Low Hand Putting Yips - Anyone putt the other way to combat them?

[Obee]

Hello everyone!

 

I'm a right handed player who has been battling right hand yips in my putting stroke for over 20 years.

 

I have been able to keep them at bay (more or less) for most of the last eight or nine years after switching to the claw and a closed putting stance with a very upright putter.

 

But I am tired of battling them and I want to putt yip free. 
 

I recently played with a buddy who putts opposite of the way he swings the golf club. I recently tried cross handed and putting left-handed, and I have absolutely zero yip. I hit the center of the face on virtually every putt, and my speed control seems to be decent.

 

I think I'm going to give it a good 10 to 20 rounds this winter and see if I putt better like this. Has anyone else tried this or done it and stuck with it?

Edited February 13 by Obee
Typo

[596]

I've had the same problem for about the last 8 years.  I tried every grip I can imagine. Nothing worked. I could putt right handed with a claw but had no feel and I hated it.  I switched last year to left handed putting as a righty.  I'm slowly getting my regular putting stroke back righty but some days I revert back to the claw. All depends how bad my hands are shaking each day. 

 

 I also carry a left handed PW for chipping.  Can't chip my way out of a paper bag right handed but I'm deadly lefty.  Left handed chipping is extremely easy and very fluid. Where right handed is a total disaster.

[Obee]

10 minutes ago, 596 said:

I've had the same problem for about the last 8 years.  I tried every grip I can imagine. Nothing worked. I could putt right handed with a claw but had no feel and I hated it.  I switched last year to left handed putting as a righty.  I'm slowly getting my regular putting stroke back righty but some days I revert back to the claw. All depends how bad my hands are shaking each day. 

 

 I also carry a left handed PW for chipping.  Can't chip my way out of a paper bag right handed but I'm deadly lefty.  Left handed chipping is extremely easy and very fluid. Where right handed is a total disaster.

Love it!! What's your index?

[596]

9

 

I'm 69 years old. The right hand yips hit me 8 years ago over night.  Went to play one morning and went to practice putting before playing.  On the first putt I actually missed the ball on a 5 foot putt.  I was shocked. I was always an excellent putter and chipper.  I had no idea what to do. I missed the ball!!!  It's been and uphill battle from that day till even today.  I was shaking enough today that I had to putt using the claw grip.  About 90% of the time I can now use a regular grip  but it changes day to day and even hole to hole sometimes.  But chipping is always, now, left handed. 

[Kuuuch]

I’ve putted cross handed (left hand low) for many years now bc I would get the yips in my right hand when holding the putter conventional. Mostly only on pressure putts. Especially the first/last hole of a big tourney or match. 
 

Speed control took some getting used to but now if I grip a putter conventional, it feels disgusting lol.

 

This may sound dumb to most but tour players do it often…learning how to control your breathing/mediation even if it’s 10 mins a day helps quite a bit too. 

[596]

6 minutes ago, Kuuuch said:

I’ve putted cross handed (left hand low) for many years now bc I would get the yips in my right hand when holding the putter conventional. Mostly only on pressure putts. Especially the first/last hole of a big tourney or match. 
 

Speed control took some getting used to but now if I grip a putter conventional, it feels disgusting lol.

 

This may sound dumb to most but tour players do it often…learning how to control your breathing/mediation even if it’s 10 mins a day helps quite a bit too. 

What grip model are you using for the claw grip?  I may need to shorten my putter. When I use the claw my bottom fingers hang off bottom of the grip. Maybe get a 17" grip.

 

My breathing is already very slow from years of racing triathlons.  My resting heart rate is 42.

Edited February 13 by 596

[b.mattay]

I know 2 guys that do that, and both are very good players (+3 and +7 handicaps). However, both of them were lefties in hockey that play golf righty. 
 

From my perspective I would be more apt to try an armlock and a Langer grip before switching sides. 

[Obee]

7 minutes ago, b.mattay said:

I know 2 guys that do that, and both are very good players (+3 and +7 handicaps). However, both of them were lefties in hockey that play golf righty. 
 

From my perspective I would be more apt to try an armlock and a Langer grip before switching sides. 

I tried armlock, of course. Hurts my back. Can't find a single way of putting with an arm lock that doesn't hurt my back. 
 

Bizarre, I know. 
 

