yips
Athlete's motor betrayal
The yips are involuntary muscle spasms or tremors that disrupt fine motor skills, especially in golf putting or baseball throwing.
The term captures a specific athletic affliction: a player who once performed smoothly suddenly can't execute basic movements: He had the yips so bad he couldn't sink a three-foot putt.
The condition is partly psychological—anxiety about missing feeds the problem.
Beyond sports, yips describes any nervous inability to perform a once-automatic task.
Golf's finishing strokes
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- greenColor of vegetation
- strokeSudden brain blood blockage
- short gameClose-range golf strokes
putter · backswing · follow-through · tournament · grip · stance · routine · mental block
Masked diamond position
- pitcherPouring vessel or hurler
- free throwUncontested penalty basket attempt
- dart throwLaunching a small missile
- servingMeasured food portion
bowling · snooker · cricket · slump · fielding · release point · throwing error · unforced error
putting
Golf's finishing strokes
short game · putter · backswing · follow-through · tournament · grip · stance · routine · mental block · driving
catcher
Masked diamond position
- pitcherPouring vessel or hurler
- free throwUncontested penalty basket attempt
- dart throwLaunching a small missile
serving · bowling · snooker · cricket · slump · fielding · release point · throwing error · unforced error · inning
yipsclutch
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
grace under pressure · nerves of steel · composure · poise · sangfroid
yipsflow state
Optimal engagement condition
fluid motion · muscle memory · automaticity · precision · deftness
yipsconfidence
Self-assurance or trust
self-assurance · trust · flow state · swagger · mojo
- yippee ki yayExuberant Western exclamation
- yippee ki-yayExuberant cowboy exclamation