The Chipping Yips - Yikes, What Next ?

First, there is Failure in chipping technique that leads to repeated poor shots with horrible results.

Then comes Fear of missing yet another chip. Fear of bad scores, lost matches, and embarrassment. Fear that some particularly disastrous shot will happen again.

Finally there is Anxiety from expecting the worst possible outcomes due to the inability to control the chipping stroke.

The chipping yips become worse as the golfer becomes more nervous. This usually happens at a critical point in the round, or when the lie is tight or bad, causing any remaining confidence to drain away.

To develop or re-build your chipping fundamentals, take a look at my free Short Game Guide.

To start curing the chipping yips, we have to establish both a good chipping technique and a solid pre-shot routine. The following basic steps work well for most golfers.

Place most of your weight on your front foot with the ball towards the back of your stance.

Place your hands ahead of the ball so they can lead the clubhead throughout the shot. This produces a descending blow with limited hand and wrist movements. A major cause of chipping yips is flipping the hands in an effort to scoop the ball into the air. Keep the hands in front of the clubface throughout the swing, letting the loft of the club elevate the ball.

Take a smooth, short backswing and then accelerate the club through impact. Another major cause of chipping yips is using a backswing that is too long, and then decelerating or stopping the club at impact.

Relying on the above fundamentals, develop a pre-shot routine that you will use on every chip shot. All good players have a pre-shot routine. Develop your own. It might be something like this:

Based on your lie and distance to the hole, select a club and a spot where you want your chip to land.

Take several practice swings simulating the actual shot and concentrating on the landing spot. Step up to the ball, focus on the target spot, and immediately hit the shot.

The typical golfer with the chipping yips stands over the shot way too long and allows negative thoughts and visions of failure to enter his mind.

As you go through your pre-shot routine, focus on your chipping fundamentals during your practice swings - weight and hands forward, ball back in stance, short accelerating swing. Focus on fundamentals, not on results. Take as many practice swings as you want until your focus is right. Let me say it again. During your practice swings, focus on fundamentals, not on results.

Take a couple more practice swings focusing on your landing target.

Then, step up to the ball, briefly look at the target spot then back at the ball, and immediately hit the shot.