Chipping Yipps

[SurfDuffer]

Any videos or tips for getting past the Chipping Yipps?  I've been dealing with them off and on for 15 years but this year its been exceptionally bad.  My entire game is that of a scratch golfer except that.  Handicap is a 6 but mainly because of how many greens in regulation I make.  A missed green nearly always results in a bogey.  Its beyond embarrassing.  I'm literally just as  likely to get up and down from a greenside bunker as I am chipping from 2 feet off the green to a pin 15 feet away.  Stab.  Chunk.  Thin.  Double hit.  Its ugly.  Its even worse when I'm playing with other people.  A sense of panic over top of the ball.  About the only thing working right now is to chip cross handed.  Need help bad.

[bluedot]

One bandaid is to chip with a hybrid whenever you possibly can.  That gets rid of most of the issues with contact; treat it exactly like a putting stroke.  It’s also possible that it’ll help you smooth out your chipping issues as you get a feel for not stabbing at the ball.

 

Beyond that, if you haven’t already, get a lesson.  This sort of thing typically starts with a technical issue and then becomes a mental issue.  

[596]

I have that exact problem. I'd rather pitch from 10 yards then chip from 5 feet.  This occurred over night about 8 years ago. I'm was an excellent chipper and putter up till that morning. My chips became a complete disaster overnight.  After many years of trying everything to chip and putt I turned around and chip left handed.  Lefty allows great contact, very smooth and very accurate.  Nearly no practice was needed when I changed. It came naturally.  I carry a left handed 9 iron for all my chipping.  

 

Apparently some of my chipping, fine motor skills in my right hand can be traced to pinched nerves in my back.  I've been to a neurosurgeon and stretch therapist.  Stretching has helped a ton with my pinched nerves.  My right handed putting and chipping, as well as numbness in my feet, hands and legs, has improved a bunch after the stretching therapy. 

[Socrates]

Mike Malaska, Harrington, Monte, all have good videos.  The Malaska video was enlightening as to what is wrong with most peoples technique.  Also liked Harrington's, especially paying attention to how he swings the club.  Reinforced my instructors drill about hitting chips with only my right hand.  How long and flowing the swing really needs to be.  Versus, short and stabby.  Monte has really good stuff too.

 

 

 

 

 

[gvogel]

3 hours ago, SurfDuffer said:

Any videos or tips for getting past the Chipping Yipps?  I've been dealing with them off and on for 15 years but this year its been exceptionally bad.  My entire game is that of a scratch golfer except that.  Handicap is a 6 but mainly because of how many greens in regulation I make.  A missed green nearly always results in a bogey.  Its beyond embarrassing.  I'm literally just as  likely to get up and down from a greenside bunker as I am chipping from 2 feet off the green to a pin 15 feet away.  Stab.  Chunk.  Thin.  Double hit.  Its ugly.  Its even worse when I'm playing with other people.  A sense of panic over top of the ball.  About the only thing working right now is to chip cross handed.  Need help bad.

Do you also have the putting yips?

 

If not, try chipping as if you were putting - stand closer to the ball, arms bent, toe of the club down and shaft more vertical.  Take most of the wrist action out of the stroke.  It works with just a little practice.

[SurfDuffer]

1 hour ago, gvogel said:

Do you also have the putting yips?

 

If not, try chipping as if you were putting - stand closer to the ball, arms bent, toe of the club down and shaft more vertical.  Take most of the wrist action out of the stroke.  It works with just a little practice.

 

No.  I'm actually a fairly decent putter.  Also, give me a shot I can play aggressively like a flop shot and I'm good to go.  I get over a delicate chip though and I panic.

[cac022]

I think James Ridyard has made some fantastic videos about how to overcome chipping issues. I really like his t-rex chipping motion and a recent drill he posted using an alignment aid to get the body moving works wonders. He used it to help a student struggling with basic chips.

 

 

 

 

[gators78]

I’m a big believer the chipping yips (assuming there are no physical issues) are due to a combination of fundamental mechanics being out of whack and intent (or clear understanding of what you’re trying to do with the shot). In addition to the videos posted, I’d say try to find a short game instructor in your area as well as GolfBetterTucson also has really good information. 

[Hstead]

I had a bout of pitching and chipping yips two years ago.  Anxiety sets in and results are abysmal which then snowballs into less confidence and more anxiety, resulting it guaranteed bad shots.

 

For me, it was all mechanical.  Too much shaft lean.  I took a lesson from a PGA Champions tour player, Gibby Gilbert III, and he taught me basically exactly what Parker McLachlin teaches.  I joined the shortgamechefs website and sent him videos as well.  

