A Multidisciplinary Study of the ???Yips??? Phenomenon in Golf

Smith, Aynsley M.; Malo, Susan A.; Laskowski, Edward R.; Sabick, Michelle B.; Cooney, William P.; Finnie, Steven B.; Crews, Debra J.; Eischen, Joseph J.; Hay, Ian D.; Detling, Nicole; Kaufman, Kenton R.

doi:10.2165/00007256-200030060-00004

Cited by 84 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In comparison, yips prevalence rates, at 25-48% (McDaniel et al, 1989;Smith et al, 2000), seem to be 25-4,800 times higher. This large discrepancy might be a consequence of the aforementioned multiple aetiologies and the limitations of previous yips prevalence studies, which focussed exclusively on professional or highly competitive golfers and neglected the majority of golfers playing at lower skill levels (McDaniel et al, 1989;Smith et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…The primary focus of previous research was on the yips in golf (e.g. Philippen & Lobinger, 2012;Smith et al, 2000;Stinear et al, 2006). There, the yips was characterised as an involuntary jerking and twisting of the forearm, usually while putting (Adler et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Psychological reasons have been suggested based on the symptoms worsening under stress (Masters & Maxwell, 2008), and the yips has been discussed as a chronic and severe form of choking under pressure (Bawden & Maynard, 2001;Klämpfl, Lobinger, & Raab, 2013a, 2013b) -a drop in performance caused by a perceived mismatch of situational demands and the athlete's own resources to master the situation (Hill, Hanton, Matthews, & Fleming, 2010). A neurophysiological-psychological interaction has also received support (Adler et al, 2005;Smith et al, 2000;Stinear et al, 2006) and is described in the continuum model of Smith et al (2003), placing the origin of the yips between purely neurological and purely psychological. Different underlying mechanisms might manifest in the same physical symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Self-report vs. kinematic screening test: prevalence, demographics, and sports biography of yips-affected golfers

Klämpfl

Philippen

Lobinger

2014

Journal of Sports Sciences

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The yips is considered a task-specific movement disorder. Its estimated prevalence, however, is high compared to similar neurological movement disorders, possibly resulting from previous studies' restriction of samples based on skill level, and self-report bias. Alternatively, this high prevalence might be an indication of additional aetiologies, for example the influence of previously played racket sports. We estimated the prevalence of the putting yips across the skill range, using self-reports in one study and a screening test in a second study. We explored if previously played sports matter for the development of the yips. In study 1, yips prevalence (N = 1,306) and golfers' sports biographies (n = 264) were examined via two online surveys, in which golfers indicated if they were yips-affected. In study 2, golfers (N = 186) putted in a standardised putting test while kinematic and performance measures were recorded. Prevalence was estimated via a kinematic threshold. Sports biographies (n = 119) were obtained via an online survey. Prevalence of currently yips-affected golfers was 22.4% in study 1 and 16.7% in study 2. In both studies, more yips-affected than unaffected golfers had experience in playing racket sports. Yips prevalence remained higher than previously estimated prevalence of other movement disorders but decreased when the whole skill range including professionals and novices was considered. Future studies should use the kinematic screening test instead of self-reports to detect the yips and further investigate the influence of previously played racket sports.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self-report vs. kinematic screening test: prevalence, demographics, and sports biography of yips-affected golfers

Klämpfl

Philippen

Lobinger

2014

Journal of Sports Sciences

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“…Kinetic variables of forearm muscles were measured to evaluate the golf-putting task with a pressure condition and with yips' participants (Smith et al, 2000). The data for EMG activities were smoothed for every three points after time-domain waveforms were rectiˆed.…”

Section: Dependent Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationships between Psychological/Physiological Changes and Behavioral/Performance Changes of a Golf Putting Task under Pressure

Tanaka

Sekiya

2010

Int. J. Sport Health Sci.

