Daunting, strange, and perplexing, all rolled into one.

This captures the essence of a sports and performance malady commonly called the “yips.” It’s an affliction that has disturbed and destroyed many athletic careers, most notably in golf and baseball, sports that require fine-motor skills that can be easily disrupted. Basketball shooting and football place kicking are two other skill sets also requiring refined coordination and dexterity that can be wrecked by the yips.

Major League baseball players Steve Sax, Rick Ankiel, and Chuck Knoblach are well-known examples. Both Knoblach and Ankiel had to shift positions due to short-range throwing difficulties caused by the yips. Knoblach, a second baseman, and Ankiel, a pitcher, were both forced to shift to the outfield, where yips-related throwing problems disappeared. Sax also had short-range throwing issues.

Renowned golfers Ernie Els, David Duval, Ben Hogan, and Sam Snead were all plagued by the yips. Duval’s career plummeted after winning the prestigious Open Championship (a British event) in 2001, struggling with yip-induced putting issues. Snead experienced similar problems late in his legendary career.

Place kickers Mike Vanderjagt, Brett Maher, and Blair Walsh are professional football examples of the yips. Vanderjagt’s career careened into oblivion after missing a critical field goal attempt, contributing to his Indianapolis Colts losing a 21-18 National Football League playoff game to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005. The yips ensued in the seasons that followed. Maher infamously set an NFL record by yipping and missing four extra-point attempts in a single game for the Dallas Cowboys in a 2023 playoff game.

What’s the answer to solving the yips? Research has failed to........

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