[Socrates]

2 hours ago, Obee said:

Hello everyone!

 

I'm a right handed player who has been battling right hand yips in my putting stroke for over 20 years.

 

I have been able to keep them at bay (more or less) for most of the last eight or nine years after switching to the claw and a closed putting stance with a very upright putter.

 

But I am tired of battling them and I want to putt yip free. 
 

I recently played with a buddy who putts opposite of the way he swings the golf club. I recently tried cross handed and putting left-handed, and I have absolutely zero yip. I hit the center of the face on virtually every putt, and my speed control seems to be decent.

 

I think I'm going to give it a good 10 to 20 rounds this winter and see if I putt better like this. Has anyone else tried this or done it and stuck with it?

I've related this on WRX before.  I've had over the years a few bouts of the yips with the putter.  At one point I used a Bullseye and putted LH with it.  On other times I made a few LH putters of various lengths (mid length, split grips) At one point I putted LH for nearly 2 years before I went back to RH putting.  Shortly after the anchor ban came into effect, I went back to LH putting for over 2 years before I returned to RH putting.

 

I never yipped putting LH and eventually became pretty good (hovering around 4-6 hcp).  It was such a relief to be able to putt without gagging.  I've read some stuff and from what I gleaned, it was that I was rewiring my brain by putting LH.  There also was less pressure mentally as I had lower expectations about putting.  After a few years, I went back to RH putting.  Almost by accident.  I think it was when I sent my LH Scotty back to SC to get reshafted.

 

Long story, but eventually once I returned to RH putting, I continued to putt RH and I have, for the most part, beaten the putting yips.  I seem to be able to keep my brain calm more often than not although I do backhand more than my share of putts inside of 3 ft.  I think it helps that I found a putter that set up well with and roll the ball on line more along with some better mechanics.  

 

I still have the LH Scotty and use it every once in a while, but always go back to RH.  Good to know that if it ever returns, I have an option.

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, Obee said:

Hello everyone!

 

I'm a right handed player who has been battling right hand yips in my putting stroke for over 20 years.

 

I have been able to keep them at bay (more or less) for most of the last eight or nine years after switching to the claw and a closed putting stance with a very upright putter.

 

But I am tired of battling them and I want to putt yip free. 
 

I recently played with a buddy who putts opposite of the way he swings the golf club. I recently tried cross handed and putting left-handed, and I have absolutely zero yip. I hit the center of the face on virtually every putt, and my speed control seems to be decent.

 

I think I'm going to give it a good 10 to 20 rounds this winter and see if I putt better like this. Has anyone else tried this or done it and stuck with it?

Armlock brother.  Preferably the easiest. Lab golf brand.  Locking it in will cure it.  Adjustment period. Month or so for a guy like you. But once you’re adjusted. You won’t go back. My 2 cents. But fitment is extremely important.  Took me longer to get that right than to adjust.  
 

read the back pain comment.  Is it too hunched over or not enough ?  Don’t be afraid to go short.  I’m at 39 inches at 6ft 3. But I prefer my head to be low to the ground. And behind.   To see. 

Edited February 13 by bladehunter

[Obee]

10 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Armlock brother.  Preferably the easiest. Lab golf brand.  Locking it in will cure it.  Adjustment period. Month or so for a guy like you. But once you’re adjusted. You won’t go back. My 2 cents. But fitment is extremely important.  Took me longer to get that right than to adjust.  
 

read the back pain comment.  Is it too hunched over or not enough ?  Don’t be afraid to go short.  I’m at 39 inches at 6ft 3. But I prefer my head to be low to the ground. And behind.   To see. 

No, it's more the leaning motion that is required where you almost have to make a bit of a reverse c stance and motion. 

[me05501]

Seems like yips usually creep into situations where some kind of mental spaghetti has built up over years and years. It's almost like the subconscious mind is fighting the motor function part. Scary and frustrating for sure. 

 

Putting left handed is probably a good way to rewire yourself. You'll be a little more focused on technique while being a little less judgmental of your outcomes. And you don't have years of mental scar tissue with it. 

Edited February 13 by me05501

[Petethreeput]

Our pro did this.  He couldn't get comfortable over the ball LHL or claw grip and decided to swap to a lefty putter.

 

His putting has improved dramatically.  He made the switch 2 years ago and when asked about turning around he has said because he is putting well he doesn't see the need for it.

