Can't start the back stroke (Putting)

[rule_6]

Sometimes I literally can't pull the putter back and it gets so bad that I stand over the ball for 10 to 20 seconds before I can make a stroke.

 

So far I've tried elevating the putter before take away and going cross handed but it still creeps in....

 

Just the other day in a qualifier I hit 14 greens 12 fairways and shot 81.....I had 39 putts.....THIRTY NINE.

 

Let me add that i suffer from situational anxiety and take medication for it which i think contributes to it a little bit. But over the year this "yip" has gotten progressively worse.

Help me please!!!!!

[keto]

Don't ALLOW yourself the "luxury" of all that time. If you can see the line, trust it! little forward press and smooooooth straight back takeaway, and just let the rest happen. I make (or should I say miss? smoother is always better) more putts off my backswing than I do going forward. Don't think about where it's going, or what happens if you miss OR make - you don't have a crystal ball, gotta play to get a result. Creamy peanut butter, smooooth backswing. Eyes down until the ball is long gone.

 

Part of it is ingraining the feel for the speed, how hard you expect to hit it, in practice strokes. Just repeat what you've already done while over the ball, all you care about is lining it up and uhhhh smooooth.

 

At least try it on the practice green!

[highpro]

Forward press and go. Get Dave Stocktons unconscious putting helped me a bunch when I had a similar issue

[bladehunter]

Yep. A little trigger will work. I feel for you man. I’ve been there.

[Santiago Golf]

Count to 3 OUT LOUD while looking at your target and then look ag the ball and let the putter swing. Practice putting one handed too. Most bad putter have no feel or control of the weight of the putter.

[macedan]

> @highpro said:

> Forward press and go. Get Dave Stocktons unconscious putting helped me a bunch when I had a similar issue

 

I never used to forward press when putting before this summer, but my putter has been on fire the last 3-4 months. Forward press is here to stay, although it did take some getting used to and I found myself missing off my line right at the beginning.

[RichieRichAus]

Try adding in the saying to yourself, "I got this!"

Keeps you focused and positive.

[MaineMariner]

I always take a slightly big breath and pull the trigger within a beat of my exhale.

[Nard_S]

Have no issue taking it back but do have issues of rhythm of stroke which can lead to pull or pushes.. So I drill a 4 count, tap ground, lift off ground, go back, return to ball. Then with same cadence, I make the stroke. I used this once on the course, really helped on issues of line intent, need to nail pacing better with it though (not fully comfortable w/ routine yet).

[rich_s2]

It's ok to miss a putt. It's just a game. The goal of putting for you is to look at the hole and within 2 seconds of looking away, start your backswing. Does not matter what happens after that. The more I play the more I realize how target focused our brains are. I also realize the more time I stand over any shot, the worse the results are. Don't give your brain time to freak out.

[hoselpalooza]

> @MaineMariner said:

> I always take a slightly big breath and pull the trigger within a beat of my exhale.

 

coincidentally, after reading OP and thinking about it for a while i arrived at something similar during practice: start a count as i exhale and pull the trigger when i reach my number. haven't decided if 2 or 3 is the right number yet.

[[email protected]]

Lot's of good suggestions here. What helped for me was leaving a bit of space between ball and putter face at address. Think of brushing the grass between ball and putter (looking at open space), thus taking the ball out of the equation. Worth a shot!

[Joe Duffer]

If you are still struggling with this issue, you may want to try the Davis Love III putting routine...

 

Good luck! ?

 

 

 

 

[yycpaul]

Was realllly struggling a couple of weeks ago with the yips that I went and picked up a lefty putter from a second hand store. Two rounds of putting with that just to make me think about the process a bit. Didn't putt too badly lefty but it sort of gave me a reset I needed for my normal stroke 

[Tanner25]

plus 1, try a new putter and better yet a long putter with your (rightie), left hand on top and right hand on bottom. 

[robdalky]

You need a routine and a trigger. Should be quick and the same every time you putt.. Ie, two practice strokes looking At the hole, address ball, forward press, and go. <10 seconds start to finish, every time. When this becomes ingrained your putting will be more like muscle memory, there will be less thinking, less yips.

imo changing grip and putter may help temporarily while you are adjusting but from what I have seen the yips will come back when you get used to the new grip / putter... key is routine and speed

Edited September 9, 2020 by robdalky

[getitdaily]

Look at the hole when you putt.

[harolease]

Try forward press, tapping the putter on the ground  , lift and wipe (Brooks Koepka) , hover (Golfer dress in orange puma outfit)  

Just before putting.  One on these might work 

[ofortuna]

It's fear of poor results.

 

Nothing you do like elevating the putter will help unless it also changes your mindset.

 

On tight driving holes I like to picture a great drive I made recently on the driving range where I swung freely and the ball went dead straight.  I think, "Ok I'm on the driving range", remember the feel, then pull the trigger.

 

I heard Freddie Couples once say "Think of the best shot you've ever made with that club and go".

 

Can you pull the putter back on the practice putting green or on your practice mat in your living room?  Convince yourself that you're there and take it back.

 

[Obee]

First off: Remember that you are not alone.

 

Truly let that sink in. Lots of golfers have experienced this over the years. That, all by itself, should help you.

 

But there's more to it than just that. 

 

Paging @Jim Waldron

 

[Sons_of_Pitches]

On 9/19/2019 at 1:29 PM, [email protected] said:

What helped for me was leaving a bit of space between ball and putter face at address. 

^^This as well as whats others have stated... small bump and go i.e. fwd press.