Yips on Chips

[boogielicious]

Rick,

Practice is a great key as was stated above.  also check out this video, http://thesandtrap.com/t/39411/quickie-pitching-video.

I also think it helps if you focus on your target and use a repeatable routine.  When chipping or pitching, I look at where I want the ball to land, whether it is a chip and run, pitch or flop.  I keep staring at it when I address the ball.  Then I aim the club face to the target, look back at the target, then head down and execute.  No time to think about technique or second guess, which may contribute to yips.  If I do any practice swings, it would be just to check the rough for feel, but I don't do that when I address the ball.

A fun drill to do is play one ball at a practice green.  Toss a ball into the rough.  Go through your routine and pick a landing spot.  Chip/pitch/flop to that spot.  Then toss the ball to a different spot or putt to a hole.  Toss the ball into different lies and try to get as close to the target landing area as possible, but with only one ball.

Best of luck.

[Blitz28179]

Hmmm hit more greens ! LOL

Seriously though my chipping has improved by taking 3 quick practice swings of the type of chip shot I want to do.Then step up to ball without hesitation and use the same stroke.I noticed alot of pros do this too.Seen justin rose doing it alot this past weekend in a tourney.

[AmazingWhacker]

Originally Posted by carpediem4300

depends on your technique? and what shots are failing you?

my chipping is up and down, so i tend to switch between the hinge and hold method and the putting style method,.........

the biggest thing for me is the mental block, ill hit a few through the green and then im thinking "if i hit this normal power, im going through the green" so i end up quiting on it, hitting it fat and still skulling it,.....you just gottta learn to commit fully,

the quickest fix is to move it well back in your stance and reduce the risk of fatting/skulling,.....take more club so you dont have to hit it as hard.

I started using the putting style method this year.  It has really improved my close chips and I think it's practically yip-proof. I even get enough spin on the ball to make it check up most times.  I wish I could do it from 15 yards out, though, lol.

[Blitz28179]

Originally Posted by AmazingWhacker

I started using the putting style method this year.  It has really improved my close chips and I think it's practically yip-proof. I even get enough spin on the ball to make it check up most times.  I wish I could do it from 15 yards out, though, lol.

Can you explain the putting method?

[dozu]

not to step on anybody's toes :)

just grab an iron, (anything from 5i to SW), grip it like a putter and swing it like a putter... putting stance, rock the shoulder.

you can even use hybrid/woods (even a driver lol) with this method.... actually, golf stores sell them 'chipper' clubs... that have similar grip and head weight as putter, except with lofted faces.

chipping has to be one of the easiest shots in golf, there is NOT MUCH to it.

[saevel25]

Ouch, dangit that's my foot!!!!

No, you can do that, its good for a select few of shots.

I prefer using less number of clubs, it allows me to become more of a specialist. Its all personal preference, i know guys who will use the whole bag for chipping.

For me, i tend to use

Putter - only if fringe looks good and is cut short enough

Hybrid - for those times i need to get over a bad patch of fringe, or higher fringe cut

from there i'll use as low as 9-iron, and up to a sandwedge.

But i say majority of the time, i am using 1-2 clubs 80% of the time

[Rick Martin]

Shawn Humphries and this guy have explained a good way to use various clubs depending on the amount of airtime, run time. When I concentrate on this w/ a landing zone, I seem to concentrate less on technique and what my hands, wrists, grip pressure is doing (the chief problems causing the yips).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnhOmEGoTRA&feature;=share

[Rick Martin]

Well guys (and gals), shot a 78 with several up and downs and a lot of made putts (short and long).  Only one chip that I felt a little yippie (4 hybrid chip from the fringe - still made the putt).

Had a couple of nice fluffy lies for pitch shots (usually tight lies bring out the worse yips).

The Padriag Harringington video helped a lot with weight completely on left side (for chips).

I found an old video of Ernie Els doing a hinge/hold type of pitch that helped. I'm positive that the yips developed from years of very poor technique - that I was getting away with with massive weight transferance and scooping with the right hand. Somehow I got away with it for several years - and some good scores, but it caught up to me.

It's a constant battle, but very nice to get through a round without 'em. I'm sure they'll come back unless I remain diligent on technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvnJxfZXSuE