Range Yips

A number of people have entered threads here referring to bad experiences on the Driving range. Specifically where they start off OK then gradually things start to deteriorate to a point where you cannot hit a thing (Range Yips).

I have experienced this many times over the years and have tried to give advice to members who had the same. I was at the range last night and it suddenly happened to me, every shot with every iron (except chipping) veered violently to the right. I have had this before but it does not happen when on the course.

I decided to stick with it until I had worked it out this time (normally at this point I would go home in disgust). Another 50 balls and an hour later I found the problem. I had started to release my wrist hinge much too late, at impact my wrists still held a good degree of hinge that kept the face wide open, this caused blocking thus the ball was slicing right. Once I started to release earlier and keep the but end pointing at my centre through impact I was picking up crisp hits that sailed straight down the middle.

I thought I would share this, not to ask for help but hopefully it may be something for others to look out for if they get the same problem arise.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

Of course, there is one fool-proof way to avoid all this agony and pain with range practice: don't go there at all!

Putt, chip, pitch and hit bunker shots all you want and - above all - get on the course to play. I guarantee you, not only will you feel better, you will play better and enjoy the game more.

--
Regards, Peter

Hi Peter,

Do you do all this practice in the dark in Sweden this time of year?

I disagree with you! My post was not debating the merits of range practice, although now you mention it the range is a place to practice especially this time of year in the northern hemisphere. I have probably played the course more than most in my 58 years and yes I feel good for it.

As I said I was not looking for help, I sorted it on my own. Just offering to help others if they had a similar problem

Brian, my reply was a bit tounge-in-cheek but with a little truth as well: I have spent less time on the range this year than ever before and I have in many ways played better (although my scores haven't been significantly lower).

I have concentrated on short game and putting this season and for some reason my long game has improved as well

Anyway, the cold is coming but where I live (south) we can play all winter as long as there is no snow, so I'm looking forward to that.

Hi guys,

Too much range practice is bad for all golfers of all h/caps. Fatigue and repetition only messes the head up

Robert,

No one was suggesting that people do too much range practice, that was not my point!

If I wanted to mess my head up I would just watch the evening news each night.

Brian,
Please excuse my comments. Should have read the thread closer and did not mean to offend.

Regards,
Robert

Robert,

Thats Ok! I was not offended. Just wanted to clarify my original point.

Thanks.

hi brian
thanks for the timely advice!
it happened to me 2 nights ago and i was so frustrated i donated my last 2 dozen balls or so to the guy in the next bay.
now i know what to look out for when it happens again

On the rare occasions that I have the common sense to follow my own advice I find it helps to take a time out.

Depending on the facilities at the range do some putting, head to the practice bunker, have a cup of coffee, have a smoke - this one of the few times I regret giving up - or just read the paper. Anything but keep hitting the same bad shots.

Most times when you go back the problem has solved itself.

BDBL:

If you feel the need to take a break on occasion at the range (which everyone should do during a practice session), try to locate a player who is really striping it and watch casually. Pay attention to their tempo and how they start their downswings. See if you can notice the legs and hips starting to move toward the target as they reach the top of the backswing. When I attend pro golf events, I spend a majority of time at the range to witness the myriad of swing types that work at the highest level. I also do not hesitate to nicely ask good players at the range, for their thoughts on the swing and what things they are working on.

hi
i find if things start to get bad due- to hitting to many ball's one after another or i just lose my timing, i stop hitting full shots and i start to hit little pitch and chip shots, using a little shoulder turn and try and get the feel back in my hands and the timing in me head again, sometimes hit 20/30 balls no more that 50 feet and then work up to my 7 o-clock swing and them my 9 o-clock swing and them my 11 o-clock swing, sometime only hitting 5/10 balls with each , i keep it nice and relaxed and then i start with a full swing at say 70/80% and them work up to about 90%. i make a effort to try and keep as realxed as i can as i know i get the yips if i get worked up at a bad shot or i cant get the ball to shape like i want, keeping relaxed is the key with me and now i know that its a lot easer to do. it was something i never use to do on the couse is walk away and take a few deep breaths and gather yourself and then go back and do your setup again, i do this on the range now ever 10 balls or so, i walk to he back of the mat and take a few minuets and calm down and relax and i now feel by doing that so often at the range i can calm myself down on the course and also stop hitting that really day shot that only happened because i was so tense and built up before i hit it.
we all have dont it, hit a bad ball that we know we should of walked away and took a few deep breaths and went bacl to it.
bill