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   Print Print  Share on: FacebookTwitter Facebook Twitter 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.  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.  Related  Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition   Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition   Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic   Related  Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition   Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition   Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic  Products & Services   Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition   Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition   Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic  YipsSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatment  Yips Symptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatment
common symptom associated yips involuntary muscle jerk  people experience tremors  twitches  spasms freezing  causes people  yips type focal dystonia  condition causes involuntary muscle contractions specific task  it's likely overuse set muscles  similar writer's cramp  anxiety worsens effect  athletes anxious self-focused — overthinking point distraction — ability execute skill  putting  impaired  "choking" extreme form performance anxiety may compromise golfer's athlete's game  risk factors yips tend associated with:  older age experience playing golf tournament play                   mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff request appointment request appointment   diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment diagnosis & treatment       march 23  2022   print print  share on: facebooktwitter facebook twitter show references conidi f  unusual sports-related neurologic conditions  continuum  2014;20:1645  dhungana s  al  yips movement disorders golfers  movement disorders  2013;28:576  berstein cj  al  behavioural interventions people living adult-onset primary dystonia: 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  unusual sports-related neurologic conditions  continuum  2014;20:1645  dhungana s  al  yips movement disorders golfers  movement disorders  2013;28:576  berstein cj  al  behavioural interventions people living adult-onset primary dystonia: systematic review  bmc neurology  2016;16:1  https://bmcneurol biomedcentral com/articles/10 1186/s12883-016-0562-y  accessed feb  2  2018    conidi f  unusual sports-related neurologic conditions  continuum  2014;20:1645  dhungana s  al  yips movement disorders golfers  movement disorders  2013;28:576  berstein cj  al  behavioural interventions people living adult-onset primary dystonia: systematic review  bmc neurology  2016;16:1  https://bmcneurol biomedcentral com/articles/10 1186/s12883-016-0562-y  accessed feb  2  2018   conidi f  unusual sports-related neurologic conditions  continuum  2014;20:1645  dhungana s  al  yips movement disorders golfers  movement disorders  2013;28:576  berstein cj  al  behavioural interventions people living adult-onset primary dystonia: systematic review  bmc neurology  2016;16:1  https://bmcneurol biomedcentral com/articles/10 1186/s12883-016-0562-y  accessed feb  2  2018    products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic    products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic  products & services   book: mayo clinic family health book  5th edition   newsletter: mayo clinic health letter — digital edition   show products services mayo clinic  yipssymptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatment  yips symptoms & causesdiagnosis & treatment
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