If you are searching for the cure for the yips, you are probably not looking for theory. You want a repeatable way to calm your hands, steady your stroke, and feel more confident over short putts.
The good news is that a better putting routine can help. A strong pre-shot routine does not just organize your setup. It can reduce tension in the wrong places, shift your attention away from fear, and give your stroke a simple pattern to follow.
This guide explains a practical, step-by-step pre-shot routine for putting yips. It focuses on four essentials:
Process over outcome
A close target instead of the hole
Body connection and stable tension
Reliable rhythm
Used together, these pieces create a simple framework that can help you roll more committed putts and reduce the jerky, fearful motion that often causes the yips.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Understand what the yips are really doing to your putting stroke
- Step 2: Build a process-focused pre-shot routine for the cure for the yips
- Step 3: Pick a spot close to the ball instead of trying to “make the putt”
- Step 4: Use breathing to reduce excess muscle tension before you walk in
- Step 5: Walk into the putt with commitment, not caution
- Step 6: Create connection so the bigger muscles control the stroke
- Step 7: Use the right kind of tension instead of trying to stay “super relaxed”
- Step 8: Add a simple rhythm cue to stop the hit impulse
- Step 9: Put the full cure for the yips into one repeatable routine
- Step 10: Avoid the mistakes that keep the putting yips alive
- Step 11: Practice the cure for the yips the right way
- Step 12: Know what success actually looks like
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final takeaway
Step 1: Understand what the yips are really doing to your putting stroke
The putting yips are often a mix of mental interference and physical overreaction. You stand over the ball, start thinking about everything that could go wrong, and your body responds with extra tension, hesitation, or a sudden hand-driven twitch.
That is why the cure for the yips is rarely just one mechanical tip. You need a routine that gives your mind a job and gives your body a stable motion.
In practical terms, golfers with the yips often do one or more of these things:
Focus on making or missing the putt instead of starting the ball well
Stare at the hole and ignore a precise starting line
Walk into the putt tentatively
Use too much hand action
Lose rhythm under pressure
Try to eliminate all tension, which can actually reduce control
If any of that sounds familiar, your routine needs to become more structured, more physical, and more consistent.
Step 2: Build a process-focused pre-shot routine for the cure for the yips
A reliable pre-shot routine is one of the best ways to interrupt anxious thoughts. Instead of standing over the ball hoping nothing bad happens, you follow a sequence with a purpose.
Your routine should answer these questions before you stroke the putt:
What line am I choosing?
What exact spot will the ball start over?
What speed matches that line?
What rhythm will I use?
That matters because when your attention is on useful tasks, there is less room for fear-based thinking.
A simple process-focused routine looks like this:
Read the putt and choose your line.
Pick a small target a few inches in front of the ball.
Connect that nearby target to your intended line and speed.
Take a calming breath.
Walk in with purpose, not hesitation.
Set the putter face to the spot first.
Set your body connection and grip pressure.
Make the stroke with your rhythm cue.
Step 3: Pick a spot close to the ball instead of trying to “make the putt”
This is one of the most useful changes you can make if you want the cure for the yips.
Rather than aiming all your attention at the hole, choose a very specific spot about 6 to 8 inches in front of the ball. Your goal is to start the ball over that spot.
This does two important things:
It simplifies alignment
It gives your mind a concrete task
Starting the ball on line is easier to control than trying to force the ball into the hole. The hole is the outcome. The spot is the process.
Think of it this way:
Line is represented by the spot close to the ball
Speed determines how the ball finishes on that chosen line
On a relatively flat putt, you might see the ball entering the right center or left center of the cup based on pace. But your immediate job is still the same: roll the ball over your spot.
This small shift can be powerful because it keeps you from standing over a short putt thinking only about consequences.
How to choose the spot
Read the putt first
Choose your starting line
Find a blade of grass, discoloration, or tiny mark a few inches ahead of the ball
Commit to starting the ball over that point
If the putt is very short, the spot can be even closer.