 

He is a right handed player, but left handed in everything else he does.

 

I would think it would work though.  I opted for LHL about 10 years ago and haven't felt the need to go back, though my distance control outside 50' feels contrived, the confidence inside 10' makes up for it.  I should add, early season when the greens are shaggy I will putt with the standard grip with none of the issues I had years ago.

[Socrates]

3 minutes ago, Petethreeput said:

Our pro did this.  He couldn't get comfortable over the ball LHL or claw grip and decided to swap to a lefty putter.

 

His putting has improved dramatically.  He made the switch 2 years ago and when asked about turning around he has said because he is putting well he doesn't see the need for it.

 

He is a right handed player, but left handed in everything else he does.

I think, based on my experience, that at some point in time, he will suddenly revert back to RH putting. After over 2 years I never thought I would, but I did.  When I did change back though, I found myself going to the wrong side of the ball every once in a while.  It's like your brain can't quite comprehend it.  I do think I can putt slightly better RH than LH although I have often contemplated bringing both LH and RH putters out and using both depending on the situation.  

[bladehunter]

2 hours ago, Obee said:

No, it's more the leaning motion that is required where you almost have to make a bit of a reverse c stance and motion. 

Well. I certainly get that. 
 

im left eye dominant. So putting lefty looks right to my eye. I do it well. I learned this as a kid with a bullseye on a putt putt course. I was never dead when I didn’t have a right handed stroke at it. I just turn around and make it. Etc.   But. When  I tried to do it  full time. It actually gave me a headache 🤣.  And my vision , or seeing the line of putt from left would go away.  I swear I believe this to be true. I could do it ala Notah Begay , and have a bullseye style , and swap left to right and back during a round and be fine. But righty hit and lefty putting only scrambled me. Crazy. I know.  
 

moral to that ramble. You wont know till you try.  And there’s no  harm in trying .  

Edited February 13 by bladehunter

[b.helts]

hi Obes! I've played with several players who putted opposite of their swing. My college coach used to putt left-to-right putts left handed and right-to-left putts right handed, but he's one of a kind and I think you might know him. Steve Lass?

 

the most well-known, probably, is josh broadaway. he played right handed, but used a cross handed grip, but putted left handed. he did pretty good for himself, i think. very good player.

 

what do you have to lose? give it a run.

[jsn]

tried broomstick? you can get them built longer so you don't have to hunch as much as you do for an armlock. i started off with armlock and still couldn't take the impulse of the right hand to hit the ball out of the stroke and moved to broomstick and it's been revelatory, especially on the < 5 footers.

[br61]

As a long time broomsticker and had the yips for couple decades due to ET, I saw a picture of someone putting with reverse claw grip and gave it a go. All of sudden, I'm putting so much better with my 36" putter. Left hand low using claw grip. Can't hurt to try.

[Ty_Webb]

Hi Obee,

 

Sorry that you're going through this. I have been dealing with chipping yips for nearly 25 years now. It spread into my putting, starting with longer putts and moving to shorter ones over time. I tried left hand low for a while and it worked until it didn't. Now using the claw and have been with that for probably 15 years now and it's still holding on. I would absolutely switch to the other side if they get my claw grip too. Now just the chipping to deal with. Signs of progress on that with a technique adjustment.

 

My theory on the yips is that they start with a technical flaw of some description. The kind of thing that you get away with for the most part, but it makes it harder to get it right. Over time you make small adjustments with your hands and small muscles and it works for a time, but not as well as it should and you know that. Then one day the correction doesn't work and you flub it or thin it or miss a lot wide. That gets in your head and you overcorrect the next time and it snowballs from that. Then they become mental as well as technical. If you fix the original technical issue you can fix the mental. The longer you go before you do that the harder it is to fix the mental side. 

 

Making a significant change (like the claw or left hand low) is like a reset that undoes the mental stuff. For me, I think I was handle dragging when chipping. Longer putts I had the same thing. Hands ahead of the ball before impact and there's not a whole lot you can do to reliably get the club on the ball from there. Claw helped me to not do that because it stops that handle drag. Left hand low might help too with chipping, but it feels very weird at the moment. 

[tipuga93]

Natural lefty who plays right handed here and left hand low putting changed my life. Being able to drive the stroke with my left side is the key for me I think. 