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Theˆrst purpose of this study was to examine relationships between psychological/physiological and behavioral variables when participants are placed under pressure in a golf-putting task. The second purpose was to examine the relationships between psychological/physiological variables and performance. Sixteen male novices performed 150 acquisition trials, followed by 10 test trials under pressure induced by performance-contingent distractors: a cash reward or a punishment. Following test trials, each participant answered a questionnaire concerning attentional focus, including self-reports of conscious movement control and eŠects of the distractors. Results indicated successful stress induction indexed by signiˆcant increases in state anxiety, negative emotions, and heart rate under pressure. The step-wise multiple regression analyses showed that attention to distractors decreased movement displacements of both the golf club and the participant's right elbow in the follow-through phase. Also during a backswing, the movement speed of both the club and of a participant's elbow were more likely to increase with those participants whose heart rate increased under pressure. The other multipleregression analysis showed that the participants who reported increased conscious control of movements under pressure exhibited a greater variability in the terminal locations of their putted balls. Previous studies concerning the conscious processing hypothesis and the distraction hypothesis have suggested that two types of changes in attention cause poor performance under pressure. Theˆndings of this study indicate that under pressure both types of attention shifts were shown to be associated with poor performance or with kinematic changes during golfputting. In addition, it can be assumed that physiological emotional responses are also associated with kinematic changes under pressure.

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“…For example, an increase in the heart rate was found in golfers affected by the yips compared to those not affected, supporting the anxiety hypothesis. 2 Many attempts have been made in the past to control the problem, such as changing the grip, using a long putter, and treatment with tranquillisers or beta blockers, depending on whether it is the dystonia or the anxiety that is considered to be the dominant component in the patient's symptoms. However, none of the suggested treatments appears to be effective in all patients and all new treatment approaches must be considered a bonus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture for Treatment of the Yips? - a Case Report

Rosted

2005

Acupunct Med

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Case history A65 year old man who has played golf for more than 30 years presented for treatment of the 'yips'. The yips or golfer's cramp is a motor phenomenon of involuntary movements affecting golfers, making certain strokes, especially putting, all but impossible. 1In more general terms, the yips are described as involuntary jerks, tremors, freezing of the hands, muscle contractions and spasms. They frequently cause twisting or repetitive movements or abnormal posture, and predominantly affect the distal part of the upper extremity.In the patient's case, the symptoms were most frequent during putting. They started two years previously, for no apparent reason. In particular the patient was in balance emotionally and could not recall having exhausted the muscles in his forearms before developing the condition. He is an accountant and does not undertake any heavy manual work. He has no history of mental illness, or neck, shoulder or elbow problems. During the attacks, he feels that his upper extremities are frozen when he is making a short putt. Initially, he tried to solve the problem by changing to the left hand (he is right handed), without success. He has never tried relaxing medication or had any form of psychotherapy, and was not taking medication at the time of the consultation. On average he was playing golf three times a week and had a handicap of 14.On examination, the patient was calm without signs indicating nervousness. No abnormality was found in the neck, shoulder or elbow. On palpation of the wrist area, moderate tension was found in the region of TE5, but no other abnormality. Movements of neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist were normal, and no neurological abnormality was found.Despite the fact that the patient did not show any obvious signs of nervousness, it was decided to approach both the psychological and the muscular component of the yips. Acupuncture treatment was given to GV20, EX-HN-1 ( Si Shen Cong: four points 1 cun away from GV20) and TE5. After insertion, the needles were rotated clockwise and anti-clockwise for three to five seconds and left in situ for five minutes without any further stimulation. On the following visit a week later, the patient claimed that his symptoms had disappeared. He had been on the golf course three times, and had not experienced any sign of the yips.The patient received a similar acupuncture treatment on his second visit, and on his third appointment he claimed to be still without symptoms. As it was suspected that the patient might have a component of anxiety, despite his claim to be calm and relaxed, it was decided to continue the treatment for a few weeks on a fortnightly basis to a total of five treatments. The same treatment was given on each occasion. Afollow up by phone call six, twelve and 24 months after termination of the acupuncture Case reports Acupuncture for treatment of the yips? -a case reportPalle Rosted Abstract A65 year old golfer with the yips was treated with acupuncture at GV20, EX-HN-1 ( Si Shen Cong) and TE5. The symptoms disappeared...

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A Multidisciplinary Study of the ???Yips??? Phenomenon in Golf

Cited by 84 publications

References 17 publications

Self-report vs. kinematic screening test: prevalence, demographics, and sports biography of yips-affected golfers

Self-report vs. kinematic screening test: prevalence, demographics, and sports biography of yips-affected golfers

The Relationships between Psychological/Physiological Changes and Behavioral/Performance Changes of a Golf Putting Task under Pressure

Acupuncture for Treatment of the Yips? - a Case Report

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