Step 4: Use breathing to reduce excess muscle tension before you walk in
If your body feels tight before the stroke, your hands usually feel it first.
A simple breath pattern can help settle your body before you address the ball. Use one full breath:
In through the nose
Out through the mouth
This is not about making yourself sleepy or passive. It is about releasing unnecessary tension while keeping enough athletic readiness to control the stroke.
Use the breath before you step in. That way, the stroke begins from a calmer state instead of trying to fix tension at the last second.
Step 5: Walk into the putt with commitment, not caution
Golfers with the yips often become careful in the wrong way. They creep into the ball, stall over it, and look as if they are trying not to make a mistake.
That kind of tentative motion usually makes the stroke worse.
Your walk-in should feel positive and steady. Not rushed, but not fearful either. The idea is to preserve the same overall tempo from your read to your setup to your stroke.
A good checkpoint is this:
If you look hesitant walking in, you will often feel hesitant swinging.
When you step into the putt, do it like someone who has already made a decision. Your only job now is to execute the routine.
Step 6: Create connection so the bigger muscles control the stroke
Many golfers fight the putting yips because they rely too much on their hands. Small muscles tend to react more under pressure. A connected setup helps shift control toward the larger, steadier parts of your body.
For this part of the cure for the yips, think about connecting your arms to the front of your torso.
The useful feel is this:
Your upper arms are lightly connected to your rib cage
Your elbows are more in front of you, not pinned hard to your sides
Your core feels engaged and stable
This helps the stroke work more from the center of your body rather than from hand manipulation.
One important detail: do not squeeze your elbows against the sides of your torso. That can restrict movement and actually encourage a handsy stroke. Instead, let the arms sit naturally in front of you while maintaining light body connection.
What “connection” should feel like in putting
You are not trying to freeze your body. You are trying to make the putter, arms, and torso work together.
A good feel is:
Stable lower body
Firm core
Arms connected enough to move with the body
Minimal independent hand action
If you tend to jab at putts, this adjustment can be especially helpful.
Step 7: Use the right kind of tension instead of trying to stay “super relaxed”
One common misconception is that the answer to the yips is zero tension. In reality, some tension is necessary for control.
You want stability in the body and enough grip pressure to control the putter.
Think in two areas:
Core tension
Your midsection should feel braced and grounded. The feeling is stable, athletic, and balanced. You should not feel loose or floppy over the ball.
Grip tension
Your hands should hold the putter firmly enough that it does not wobble. A useful guideline is around 5 out of 10 for grip pressure, with some golfers preferring slightly more. The key is avoiding both extremes:
Too soft and the putter feels unstable
Too tight and the stroke becomes rigid
If you have been told to hold the putter as lightly as possible, that advice may not help your yips. A slightly firmer hold can make the putter feel more connected to your body and less likely to twitch.
Step 8: Add a simple rhythm cue to stop the hit impulse
Rhythm is one of the best tools for short putts under pressure. Instead of trying to force a perfect move, you give your stroke a repeatable cadence.
A practical model is a metronome-like beat around 70 to 75 beats per minute. A common feel is:
One for the backswing
Two for impact and finish
The exact beat matters less than the consistency. For many golfers, this kind of count helps prevent the sudden stab or panic hit that often shows up with the yips.
The concept is simple:
The rhythm stays the same
The stroke length changes based on putt distance
So you are not trying to swing harder for a longer putt. You are making a longer motion with the same overall cadence.
A simple drill for rhythm
Use a metronome app set between 70 and 75 BPM.
Make practice strokes to the count of one-two.
Keep the timing constant on short and medium putts.
Only change the size of the stroke.
This can quickly improve tempo and reduce the urge to jab at the ball.
Step 9: Put the full cure for the yips into one repeatable routine
Here is the full sequence you can use on the putting green.
Putting yips routine checklist
Read the putt and decide on line and speed.
Pick a spot 6 to 8 inches in front of the ball on your starting line.