 

Ironically enough, I believe it was your putting improvement thread Obee that got me started down that route. Left hand low was the only way I could consistently roll the line end over end and ever since I fully committed putting is one of my strengths. 

[bluedot]

On 2/12/2025 at 7:04 PM, Obee said:

Hello everyone!

 

I'm a right handed player who has been battling right hand yips in my putting stroke for over 20 years.

 

I have been able to keep them at bay (more or less) for most of the last eight or nine years after switching to the claw and a closed putting stance with a very upright putter.

 

But I am tired of battling them and I want to putt yip free. 
 

I recently played with a buddy who putts opposite of the way he swings the golf club. I recently tried cross handed and putting left-handed, and I have absolutely zero yip. I hit the center of the face on virtually every putt, and my speed control seems to be decent.

 

I think I'm going to give it a good 10 to 20 rounds this winter and see if I putt better like this. Has anyone else tried this or done it and stuck with it?

Obee, I have three friends who play RH and putt LH, and I’ve seen others.  
 

All three of my friends are old guys in their 70’s, all good athletes and good golfers, and all three putt well.  One guy starting putting LH a couple of years ago just to see if he could improve because he is strongly left eye dominant.  The second guy was an all conference LH Qb in college, and is basically ambidextrous; he starting playing golf RH as a kid in a small town in the VA mountains simply because there were no LH clubs, but he switched to putting LH decades ago.

 

The 3rd guy is most like you; played college golf, single digit index still at age 76, and has been at times highly ranked in senior golf in the Carolinas.  About 15 years ago, he had the yips so bad that he was ready to quit the game; switched to LH putting and has been putting that way ever since.  I consider him to be an excellent putter; we play a lot of tournament golf together, and his stroke holds up under competitive pressure.  
 

Hope that helps.

[Obee]

Thank you all. 🙂

[TheDeanAbides]

Putting has always been the weakest part of my game. About 25 years ago I walked into a pro shop and picked up a £15 no brand left handed blade. I gripped it with the same grip I used righty and putted better like that than anything I used over the next 15 years. 
 

Maybe being a natural leftie and left eye dominant made a difference, but for me using the same grip, but asking different questions of it made it both comfortable and effective. 

[Nels55]

I've yipped putts since I was a little kid.  On pressure putts I would open the face coming into the ball and squirt the ball well right of the hole.  LOL here are the things that helped me over the years:

 

I practice aiming the putter at setup using a club ruler to calibrate my eye.

 

I modified my putter to be upright at 79 degrees and lie angle balanced.

 

I putt with my focus on my trail or right hand.  I believe that my right hand knows how to putt.

 

I line the dimples up per Bryson DeChambeau which gives me confidence that the ball will roll straight if I make a good stroke.

 

I watch the putter head swing back and through. 

 

I work hard on not caring if the ball goes in the hole.

 

Regarding back pain I putted standing straight up for many years to alleviate lower back pain.  Since I have been working out on my back extension machine I have been able to putt bent over like a more normal person without much difficulty. 

 

Crazy stuff but I believe in what I am doing which is 99% of the battle.

[bilbry57]

On 2/12/2025 at 4:04 PM, Obee said:

Hello everyone!

 

I'm a right handed player who has been battling right hand yips in my putting stroke for over 20 years.

 

I have been able to keep them at bay (more or less) for most of the last eight or nine years after switching to the claw and a closed putting stance with a very upright putter.

 

But I am tired of battling them and I want to putt yip free. 
 

I recently played with a buddy who putts opposite of the way he swings the golf club. I recently tried cross handed and putting left-handed, and I have absolutely zero yip. I hit the center of the face on virtually every putt, and my speed control seems to be decent.

 

I think I'm going to give it a good 10 to 20 rounds this winter and see if I putt better like this. Has anyone else tried this or done it and stuck with it?

Hi David I had bad yips 10 years ago and switched to claw and it worked for a while but still yippy sometimes on short putts. I switched to LH low 3 years ago no issues with yips only thing I struggled with at first was distance control.

[Obee]

Well ...

 

I guess I have cured them ...

 

Brand new (variation on the) claw grip. 20 minutes of preparation on 2.5 to 3-footers prior to to teeing off, and I am back putting like the (demi) god I am capable of being. 
 

