff??
Nice! I think finding a way to get past the issue then means you can go back to 'normal' if you want to at a later date.
No I've stopped using the ShotScope watch that was giving me strokes gained stuff.
There is no physical cure, only band aids. Positivity and the thought you’re never going to miss are the only cures. Sounds easy.
Sounds like it’s time for you to do a mental game series.
Focussing on what we need to do to enjoy golf, not get angry and hit good shots.
Funny you should say that - I filmed a video about exactly that but decided it came across too dry and preachy so didn't publish it. Will find a better way to get that across as I think it's probably more important than anything else.
Had the chipping yips….ruined my game. Gave up the game. Trying to resurrect it. Did get a short game lesson that helped.
Do you use your old grip for long putts and the pencil grip for short ones
But pencil method is difficult in distance control
It’s the worst feeling in the world, gone from 3,4 to 7,3…
He’s only gone and bloody done it 🙌
You're not getting extra royalties for a second appearance.
@@RobMcGarr *checking contract frantically*
Any cure for the chipping yips?
Not sure about yips but I've gone from chunking and blading half my chips to being pretty good! Can do a quick video about how...
Either do, or do not.. most likely, you did not, so pick a line and hit it. 98%, you picked the wrong line anyway