See the ball rolling over that spot and into the intended part of the hole.
Take one calming breath through the nose and out through the mouth.
Walk in positively with a steady pace.
Set the putter face first to your nearby spot.
Connect your arms to your torso with the elbows in front of you.
Engage your core so you feel grounded and stable.
Use firm but not excessive grip pressure.
Stroke the putt to your rhythm cue, such as one-two.
The goal is not to force every putt into the hole. The goal is to produce a solid, committed start line with steady rhythm. That is the foundation of better putting and a practical path toward the cure for the yips.
Step 10: Avoid the mistakes that keep the putting yips alive
Even a good routine can fail if you bring the wrong habits into it. Here are the most common mistakes.
Mistake 1: Focusing on the result instead of the start line
If your only thought is “make this,” pressure usually increases. Focus on rolling the ball over your spot.
Mistake 2: Walking in slowly and fearfully
Hesitation can bleed into the stroke. Keep your motion purposeful.
Mistake 3: Letting the hands take over
If the stroke feels jabby or twitchy, improve connection and let the torso control the motion more.
Mistake 4: Holding the putter too lightly
Too little grip pressure can create instability. You need enough hold to control the club.
Mistake 5: Trying to remove all tension
You want less bad tension, not zero tension. Stability in the core and reasonable pressure in the grip are useful.
Mistake 6: Changing tempo for every putt
Your rhythm should stay consistent. Let stroke length handle distance.
Step 11: Practice the cure for the yips the right way
If you only use this routine on the course, it will feel unfamiliar under pressure. Practice it until it becomes automatic.
Three smart ways to practice
Routine reps: Hit short putts while going through the full sequence every time.
Spot-start drill: Place a tee or identify a mark a few inches in front of the ball and roll putts over it.
Metronome practice: Train your stroke to one consistent beat.
During practice, grade yourself on execution, not only makes. Ask:
Did I choose a precise spot?
Did I walk in with commitment?
Did I feel connected and stable?
Did I keep my rhythm?
That is how you turn a routine into a real on-course tool.
Step 12: Know what success actually looks like
The cure for the yips does not mean you will never miss another short putt. Good strokes can still miss sometimes.
Real progress looks like this:
Less flinching and stabbing
Cleaner contact
More putts starting on line
Better pace control through improved rhythm
Less fear standing over the ball
That is the standard to measure. If you are producing more committed strokes, you are moving in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pre-shot routine really be the cure for the yips?
A good pre-shot routine can help because it gives you a repeatable process, shifts your focus away from fear, and supports a more stable motion. It is especially useful when paired with better body connection, grip control, and rhythm.
Where should I look when I have the putting yips?
After reading the putt, focus on a small spot a few inches in front of the ball on your chosen start line. That nearby target is often easier to commit to than the hole itself.
Should my putting grip be light if I get the yips?
Not necessarily. A grip that is too light can make the putter unstable. A moderate, controlled grip pressure often works better because it improves connection between your hands, the putter, and your body.
What muscles should control the putting stroke?
The stroke should feel connected to your torso and core rather than dominated by your hands. Light arm-to-body connection can help the larger muscles guide the motion more reliably.
What is a good tempo for putting if I struggle with the yips?
A metronome range of about 70 to 75 beats per minute is a useful starting point. The key idea is to keep the rhythm constant and vary the length of the stroke for different distances.
Should I think about making the putt or just starting it on line?
For golfers fighting the yips, it is usually more helpful to think about starting the ball on line over a specific spot. That process-based focus tends to reduce anxiety and improve execution.
Final takeaway
If you want a practical cure for the yips, start by improving your putting routine rather than searching for a miracle fix. Pick a precise spot in front of the ball, breathe, walk in with confidence, connect your arms to your torso, use stable grip pressure, and trust a simple rhythm.
When your routine is clear, your body is connected, and your attention is on execution, the putter has a much better chance to move freely.
The yips thrive on uncertainty. A consistent pre-shot routine gives you something better to rely on.
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