Slide show: Have the yips? Try a new grip

The yips — uncontrollable movements of your hand or wrist — can wreak havoc on your golf game. Some golfers have found relief from the yips by using an alternative grip, which can ease the strain on potentially overused muscles. Some golfers say a longer putter helps, too.

Let's start by reviewing the standard right-handed golf grip. Place your right hand below your left hand, with your thumbs vertically aligned.

Note: The grips in this slide show apply to right-handed golfers. You may need to adjust the grips if you putt left-handed.

As an alternative, place your left hand below your right hand. Keep your thumbs vertically aligned. This is known as a cross-handed grip.

Place your left hand low on the putter shaft. Align the shaft along your left forearm. Use your right hand to grab your left forearm slightly above the wrist. This is known as the Langer grip. It's named after Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who has used the grip to overcome periodic bouts with the yips.

Face the hole with the ball on the right side of your body. Use your left hand to grip the putter near its top. Place your right hand lower down the putter shaft, palm facing the hole. Bend forward, angling the putter to the right, across the front of your body. This is known as a sidesaddle grip.

If changing grips doesn't help, you may want to try a new putter. A longer putter will allow you to putt using more of your arms and shoulders and less of your hands and wrists. And some putters are designed with a special grip to help stabilize the hands and wrists.