Golf - Yips: the sure cure is between the ears

This Hub was written in 2010 when Rory McIlroy clutched and was eliminated from the Masters. Everyone predicted a great fall, but as I wrote: "We all know Rory is a great golfer, he just got bitten, bitten by the bug that all tournament golfers know and fear - the Yips!"

Until you've yipped a putt you've never had the feeling that someone, something, grabbed your hand and moved your club. The shock crosses wires all the way from your brain to the tip of your fingers and toes.

Having played competitive golf for years and having had my share of yips, I can tell you my theory and cure. Well, it's not really a cure; more like an alcohol problem, it's an ongoing recovery.

Putting was one of the strong parts of my game. Not being a super-long hitter, I needed the chips and putts to even the score. When I was playing for the joy of a walk in the country, I was hot. I used a George Nicoll blade, wooden shafted putter I bought in Scotland years ago. I sneaked it into the country to be a surprise anniversary present for my first husband. On June 21, 196? I presented it to him with great aplomb, only to have him say, "Don't you know you never give anyone something so personal as a putter?"

I snatched it away, played with it the rest of my golfing life, and have had many, many people try to buy it from me! Now I use it as a cane for special occasions.

As I climbed the ladder in the Connecticut Womens' Golf Association, for two of those years I was Rules Chairman (now called Chairlady or Chairperson - doesn't really matter, does it?) Anyhow, as I remember, you were not allowed to use any artificial means to improve your golf game.

Now, I knew people who took tranquilizers to calm the yips and I always considered that cheating. That is, until one time when I found myself in a three-way playoff for a championship qualifier. I'd finished my round an hour or so earlier and was sitting on the porch enjoying my lunch and a tall rum collins; a strong one made with freshly-squeezed fruit and a dark rum floater. (Ah, the memories)

The committee came and got me, waited while I shoed up again, and led me to the tee. Boy, was I loose! Took the longest, smoothest backswing of my life, and let 'er rip. It was all on cruise control - right down to the bottom of the cup. I made the cut and never had a twinge of fear. Of course, this is not recommended, at least by me.

But it did convince me drugs matter.

I encourage golfers to avoid depending on electronic gimmicks that tell you how many yards it is to a target. It's OK when you're a beginner, but try to wean yourself as soon as possible. Lean to judge distance for yourself; the battery could die.

It's pretty simple. First, read the green. Start from a distance as you're walking up to the green. What's the general shape of the green? Does it slant right or left? Are there any dips? Get an overview of the grass. Is it newly-mowed, or getting shaggier by the minute? Do the blades seem to be bent in one direction? Does it look as if any wind is blowing across it? Don't spend a lot of time on this. It should become natural.

Two, read the putt. Some golfers find it helps to hold the putter loosely by the grip end and line it up with the cup to see how much it is off 180°. I favor this approach: a lot less tiring than getting down to the ball's level to eye it. Making allowance for roll and speed, pick out a spot on the green that you must putt over to have the ball reach the cup. Put a mental marker on it. (When practicing, you could put down a real marker to test your eye.)

The moment has come! Turn away from the ball and get a steady, but not too firm grip on the putter while it is just touching the ground. (Once you have "addressed the ball" it will cost you a penalty if you move it accidentally while getting in position.) Comfortable? O.K. Next, stand over the ball, feet square to your intended line. Settle down. And here's the secret: Forget the cup! Remember that invisible spot the ball must go over to roll to the cup? Line your putter up with that spot and bring it back slowly, not in a pivot motion, but like a pendulum - straight back. It helps to keep your elbows away from your body at this point. Then, just as smoothly, bring it through the ball, being sure to keep your body still, head down. As one pro told me, "Listen for the ball to drop; don't look."

This can be practiced on a rug - especially one that has a straight line in the pattern. All you need to adjust is the speed of the ball, or put another way, the weight you put into your putt. Too much, the ball will go higher than your imaginary line and leave you coming back. Too little, and the ball will fall off the line short of the cup. Sometimes, you have to chose which will leave you with the easier return putt. Note: it's much easier to control the speed and keep an uphill putt on line than a downhill one.

I've seen cocktail napkins with "How to line up your fourth putt."

A Hubber asked if we thought Rory could recover from his final round at The Masters. Of course he can! He's young. He's a good golfer and he has, not only his family, but an entire country pulling for him. Now there is Support.

I hope to post a video showing my secret putting ploy, but right now the weather is lousy, I'm still in my pajamas, and I have 16 more boxes to pack for our move next week. In the 1980s I wrote a column for the Venice Florida Gondolier entitled "Golf is a GAME" aimed at developing the proper mental attitude for a healthy game of golf. I also made a cartoon primer of golf rules which I can probably dig up after the move...and I have some funny stories to tell; later.

For now: Golf is played between the ears.