Chip yips...

[Kilted Arab]

Unbelievable.

I think i've got the yips on my chips. Anything from 100 yards in and i'm yipping.

Even little 20 yard bump 'n' runs. yip yip yip.

Putting going well, driving and fairway woods going ok too. but chipping has gone to pot, totally.

It must be mental - practice swings all go smoothly, but when the ball's there i go all yippy. wtf???

[Golf Monkey]

Sounds like it's all in your mind Kilted, you've convinced yourself it'll happen so when you actually take the shot you fluff it!

Just chill out and trust your swing - chip with the intention of getting it close enough to 2 putt.

[obagain]

On the next chip, use one club more than you normally would. You might be surprisedd at the results.

[IrishGolfer]

Some "sorefinga" (Chinese Takeaway) or as the Edinburgers put it "soltansoz". Wash down with a bottle of Irn Bru - your chips will be fine.

[P_102]

I've been thru that and have 2 friends that are there now....... take a couple practice swings (close to the ball and aimed correctly) until you're comfortable....step up and it it (just repeat practice swing) without stopping to regrip, look at hole, etc....worked great for me, especially w/ the shorter chips/pitches.

P_102

[Bravo]

I got a really good tip that helped me with that problem earlier this summer.

Make sure that your left wrist does not break down (I am assuming you are right handed).

(this is kind of hard to explain in text)...you want to practice chipping with your left wrist cupped inward and insure that it does not move during the chipping motion..

then once you are sure of this - try to make a 4 oclock to 8 oclock move...trying hitting several dozen chips with the wrist firm and the 4-8 oclock cycle until you feel confident...

It worked for me.

[Kilted Arab]

Thanks for all the replies, guys - much appreciated.


The annoying thing is that, until recently, I felt that these shots were the best part of my game - although admittedly they didn't have much to compete with!

I guess it's down to the range and put in some practice...i'll try out the various tips mentioned.

Cheers!

[bdcrowe]

Originally Posted by Bravo

I got a really good tip that helped me with that problem earlier this summer.

Make sure that your left wrist does not break down (I am assuming you are right handed).

(this is kind of hard to explain in text)...you want to practice chipping with your left wrist cupped inward and insure that it does not move during the chipping motion..

then once you are sure of this - try to make a 4 oclock to 8 oclock move...trying hitting several dozen chips with the wrist firm and the 4-8 oclock cycle until you feel confident...

It worked for me.

Another way of imagining this is to imagine the shaft of the club pointing slightly ahead of your body at impact.

And, be careful of the idea of practice swinging until it feels comfortable. There is a lot to be said about a REPEATING preshot routine. I feel that it is more important to keep things the same (as in same # of practice swings, same process of alignment, same # of times looking at target, etc...) than to change things up. Remember that the preshot routine should be automatic, as it is the preperatory part that starts the swing. Keep it the same EVERY time.

[caddyshackgolf]

It sounds that its all in your mind when you are chipping. You get up to the ball and pretty much tell your self that your going to mess up this chip so you do poorly. Just relax and make a nice swing through the ball.

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by Kilted Arab

I guess it's down to the range and put in some practice...i'll try out the various tips mentioned.

Cheers!

This where I usually work out my problems. I get as far away from other people as I can so I relax and just swing. You might try thinking about where you want the club head to be at finish instead of thinking about hitting the ball. That way you'll accelerate through the swing.

That, or drink three or four beers and then go hit. Either way you'll swing more relaxed.

[BentGrass]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

Another way of imagining this is to imagine the shaft of the club pointing slightly ahead of your body at impact.

Chipping has always been the best part of my game too. But, once I started chipping the way mentioned above, I became much more consistant. I didn't take very long to adjust to the new method either.

[obagain]

BD

The way I try to explain it is to make sure your left hand does not move up or down, you want to move it back and thru. If you try to pick the club up you will never get it back it the proper position.

[jscott]

Saw your post and had to add my two cents. A recent study on golfers with the yips found that most were afflicted during their putting game (not your case) and had 25 years on the course (not sure how long you've been at it). That said, it does happen on other shots and the more technical the shot, the more likely the yips will rear their ugly head. It is also far more prevalent during course play than on the range.There is a belief that it is a neurological condition (focal dystonia) and others believe that it is a psych state issue.

How do you cure it? Try all of the above solutions; they all seem as if they might have a positive effect. I would add that you should concentrate on your breathing during the shot. Make sure that you have exhaled during your shot, as muscles relax during the exhalation process and tighten when you inhale. This has helped a number of the golfers that I've dealt with clear up the issue. Relaxation visualizations and self-hypnosis are the next step and will clear up most psych based problems. Medical experts are studying beta-blocker therapy for severe cases.

If I can add more to your understanding, let me know. Just keep swinging and it'll work out. Good Luck!

Jon Scott
_____________________________________

www.northeastathleticconcepts.com

[Kilted Arab]

Thanks for the continued replies on this, much appreciated.


I'm pretty sure it's all mental - and that worrying about it, i.e. tensing up, makes it worse...and every bad shot increases the doubt, so more worry, more tension...it goes on. Very weird, like this funny jerk-thing happens during the stroke.

Prob been playing, on and off, for 20 years. I do the breathing thing, but will try to focus on that and some of the other tips next time i'm out.

Cheers all!

[SilverUberXeno]

Concentrate on the breaks of the green. Concentrate on where the ball will land when you hit it, not whether or not you'll hit it well. I chipped one in doing this after a series of pretty rough shots.