You stand over a three-foot putt. You have holed thousands like it. And then, just as you start the stroke, your hands twitch, the putter jerks and the ball misses the hole by a foot. If that sounds familiar, you may have the yips: involuntary jerks or freezes that strike in the middle of short, delicate strokes. The yips affect golfers of every level, including some of the best players in the world. They are frustrating and sometimes embarrassing, but they can be managed and often overcome.
What are the yips?
The yips usually show up as:
- A jerk or twitch in the hands or forearms at the start or middle of the stroke.
- A freeze, where you cannot start the stroke.
- A flinch just before impact, usually by the dominant hand.
- Short putts being the main problem, especially those you "should" hole.
They are most common on putts, but can also affect chipping, pitching and, occasionally, full swings. They tend to develop in experienced golfers, often after many years of play.
What causes them?
Researchers and coaches describe two overlapping causes:
- Anxiety ("choking"). Pressure and fear of missing lead to tension, overthinking and loss of control.
- Focal dystonia. A neurological condition affecting fine motor control in movements that are repeated many times. It is also seen in musicians and writers. Golfers with this type often experience the twitch even without pressure.
Most golfers with the yips have some of both. Tension, overthinking the mechanics of the stroke and a history of missed short putts all make things worse.
Yips or just a bad stroke?
| Yips | Poor technique |
|---|---|
| Sudden, involuntary twitch or freeze | Consistent but faulty movement |
| Worse on short putts and under pressure | Affects putts of all lengths |
| You can make a good stroke in practice but not on the course | Same fault in practice and play |
| Often appears after years of good putting | Present since you started |
If your problem is technique, work on the basics: read how to putt: the fundamentals.
Fixes that work
1. Change your grip
Changing the grip changes how the hands and wrists work, and often bypasses the "broken" movement pattern.
| Grip | How it works | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Left hand low (cross-handed) | Lead hand below the trail hand | Levels the shoulders and quietens the dominant hand |
| Claw | Trail hand turned, holding the grip with fingers like a pen or claw | Takes the trail hand's wrist out of the stroke |
| Arm-lock | Longer putter shaft held against the lead forearm | Locks the wrists, moves the stroke to the shoulders |
| Pencil or saw grip | Variations of the claw | Light, controlled trail-hand pressure |
| Long or broomstick putter | Top of the putter held away from the body | Pendulum stroke with less hand action |
Anchoring the putter against your body is not permitted under the Rules of Golf, but many long-putter and arm-lock styles remain legal if used correctly. Read conforming golf equipment and the rules.
2. Change your focus
- Look at the hole while you putt short putts, instead of at the ball. Many golfers find this frees the stroke.
- Focus on a spot in front of the ball, or the back of the hole, rather than the stroke itself.
- Think about speed, not mechanics.
- Count or hum during the stroke to occupy the conscious mind.
3. Shorten the wait
Standing over a putt for a long time allows tension to build. Use a consistent routine and start the stroke within a couple of seconds of settling. Read golf pre-shot routine.
4. Reduce grip pressure
Hold the putter lightly. Tension in the hands and forearms makes twitching more likely.
5. Change your equipment
- A heavier putter or counterweighted grip can smooth the stroke.
- A larger grip reduces wrist action.
- A different putter head can feel fresh and reset your confidence.
Read how to choose a putter.
6. Practise differently
- Practise without a hole, rolling balls to a coin or a tee, to remove the fear of missing.
- Practise with your eyes closed, focusing on feel.
- Build pressure gradually, finishing practice sessions with a short game where a miss matters.
- Avoid hours of grinding on short putts, which may reinforce the problem.
Read putting drills to stop three-putting.
7. Work on the mental side
- Accept that misses happen to every golfer.
- Breathe slowly, with a long exhale before you stroke the putt.
- Talk to a sports psychologist if anxiety is a big factor.
Read the mental game of golf and golf and mental health.
The chipping yips
The chipping yips usually show up as a jerk that leads to a duff or a skull. Fixes include:
- Putting or using a hybrid from the fringe whenever you can. Read chip or putt? How to choose.
- Using a putting-style chipping stroke with little wrist action.
- Changing the club, for example from a wedge to an 8-iron for more roll.
- Looking at the landing spot rather than the ball.
Frequently asked questions
Can the yips be cured?
Many golfers overcome the yips, or manage them so well they no longer notice them, usually through a combination of grip changes, routine and mental strategies.
Are the yips all in the mind?
Not entirely. Anxiety plays a big part, but there can also be a neurological element in some golfers.
Which putting grip is best for the yips?
There is no single best grip. Cross-handed, claw and arm-lock grips are the most popular. Try each for a week and see which feels most stable.
Do professionals get the yips?
Yes. Many top golfers have struggled with the yips and found solutions, often a new grip or putter.
The bottom line
The yips are common, frustrating and very human, but they are not the end of your golfing life. Try a new grip, shorten your routine, focus on the target rather than the stroke, practise without pressure and consider equipment changes. Be patient, and get help from a coach, psychologist or doctor if the problem persists. Most golfers find a way to roll the ball smoothly again.
Related: putting grip styles and pressure putts.