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Fix Golf Slice - How to Permanently Fix your
Golf Slice |
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Sports Psychology for Golfers: 4 Tips for
Beating the Yips When players
labels themselves as having the putting yips, they think they
have an incurable disease. Putting confidence declines and the
fear of missing putts makes matters worse. Players who suffer
from the fear of missing don't like to putt. The more they
putt, the worse it gets, until it's intolerable. This leads
golfers to believe they have an affliction that they must
learn to play with. When golfers condition themselves into
believing they have the yips, it is extremely hard for change
to occur.
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The yips start with poor results and missing
short putts. The player then progresses to the fear of missing
and the fear of putting. The player feels like it is a
physical condition, which leads golfers to believe that it can
be corrected with a change in technique or practice habits.
But the yips come from the golfer's inability to gain
neuromuscular control due to poor attentional focus or
anxiety. Intense anxiety or fear does not allow the golfer to
control his muscles and putt smoothly. The player freezes and
can't draw the putter back from the ball and initiate the
putting stroke. The player wants to move the club back, but
his or her hands and arms are in a vise. It's like a deer that
freezes in the middle of the road by the fear of an
approaching car. Another form of the yips occurs when the
player tenses up at impact and feels like he or she is
stabbing at the ball.
The yips are curable. Several touring professionals such as
Bernhard Langer, who suffered from the yips have putted free
again. The first step is to stop labeling yourself as having a
physical "illness" that causes you to jab at your putts. Next
you have to realize that the physical symptoms of the yips
come from a conditioned way of thinking about putting. Here
are some suggestions for dealing with the yips: |
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1.The fear of
missing is where it starts. Throw away the fear of missing putts. Fear
and anxiety come from what you think might happen in the immediate
future. It's very important to not let your mind wander to outcome of
the putt or missing. You need to stay focused on the execution of the
putt and how you are going to hit a good putt. Forget about what might
happen, good or bad.
2. Forget about the past. You can't change the fact that you missed
several short putts the last round. If you carry a poor putting round
with you, you will have a monkey on your back. It's very hard to putt
with a monkey on the back. Every round is different and every putt you
have is different. You must look at each putt as a new opportunity for
success!
3. Simplify your approach to putting. Often the tendency when not
putting well is to search for the answer with your method or putter.
Often, this can make matters worse-when you have too many thoughts
about how to putt. Prepare for your putt with only one focus--to hit
your target that you selected. Think about throwing darts. Focus on
the bullseye (or your target in this case) and let your body do the
rest. Look at your target and pull the trigger as your eyes return to
the ball. Continuous motion helps prevent you from freezing over the
ball.
4. See the ball going in the hole. How often do you imagine the ball
missing as you are over the putt ready to start your stroke? It is
very important that all your thoughts and images are focused on the
ball rolling into the hole. As you read the putt and select a line,
see the ball roll along that line into the hole. As you walk into the
ball, stay focused on that image of the ball dropping into the hole.
Over the ball, continue to have a powerful image of the ball rolling
towards the hole, even if it is only for the last two feet of the
putt.
Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with
athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit
Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game
articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to
enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/
or call 888-742-7225. |
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