How to Free Up Your Putter
Dr. Patrick Cohn, golf psychology expert and author of the “Golfer’s Mental Edge” CD program, teaches amateur to tour professional golfers how to improve their mental game of golf using golf psychology strategies developed over the last 20 years of his career.
Do you get anxious over those 3 footers or 4 footers when playing in a match?
In this week’s golf psychology podcast session, mental game of golf expert, Dr. Cohn, answers a question from a golfer about how putting during a competition, especially 3 or 4 footers, makes him nervous.
Kevin wrote in and said:
“I still get very anxious from four or five feet or less. How long will it take me to putt on auto-pilot and clear the demons? How many drills or how many hours do I need to spend to get the demons out of my head?”
(NOTE: Kevin refers to my putting drills to help free up your putter, which you can download here.)
COHN: Kevin obviously has some issues with short putts, where he gets anxious and worried and may yipping it a little bit from 3 or 4 feet.
COHN: Most of the time, I find with players that are very anxious and worried about short putts that they over control the putter, they steer and guide it and eventually that will turn into the yips. As you continue to steer and guide, it takes on a life of its own and you don’t even know you are doing it. It feels like unconscious yips.
COHN: In the drills that I have, the drills are there to help counter that…
COHN: What Kevin is really asking is, how long does he need to work on these drills and how many sessions will it take on the green for him to get to the point where he can putt on auto pilot?
COHN: That’s a really difficult question to answer…. but in my estimation, it takes two things…
Listen to the audio below to hear what Dr. Cohn says those two things are:
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Overcome The Yips and Enjoy Golf Again!
Golfers, do you suffer from:
- Anxiety, tension and over control of the stroke or swing?
- Performance anxiety about what others will think?
- Inability to wing the club freely on the course, despite the fact that you can in practice?
Check out: Breaking the Yips Cycle
Golfers: Learn how to overcome the fear that keeps you stuck in a vicious cycle
Coaches: Help your team members play with freedom instead of fear or tension.
Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game edge.
Breaking The Yips Cycle: How to Putt, Chip, And Pitch Freely and Enjoy Playing Golf Again
What are Golf Psychology Students Saying?
“I am a single digit handicap who has battled the yips for some time. As I applied his methods I have found almost instantaneous success…. I recently shot even par to be medalist in a state qualifier (I missed too shorties to boot), but I just kept playing and my free strokes far outnumbered my bad ones. Thank you for giving me the tools I need to face my demons. I could not recommend his program more highly!”
~Alex Davis
“I’ve read so many teachings regarding the yips, and you’re right on. I’ve read articles from top 10 teachers who have supposed cures for the yips, and realize, they don’t even know what the yips are… You know what they are, and I believe you know how to cure them. Thank you for your newsletters.”
~Kevin
“Yes! Awesome tips and they worked great. I was having a tough time mentally with putts inside of 4 feet for self imposed fear of missing them. After doing all of your drills I found myself just looking at the hole on the shorts putts similar to a free throw. Seems to be working. Thank you so much!”
~Shawn Barr
“I was pleased to find your website and tips to address the mental issues with the yips. Your drills made sense to me. Other people only tackled technique. That isn’t the problem with me as I can stroke them all nicely on the practice putting green. I can even hit the long ones on the course. I will keep working at it and thank you for your interest.”
~Pat Collins