#45. Overcoming the Yips: Get out of Your Own Way and Play Freely

Imagine yourself standing over the 18th hole, preparing to step up and sink a four-foot putt you’ve made dozens of times…

As you begin to sink into your alignment and posture, you begin thinking about missing the putt, how far back to go on your backswing, and how much strength to put behind the ball. 

You also allow yourself to begin seeing and feeling what it will be like if you miss the putt. Your hands become tense, and your grip tightens, which leads to you taking a jab at the ball and missing the putt.

This miss strengthens your anxiety around short putts, making the next one feel even more challenging. 

You know how to hit a putt.

If you don’t, there’s no shortage of videos online or coaches nearby who can help you.

Your yip problem isn’t a lack of knowledge problem.

The yips is a mindset problem. 

The yips come from fear, mental overthinking, loss of trust in your abilities, and perfectionism. 

The pressure to perform and the fear of embarrassment amplify the issue, leading to emotional distress and physical tension. 

These factors create a cycle that is hard to break, where each mistake reinforces anxiety and self-doubt, making it increasingly difficult to play confidently and naturally.

The result: the game of golf yips your heart repeatedly.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn the underlying reason for a case of the yips, why self-diagnosing yourself as a golfer with the yips is so detrimental, and tactical steps you can take today to get out of your own way and play to your potential.

Start listening.

Also, here's a heads-up: I updated my Instagram tag to @thegolfhypnotherapist. 

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about how mindset coaching and hypnotherapy can help you get unstuck from the proverbial bunker of poor performance on the course and in your business, click here to schedule a coaching discovery call with me. 

P.P.S. Here’s the article I references detailing more about how to overcome the problem-who-must-not-be-named.

Key Points:

• The act of labeling oneself as having the Yips can be counterproductive.
• Fear is a significant underlying factor in the Yips.
• Self-diagnosis can lead to a negative identity and performance spiral.
• Focusing on process rather than results can alleviate anxiety.
• Mindfulness and deep breathing are essential for managing tension.
• Simplifying techniques can help reduce overthinking and improve performance.
• Visualization and mental imagery can enhance confidence and execution.
• Asking for help can lead to faster improvement and resolution of issues.
• Practicing specific skills can desensitize fear and build confidence.
• Emotional resilience is crucial for overcoming performance anxiety.

Key Quotes:

• “The yips are caused by a combination of mental overthinking, fear, and emotional distress, which promote anxiety and tension, the two enemies of a fluid, consistent swing.”
• “The most detrimental mistake you can make when attempting to overcome your yip problem is labeling a recent mistake or period of poor performance as a case of the yips.”
• “Since the yips are often rooted in fear, anxiety, overthinking, and physical tension, the goal is to address both the mental and physical aspects of the problem.”
• “The yips is a mindset problem.”
• “The yips come from fear, mental overthinking, loss of trust in your abilities, and perfectionism.The pressure to perform and the fear of embarrassment amplify the issue, leading to emotional distress and phys