The Yips Battle- New Yorker Magazine

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http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/26/the-yips


I have worked personally with Christian and I am familiar with the other work referenced in the article. Christian has always said yips are rotational. The "speed" yip mentioned seems to be a tempo issue. Debbie Crews work has been very influential to me. Especially that the severity of a yip can get worse if not addressed.

The toughest part for me is understanding the difference/relationship of the mechanical yip and the mental yip. I am not qualified to say much about the mental side, but I do have some support of my work on the mechanical side.

There is no simple solution as you can tell from the article. But in support of the article I would offer this:

In terms of the rotational aspect of the stroke, we have had success focusing on the relationship of putter face to the path of the stroke rather than putter face to the target line. Using a natural rotation in the stroke rather than a manipulated steer. Open to closed is better than shut to open!!!!!!!!

If you suffer from rotational yips, it helps to get a putter that balances to the parameters of your stroke. Yips are reactionary. either to perception or feel. If the putter is not balanced to your path, you will react to correct based on your perception.

Excess weight is not a cure. Over time, it just exaggerates the problem.

Changing how you perform the task is a big help. Renown putter designer, Tad Moore, has shared with me that "face on" putting is the solution for anchored  putting  and can help the yips. Tad is an expert I trust and after spending some time working with the concept, I can support his ideas.

I can tell you for sure while there are experts in explain what happens, the field is leveled when it comes to a solution. No way to tell how a player will react to any given solution. But there are solutions. Just takes some work and understanding of the problem.

Putting Lessons 231-240

Lesson 231-In a consistent stroke, ball position will have more influence on ball direction than body alignment! Find the apex of the arc!

Lesson 232-The putterhead moves on a plane independent and more upright than the putter shaft. Beware. Aids based on shaft=rotation issues.

Lesson 233-Still looking for a best way? Start with on plane & impact at the bottom of the stroke. Anything else requires some manipulation.

Lesson 234-Adam Scott. Conflict! High moi putter = straight Your posture = arc. Putter moves above plane and rotates shut. Ball goes left.

Lesson 235-How much loft should you use on your putter? Food for thought. Many of the best putters have more loft than standard not less.

Lesson 236- More loft on a putter=more versatile and more forgiving. Loft at impact has more influence on distance than off center strikes!

Lesson 237-Loft of the putter at impact has big influence on where you strike the putter on the face vertically. Too high or low? Check loft.

Lesson 238-Great ball roll? Anytime the toe of the putter is moving faster than the heel at impact. Regardless of loft or angle of attack.

Lesson 239-If the heel leads the toe to the ball the ball comes off the putter softer, with a higher launch. Very effective on fast greens.

Lesson 240-Better to focus on results and learn to prefer the feel, than focus on feel and hope for successful results. Lesson

Putting Lessons 221-230

Lesson 221-Proper size grip formula. Hand size +/- rotational requirement based on distance from the ball. Farther=smaller. Closer=bigger.

Lesson 222-Grip profile. Look for grip shape and taper that enhances your source of motion and fits your preferred hand placement.

Lesson 223-Understanding the difference between putting stroke plane and putter path is a key to better putting. Definitions at #224 & #225

Lesson 224-Stroke plane-Think Hogan's pane of glass. The Putter HEAD travels along this plane. Plane is tilted vertically and directionally.

Lesson 225-Stroke path. The direction the putter is moving at impact. Plane and path direction do not match during the stroke.

Lesson 226-Stroke plane is a function of alignment & motion source. Path direction is a variable along the stroke plane. Ball direction?

Lesson 227- The direction the ball leaves is a function of face position and Putter PATH, not Stroke Plane! It helps to know the difference.

Lesson 228-With an arcing stroke the plane can tilt left or right yet the putter still would be online at impact. Is an arc more forgiving?

Lesson 229-Ball position & timing are much more important than body alignment for arcing strokes. Alignment changes plane more than path.

Lesson 230-Alignment for putting does not have anywhere near the importance of alignment for the full swing. Why? Ball spin is not an issue.

Putting Lessons 206-220

Lesson 206- Lessons 203,204&205 are based on the physical restrictions of the source of motion. Better to go with it, rather than fight it.

Lesson 207-You can't ignore your stroke mechanics. Even if you describe yourself as a feel player. Develop a personal strategy-stay with it.

Lesson208-Think of feel and mechanics on a sliding scale. All Feel at one end and All Mechanics at the other. Where do you fall on the scale?

Lesson 209-Mechanics or Feel? Find a Balance. Focus your practice time on improvement of the weaker rather than perfection of the stronger.

Lesson 210-Feel players tend to have great distance control. Mechanics superior control of direction. What does your putting strategy need?

Lesson 211-Different putter designs have a different feel in motion and at impact. Putter fitting is all about matching feel with motion.

Lesson 212-Building a putting strategy? It helps to make mechanical decisions first and then focus on feel. Change mechanics=change in feel.

Lesson 213-Build a stroke you can repeat. Don't be fooled by "best way" theories. No one ever won a major copying another player's stroke.

Lesson 214 - Depending on the expert, putter path has a 5-18 % influence on direction. If so, what is the value of parallel alignment? None!

Lesson 215-Putting has different requirements than full swing. A ball rolling is different than ball in flight. You can't control the curve!

Lesson 216-Instead of forced body alignment and manipulated putter face, why not try an alignment that supports how YOU release the putter?

Lesson 217-How do you release the putter? Three basic types: Hold-lead hand dominates. Square-hands work in sync. Full-trail hand over lead. Lesson

Lesson 218-Match alignment to release. Hold - Open stance, Square - Parallel alignment, Full - Closed set up. Don't fight yourself!

Lesson 219-Match body alignment to release. Matching release to a forced posture forces you to manipulate the release of the putter as well.

Lesson 220-Putter grip has influence on the amount of rotation you have in your stroke. Feel can be misleading-better to match size to need.