Yips are involuntary wrist spasms that occur most commonly when golfers are trying to putt. Since this is a spasm in the wrist, it can affect people in other ways too. Cricket, darts, baseball, chefs anyone that uses their wrists frequently. It was once considered to be associated with performance anxiety.
It is a neurological dysfunction affecting specific muscles. Some people have found relief from the yips by changing the way they perform the affected task. For example, a right-handed golfer might try putting left-handed. The involuntary movement associated with the yips may:
It may be a type of focal dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions during a specific task. It's most likely related to overuse of a certain set of muscles, similar to writer's cramp. Anxiety worsens the effect.
In a pressure situation, some athletes become so anxious and self-focused. They begin over-thinking to the point of distraction. This can impair their ability to execute a skill, like putting, throwing a dart etc. "Choking" is an extreme form of performance anxiety that may compromise a golfer's game.
For some people who have a mild degree of focal dystonia, stress, anxiety or high-pressure situations can worsen the condition. Neurological yips are associated with:
Psychological YIPS can be a problem at any age and experience level. When you start to have episodes of the YIPS, you lose confidence, worry about recurrence and feel anxious whenever you have to putt. These reactions can perpetuate the cycle. When you are anxious about YIPS, it can make your symptoms worse. Because the YIPS may be related to overuse of specific muscles, a change of technique or equipment may help.
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