(ALL OF THE ABOVE IS TONGUE IN CHEEK!!!)

 

Over two days of alternate shot golf, playing against a few of the very best senior amateurs in the country, I did not miss a single putt between 3 and 6 feet on greens running 12 that I have never set foot on before.

 

I am extremely proud of this and I do not mind saying so. When you hit driver 215 to 220 in the air and 240 max—including roll—to compete with your betters, you better be phocking good inside 150. This week, at least, I was.
 

My partner? Wow. He hits it 30 to 70 by me and he was absolutely rock solid all week. If I don't dump the ball in the water twice from easy lies on day one, we win the thing by two strokes. Well done, Scott!!!

 

There is, quite simply, nothing like competitive golf.

Edited March 6 by Obee
Contest

[bilbry57]

51 minutes ago, Obee said:

Well ...

 

I guess I have cured them ...

 

Brand new (variation on the) claw grip. 20 minutes of preparation on 2.5 to 3-footers prior to to teeing off, and I am back putting like the (demi) god I am capable of being. 
 

(ALL OF THIS THE ABOVE ISTONGUE IN CHEEK!!!)

 

Over two days of alternate shot golf, playing against a few of the very best senior amateurs in the country, I did not miss a single putt between 3 and 6 feet on greens running 12 that I have never set foot on before.

 

I am extremely proud of this and I do not mind saying so. When you hit driver 215 to 220 in the air and 240 max—including roll—to compete with your betters, you better be phocking good inside 150. This week, at least, I was.
 

My partner? Wow. He hits it 30 to 70 by me and he was absolutely rock solid all week. If I don't dump the ball in the water twice from easy lies on day one, we win the thing by two strokes. Well done, Scott!!!

 

There is, quite simply, nothing like competitive golf.

Hi David nice finish in the SCGA. Curious what new change you made to the claw grip and did you keep the closed stance that you used so well in the past.

Edited March 6 by bilbry57

[Obee]

23 minutes ago, bilbry57 said:

Hi David nice finish in the SCGA. Curious what new change you made to the claw grip and did you keep the closed stance that you used so well in the past.

It's interesting, I am putting my right arm and hand way way out away from my body and trying to completely align my wrist forearm and right elbow with my line of putt and then just sawing back-and-forth.

 

Just as importantly, however, I recommitted to completely and totally reading every putt/green.

 

I tend to get a little carried away with chatting with my playing partners and enjoying people's company. The last two days, though, I really focused on getting to the green quickly and doing my (own version of) aimpoint before anyone else was even ready to play their ball. Then I was ready to read my/our from behind the ball—and it really paid off.

 

In short, I grinded my a** off on the greens for 36 straight holes and made a not insignificant adjustment to my grip and set up.

 

And, yes, I am still putting with a closed stance. I don't think I will ever go more than a few holes every now and then without it, just to remind myself of how crappy I putt without a closed stance!!

[Obee]

On 2/12/2025 at 8:02 PM, bladehunter said:

Armlock brother.  Preferably the easiest. Lab golf brand.  Locking it in will cure it.  Adjustment period. Month or so for a guy like you. But once you’re adjusted. You won’t go back. My 2 cents. But fitment is extremely important.  Took me longer to get that right than to adjust.  
 

read the back pain comment.  Is it too hunched over or not enough ?  Don’t be afraid to go short.  I’m at 39 inches at 6ft 3. But I prefer my head to be low to the ground. And behind.   To see. 

I have a LAB armlock on the way...

But after the way I've been putting lately conventional (albeit with the claw), I don't know that I'll even use it...

[b.mattay]

11 hours ago, Obee said:

I have a LAB armlock on the way...

But after the way I've been putting lately conventional (albeit with the claw), I don't know that I'll even use it...

If you do decide to go that route, I think I found a way to set up armlock without a ton of the sidebend at address that seems to bug your back. 

 

Put the trail hand at the top of the grip and put the lead hand at the bottom of the grip. Press the knuckles/fingers of the trail hand into the lead forearm. Creates a quasi-Langer grip, and due to the trail hand being much higher than the lead hand, my shoulders are basically level. 

 

This does require a decent bit of lead arm ROM in shoulder external rotation and forearm pronation, but it seems to be a decent "level" alternative. 

 

I can record a video later on if this seems interesting.