Dennis “The Claw” Moore on the YIPS

 

The Yips!

“As a cardholding yippster, I can assure you that my malady was not neurological, muscle twitching, bruises, breaks, rashes, but a rather large lump in my heart that raced to my head as I pulled the putter back away from the  ball.  The forward move or twirl (with a slight  hook or slice) was executed with deft precision and locked concentration on the infinite points that make up a circle.  When the little white ball was struck or tapped with one of these glancing blows, the trajectory of the ball took on the unusual property of varying its speed and direction at any point in its journey towards the cup (assuming the cup was within a 5 ft perimeter).  Because of the great skill, technique, and patience it took to make all this happen, I decided to retire this first class stroke while I was at my peak, and took on the simple but effective  “claw” method.  Although the “claw” allows me to make almost all my short putts and gives me a very good chance on putts of 12′ and in, it has robbed me of the excitement I used to feel on the greens.”