Golf Glossary
Yips
In short
The yips are involuntary twitches, cramps or blockages during a golf stroke, most often when putting and on short chips. The player cannot carry out the movement smoothly despite good technique. Nervousness and pressure are seen as causes, and in some of those affected also a neurological disorder that appears only in this one movement.
Yips in golf: what are they?
Golfers use the term yips for a problem where the stroke no longer works even though the technique is actually fine. The hands twitch in the backswing, the club jerks, the putter stops just short of the ball, or the stroke suddenly becomes far too hard or too soft. It feels as if hands and forearms no longer obey commands.
The yips most often appear when putting, especially on short putts of one to two metres. But the problem can also occur when chipping, pitching or driving. Those affected talk of “twitching”, “blocking” or “blackouts”.
The yips are not a weakness of character. They are among the best-known problems in golf and affect beginners and professionals alike. Even tour professionals have spoken about them in public. Knowing the background makes it easier to judge which routes make sense for you.
Where does the term yips come from?
The Scottish-American golfer and later teacher Tommy Armour is regarded as the person who popularised the word “yips”. He is said to have used it for the difficulties that finally led him to give up tournament golf. Where the word itself comes from is not clearly established.
Golfers have also used other names for the problem, such as “twitches”, “jitters” or “nerves”. In the literature the phenomenon is still listed as “the yips”.
In English-language medicine the subject also appears under the term “golfer’s cramp”. It describes the part of the yips in which a neurological cause is suspected.
Causes: between nerves and dystonia
According to current research the yips are not a single problem. Researchers describe them as a spectrum. At one end is “choking”: the player tenses up under pressure. At the other end is focal dystonia, a neurological disorder in which muscles contract uncontrollably during a particular, often long-practised movement. Musicians know something similar.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the USA have studied golfers with and without the yips. In some of those affected they measured increased muscle activity in the forearm when putting that did not appear in the same way in unaffected players. This suggests that not all yips are purely psychological. In others, stress played the main role.
There are different figures for how common they are. Depending on the study, roughly a third to just under a half of serious golfers have experienced the yips. Long-time players seem to be affected particularly often. The numbers depend heavily on how exactly the yips are defined.
Practical example: the short putt
A player stands over a putt of 1.2 metres. He has holed putts of this length many times. At address he holds the putter still, but in the backswing the right hand twitches. He pauses briefly, then hits too hard and the ball runs a metre past the hole.
The next time he tries to control the movement and stops the putter at impact. The ball stops after 30 centimetres. Over time he begins to fear short putts. He thinks of the mistake as he walks to the ball and the tension rises.
It is typical that those affected still putt well on the practice green but no longer on the course, where the pressure is higher. That points to the psychological component. In such a case it can help to change the routine and shift the focus, for example from the movement to the target.
What can help with the yips?
There is no remedy that works for everyone. Many people try several approaches in turn. Often mentioned are:
- Change the grip: for example the claw grip, a cross-handed putting grip with the left hand low, or a different hand pressure.
- Change the putter: a different weight, length or grip changes the feel for the movement.
- Change the routine: shorter sequences, fewer thoughts about technique and a fixed look at the hole.
- Shift the focus: to tempo, to the line or to the spot where the ball should start.
- Reduce pressure: practise with games and targets where nothing is at stake.
- Get help: a coach or a sports psychologist can look at the movement and the thoughts before it together.
If cramps persist and also occur in other activities such as writing, seek medical advice. Only a doctor can determine whether there is a neurological cause. Golf coaching does not replace medical treatment.
Yips and the rules: the anchoring ban and equipment
Some players tried to avoid the yips with a longer putter that they braced against chest, belly or chin. Since 1 January 2016 anchoring has been prohibited; today this is covered by Rule 10.1b. It forbids holding the club or a gripping hand directly against the body, or bracing a forearm against the body, to form an anchor point. A breach costs two penalty strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.
Long putters and belly putters themselves are still allowed. Only anchoring is prohibited. Anyone using a belly putter has to swing it freely.
All other remedies for the yips that do not contradict the rule remain allowed: a different grip, the claw grip or a different hand position, as long as no anchor point results. That also applies to switching to another putter.
Differences: yips, nervousness and swing hesitation
Not every uncertainty when putting is the yips. The following terms lie close together:
- Nervousness: tension before an important shot. It usually fades after a few strokes.
- Choking: tensing up under pressure. It mainly occurs in competitive situations.
- Yips: recurring twitches or blockages in a particular movement, often over months.
- Golfer’s cramp (dystonia): the neurological form in which muscles contract uncontrollably.
- Flinch: a flinching movement just before impact, for example out of fear of a bad shot.
A player who tenses easily under pressure does not automatically have the yips. But anyone who twitches, blocks or freezes on short strokes for weeks probably knows the phenomenon. Many coaches advise tackling the problem early and working specifically on routine and focus before the pattern sets in. There is no guarantee of improvement.
Try it at Golf Lounge
A view from outside helps with putting and the short game. At Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg you can book a 60-minute one-to-one lesson with a PGA Pro online, every day by appointment. Short focus sessions are also possible, for example on putting or the short game. After an appointment you can add the PuttView green. The augmented-reality system projects putting line, pace and contours onto the green. This lets you practise your routine with clear feedback.
Frequently asked questions
What are the yips in golf?
The yips are involuntary twitches, cramps or blockages during a golf stroke, above all when putting and on short chips. Those affected no longer control the movement despite good technique. The causes range from pressure and nervousness to a neurological disorder that appears only in this one movement.
Where do the yips come from?
Researchers describe a spectrum between choking, tensing up under pressure, and a focal dystonia, a neurological disorder. Studies at the Mayo Clinic found increased forearm muscle activity when putting in some of those affected. In others stress plays the main role. Usually several factors work together.
How common are the yips?
Depending on the study, roughly a third to just under a half of serious golfers have experienced the yips. Long-time players seem to be affected particularly often. The figures vary because the definition of the yips is drawn more or less widely. They count among the most common problems in golf.
How do I get rid of the yips?
There is no sure remedy. A different grip such as claw or cross-handed, a different putter, a shorter routine, a focus on tempo and target and less pressure in practice can help. A coach or a sports psychologist can support you. If cramps persist, medical advice makes sense.
Is a belly putter allowed against the yips?
Belly and long putters are allowed, but only when swung freely. Since 2016 Rule 10.1b prohibits anchoring the club or forearm against the body. A breach costs two penalty strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. If you swing the putter freely, you may still use a long or a belly putter.
As of: October 2026