August 2011www.insidegolf.com.au 57.......................................................................................................................................................................................................instruction

BrentGermanBernard Langer is the most notable golfer to have recovered from the dreaded ‘putting yips’.

Mayo Clinic researcher and Arizona State Professor Dr Debbie Crews labelled the yips ‘focal dystonia’. When this happens, the brain tends to ‘go off ’ like a lightning bolt when close to approaching impact with the ball.

This is the effect, not the cause. A reason for this appears to be that the neurological wiring is frayed in the player’s dominant back arm and hand. Constant repetition, combined with poor results and an ongoing mental replay of negative results in your brain, are huge contributing factors.

Langer toyed around with different ways to hold the putter and also different putter types and now has a grip named after him (as pictured). To

form the Langer grip, place your left hand at the lowest point on the putter grip and point your index finger down the shaft. Now add your right hand at the top of the grip so that the fingers touch the back of your left arm and your thumb rests just above the wrist joint of the left arm.

I believe if you experiment with various lengths of putters, head types and grip formations these may help you to free yourself from the dreaded yips.

LeeHarringtonWe all know that the short game is the crucial area that we can improve to knock shots of your score. Being armed with a variety of different technique options in your chipping game will give you more success and better results.

Have you ever played a course where the blades of grass lie at different angles around the green? This is the Grain of the grass, and chipping into the grain of the grass is one of the toughest chip shots to get consistently good contact and results. When you are chipping against the grain, it is important to make good consistent contact with the ball first.

Here is a little technique change to combat this:• Place the ball a little further back

in your stance and keep the face of the club a little more open

• Raise your hands higher with the club like a putter set up. This will place the heel of the club off the ground at address

• Weaken your left hand grip to see fewer knuckles

• Place your weight on the left (or forward) foot during set up and during the shot

• During the shot, turn through with your chest and hip

Yips – Please leave me alone

The Langer grip may help you avoid the Yips

Brent German is an AAA Accredited PGA Golf Teaching Professional based at Albert Park Driving Range in Melbourne. Check out more tips at www.BrentGermanGolf.com or contact him via email at bgerman@pgamember.org.au or call direct on 0412 533 555 for any queries.

Chipping into the grain of the grass

Weight forward, with the club’s heel slightly raised

Lee Harrington is a PGA Member and is also the Development Officer at Golf Queensland. Her passion for teaching and an eye for detail is recognised in her reputation as a leading female teacher in Australia. Lee’s experience in teaching provide a basis for programs delivered The Golf School, a Queensland-based teaching facility. Lee teaches at the Gold Coast Carrara weekly. www.thegolfschool.com.au. email: admin@thegolfschool.com.au, or phone (07) 5596 3373.

Club upright like a putter

Addressing the ball like a putter with the heel off the ground will create less drag into the grain because less bottom edge will contact the grass. Weakening the left hand will keep the clubface open therefore allowing the club to slide and not dig into the grain of the grass. Turning your chest and hip through to face the target

line will keep the club head trailing the shaft.

Try these changes when next facing a chip shop into the grain.

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