 

Learn to use the bounce with very little shaft lean at impact.  Learn what adds ball speed to chips and what reduces it.  Parker calls them "speed accumulators". I think.  Once you understand how to remove ball speed, it becomes very easy.

 

My short game is a strength now.  All mechanics.  You can fix it too.

Edited Friday at 06:36 PM by Hstead

[CasualLie]

On 6/27/2024 at 10:08 AM, SurfDuffer said:

 

No.  I'm actually a fairly decent putter.  Also, give me a shot I can play aggressively like a flop shot and I'm good to go.  I get over a delicate chip though and I panic.

 

 

There's the heart of the problem right there - calling chips delicate.  @gvogel has great advice.  There are a ton of YouTube videos on a basic chipping motion with a 9i. Even one where Parker is showing the shot to the guy trying to go from scratch to scratch.

 

Learn the right setup, get a metronome app on your phone and work on rhythm/tempo.  A basic 9i chip is very little movement, but it's not delicate, you have to be intentional.  Pick a good distance target allowing for run out and chip the 9i well past the hole.  As you get a sense of how much run out can happen with a basic move on the 9i, do the same thing with the PW, then the GW, them go back to the 9i.  Repeat, repeat, repeat. 

 

Then start to experiment with a little longer backswing, but same tempo / metronome beat.  That death drill linked above by Ridyard is really good.  Or just still with the basic alignment stick in left hand drill to work on no flipping.

 

Again, nothing delicate.  Even if you have a downhill short side pin, it's not delicate, your goal is to keep it within 15 feet, then try your luck with the putter.  Once you get comfortable always getting past the hole, you will quickly learn to adapt taking distance off with the same motion but using different clubs and/or opening the face.

 

Keep checking your setup.  You probably developed bad habits for years, so the right setup is going to be uncomfortable, but it's super important.

 

Last thing, not for everyone, but for myself, I struggled a long time until I started focusing on a spot two inches in front of the ball.  It forces me to swing through and not be so stabby / hit.  It really helped with cleaner contact.

[nsxguy]

1 hour ago, CasualLie said:

focusing on a spot two inches in front of the ball.  It forces me to swing through and not be so stabby / hit.  It really helped with cleaner contact.

 

This (partially).

 

To me, the yips are a mental issue. The arms/hands "stall" just before impact, as if one is not supposed to hit through the shot.

 

Solved(?) the putting yips by going to the claw and taking the right arm/hand (the main culprit) out of the equation.

 

Chipping ? A similar issue, quitting just before the strike causing all sorts of impact issues.

 

I think mainly about "pulling" the handle through the shot and keeping my body pretty still. So long as I "pull" through impact while accelerating everything goes smoothly.

 

I sometimes use Phil's "hinge and hold". I find allowing the club to hinge, also encourages "pulling" through the shot.

 

I find "pre-setting" the hips slightly open also aids in pulling through & avoid stalling.

Edited Friday at 11:58 PM by nsxguy

[CasualLie]

41 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

 

This (partially).

 

To me, the yips are a mental issue. The arms/hands "stall" just before impact, as if one is not supposed to hit through the shot.

 

Solved(?) the putting yips by going to the claw and taking the right arm/hand (the main culprit) out of the equation.

 

Chipping ? A similar issue, quitting just before the strike causing all sorts of impact issues.

 

I think mainly about "pulling" the handle through the shot and keeping my body pretty still. So long as I "pull" through impact while accelerating everything goes smoothly.

 

I sometimes use Phil's "hinge and hold". I find allowing the club to hinge, also encourages "pulling" through the shot.

 

I find "pre-setting" the hips slightly open also aids in pulling through & avoid stalling.

 

Well intentioned, mostly agree, but it's a fine line between feeling that "pull" vs handle dragging which can be a death move for chipping.  Chalk it up to one person's "feel" can get misinterpreted by another.

[Mcdgolfsalot]

I have them and they are incredibly frustrating. I agree with it being a stall and flick thing which I don’t have when practicing. Broke down last night and ordered a chipper. We will see 

[Socrates]

20 minutes ago, Mcdgolfsalot said:

I have them and they are incredibly frustrating. I agree with it being a stall and flick thing which I don’t have when practicing. Broke down last night and ordered a chipper. We will see 

Been there and done that.  I eventually sold it as it solved nothing.  

 

Took a chipping lesson and hit a lot of chips with only my right hand on the club (RH golfer).  To have any kind of success it has to be long and free flowing.  It sank in about 3-4 weeks into doing that and watching the 3 videos I linked earlier.  Cured?  No, but I know what happens when I get anxious (stall and flip) and I do that less and less.  Am I good now?  Nope, but I'm competent and no longer a disaster.