The most common symptom associated with the yips is an involuntary muscle jerk, although some people experience tremors, twitches, spasms or freezing. Causes In some people, the yips are 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. Some athletes become so anxious and self-focused — overthinking to the point of distraction — that their ability to execute a skill, such as putting, is impaired. "Choking" is an extreme form of performance anxiety that may compromise a golfer's or any athlete's game. Risk factors The yips tend to be associated with: 
Older age
More experience playing golf
Tournament play
  

  




 


 
 By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Request an appointment   Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment Diagnosis & treatment 
    March 23, 2022
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Conidi F. Some unusual sports-related neurologic conditions. Continuum. 2014;20:1645.
Dhungana S, et al. Yips and other movement disorders in golfers. Movement Disorders. 2013;28:576.
Berstein CJ, et al. Behavioural interventions for people living with adult-onset primary dystonia: A systematic review. BMC Neurology. 2016;16:1. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-016-0562-y. Accessed Feb. 2, 2018.
 Show references 
Conidi F. Some unusual sports-related neurologic conditions. Continuum. 2014;20:1645.
Dhungana S, et al. Yips and other movement disorders in golfers. Movement Disorders. 2013;28:576.
Berstein CJ, et al. Behavioural interventions for people living with adult-onset primary dystonia: A systematic review. BMC Neurology. 2016;16:1. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-016-0562-y. Accessed Feb. 2, 2018.
 
Conidi F. Some unusual sports-related neurologic conditions. Continuum. 2014;20:1645.
Dhungana S, et al. Yips and other movement disorders in golfers. Movement Disorders. 2013;28:576.
Berstein CJ, et al. Behavioural interventions for people living with adult-onset primary dystonia: A systematic review. BMC Neurology. 2016;16:1. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-016-0562-y. Accessed Feb. 2, 2018.
 Conidi F. Some unusual sports-related neurologic conditions. Continuum. 2014;20:1645. Dhungana S, et al. Yips and other movement disorders in golfers. Movement Disorders. 2013;28:576. Berstein CJ, et al. Behavioural interventions for people living with adult-onset primary dystonia: A systematic review. BMC Neurology. 2016;16:1. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-016-0562-y. Accessed Feb. 2, 2018. 
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YipsSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatment
 Yips Symptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatment