The yips: when ‘choking’ in sport can go next level

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 14, 2026 · 921 words · By Christopher Mesagno

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What to know about Sports Psychology

The article explains the nature of 'the yips,' a movement disorder affecting athletes in precision sports. It distinguishes the yips from 'choking' and discusses potential causes, recovery examples, and treatment options.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 17

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Legendary 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus once stated golf was “90% mental and 10% physical”.

Why it matters

That’s because unlike most other ball sports, a golfer spends most of the time thinking about their game instead of actually playing it: the contact time a player has with the ball is minuscule compared to the time spent planning the next shot, or…

Common ground

This can take a toll on even the best players – who can forget Greg Norman’s 1996 US Masters collapse, considered one of the worst chokes in the history of sport?

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Sports Psychology story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that some studies in golf (the most frequently yips-affected sport) estimate between 17% and even up to 50% of serious golfers have endured this problem?
How does this story connect Sports Psychology with Movement Disorders over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/the-yips-when-choking-in-sport-can-go-next-level-278…

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 7

check_circle Corroborated 5

verified Verified By Reference 2

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “some studies in golf (the most frequently yips-affected sport) estimate between 17% and even up to 50% of serious golfers have endured this problem.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources specifically cite the estimate that between 17% and 50% of serious golfers have experienced the yips.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Urban studies is the transdisciplinary study of urban settlements and urban development—comprising the theory portion of the field of urban planning. Topics range from geography, sociology, anthropolo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_studies

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — General Studies or general education is a multidisciplinary subject offered at different levels of education. Its scope varies by country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Studies

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Study or studies may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “at the 1997 British Open he played so poorly that he withdrew before the second round and retired with immediate effect.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Legendary 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus once stated golf was “90% mental and 10% physical”.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources attribute the quote 'Golf is 90% mental and 10% physical' to Jack Nicklaus, and Wikipedia confirms he won 18 major championships.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Walter Charles Hagen (December 21, 1892 – October 6, 1969) was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of 11 professional majors is …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hagen

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jack William Nicklaus (; born January 21, 1940), nicknamed "the Golden Bear", is an American retired professional golfer and golf course designer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest gol…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Nicklaus

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Jack Nicklaus Museum is a specialized sports museum honoring championship golfer Jack Nicklaus. It is located on the campus of Nicklaus' alma mater, Ohio State University (Ohio State), in his hom…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Nicklaus_Museum

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Ian Baker-Finch, a professional golfer who won the British Open title in 1991, developed the yips”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “Yips always involve involuntary muscle spasms: jerking and “freezing” of body parts crucial to perform a skill.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including the Professional Disc Golf Association and other web results, describe the yips as involving involuntary spasms, jerking, and freezing.

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web search NEUTRAL — Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and psychological issues that impact the muscle memory and decision-making, leaving them unable to perform basic skills.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yips

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web search NEUTRAL — Yips always involve involuntary muscle spasms: jerking and “freezing” of body parts crucial to perform a skill. Athletes may experience these physical ailments with or without being nervous.the yips i…
https://theconversation.com/the-yips-when-choking-in-sport-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — The yips involve the experience of a sudden involuntary spasm or interruption of movement that can involve shaking, jerking, twitching, tightening, or freezing of muscles that can prevent an athlete f…
https://www.pdga.com/news/mental-game-nip-yips

verified

Claim 6: “Greg Norman’s 1996 US Masters collapse, considered one of the worst chokes in the history of sport”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly documents the 1996 Masters Tournament and Greg Norman's runner-up finish, while multiple web sources describe his performance as a 'collapse'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1981 Masters Tournament was the 45th Masters Tournament, held April 9–12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Tom Watson won his second green jacket and fifth major title by two stro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Masters_Tournament

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1996 Masters Tournament was the 60th Masters Tournament, held April 11–14 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Nick Faldo won his third Masters and his sixth and final major title, f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Masters_Tournament

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gregory John Norman (born 10 February 1955) is an Australian retired professional golfer who spent 331 weeks as world number one in the 1980s and 1990s. He won 88 professional tournaments, including 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Norman

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 7: “the yips may occur over a prolonged period (days, weeks, months); choking only occurs during one event or competition”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific distinction that yips last days/weeks/months while choking occurs during one event is found in one specific web source ('The yips: when ‘choking’ in sport can go next level'), but not corroborated by the other provided sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The yips are a psychoneuromuscular impediment, a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes. Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yips

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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 5, 2024 · The yips are involuntary wrist spasms that occur most commonly when golfers are trying to putt. However, the yips also can affect people who play other sports — such as cricket, darts an…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/yips/symptoms…

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web search NEUTRAL — The yips are involuntary wrist spasms experienced most commonly by golfers when trying to putt and chip or when in full swing. Although the origin of the term is unclear, “yips” may have been populari…
https://www.medicinenet.com/why_is_it_called_the_yips/articl…

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Claim 8: “Lester decided to purposely bounce the ball off the ground when throwing to first base instead of throwing it on the full.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 9: “The yips is a movement disorder that involves involuntary muscle spasms that disrupt the normal execution of mostly small muscle movements, such as finger and hand movements.”

CORROBORATED

Wikipedia, Mayo Clinic, and other web sources describe the yips as involuntary muscle spasms affecting fine motor skills, specifically in the wrists and hands.

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Claim 10: “If the issue is more physical, medication is often used to reduce the likelihood of muscle spasms and jerking. Acupuncture can also help.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “the yips occur with or without being nervous... choking only occurs when an athlete is nervous”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found in the search results to support or refute the claim regarding the relationship between nervousness and the yips vs choking.

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Claim 12: “If the athlete is battling the combined version of the yips, then eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (often shortened to EMDR) has been shown to improve symptoms and performance.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 13: “the yips involve involuntary muscle movements; choking does not”

CORROBORATED

Web sources explicitly contrast the yips (involuntary muscle movements) with choking (which does not involve such movements).

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web search NEUTRAL — The yips are different from choking in several ways: the yips involve involuntary muscle movements; choking does not. the yips may occur over a prolonged period (days, weeks, months); choking only occ…
https://theconversation.com/the-yips-when-choking-in-sport-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — Yips often involve involuntary muscle spasms, potentially rooted in neurological issues like focal dystonia, whereas nervousness is primarily a psychological stress response without the same involunta…
https://golferhive.com/what-are-yips-in-golf/

verified

Claim 14: “Jon Lester, a former professional baseball player, developed the yips and could not throw accurately to first base”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms Jon Lester is a former professional baseball pitcher, the provided evidence does not mention him developing the yips or struggling to throw to first base.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lester is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname and given name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Lester (1871–1969) was an American cricketer. John Lester may also refer to: John Lester (footballer) (born 1982), Irish footballer John Lester (showman) (1867–1950), American showman John Angel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lester_(disambiguation)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Wash…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Lester

schedule

Claim 15: “The title of his biography is To Hell And Back”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “the 2026 PGA Championship, starting on Thursday, the best golfers in the world will descend on Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 17: “the yips... can affect athletes in sports such as golf, tennis, archery, baseball, softball and darts.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Multiple web sources confirm the yips affect athletes in golf, tennis, baseball, and darts. Archery is also mentioned in the search results.

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web search NEUTRAL — The yips are a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yips

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web search NEUTRAL — Athletes with the yips can struggle to hit a ball with another object (such as in golf or tennis) or accurately throw a ball or object toward a target (such as darts or baseball).
https://theconversation.com/the-yips-when-choking-in-sport-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — Darts. Archery. Yips can also affects nonathletes person who frequently does.It is commonly seen in golfers. Yips occur when golfers overuse their wrist muscles, causing involuntary spasms. Yips can a…
https://www.icliniq.com/articles/neurological-health/what-is…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.