[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Overcoming the 'Shaky Hands' in Short Putting"

The yips in golf are a psychological hypersensitivity and anxiety phenomenon.

Golf and baseball are representative mental sports that are influenced by psychological factors. Both sports have a condition called the ‘yips.’ It is characterized by extreme pressure caused by physical and mental anxiety symptoms, resulting in the hands, arms, and shoulders stiffening and causing repeated inexplicable mistakes.

In golf, it is a nervous tension that causes a golfer to frequently miss short putts. The more failures occur, the more fear and negative factors accumulate, leading to faster breathing. It is a psychological hypersensitivity and anxiety phenomenon, often referred to as ‘short putt tremors.’

The term yips originated from Tommy Armour, who was active around the 1930s. Armour ultimately could not overcome the yips and left the field. Many world stars, including Ben Hogan, Harry Vardon, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Bernhard Langer, and Sam Snead, suffered from this condition.

Nelson once had a putt roll 12 meters from a distance of 1.2 meters. Vardon, after failing four times, excused himself by saying, "A nervous spasm from childhood tuberculosis has recurred," but later it was understood to be the yips. Recently, the ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods also struggled with yips controversies.

The etymology comes from the ‘yip’ sound a puppy makes when whining. Golfers’ restless behavior resembles this, hence the name yips. Other terms include ‘twitches,’ ‘staggers,’ ‘jitters,’ and ‘jerks.’

A research institute at a hospital in Minnesota, USA, announced that "33-48% of golfers have experienced the yips." It is interesting that it occurs in players and experienced golfers who have played for over 25 years. It is analyzed to be the result of a series of biochemical changes in the brain that occur with aging. Overworking muscles or excessive stress accumulation are also causes.

Treatment ultimately involves strengthening mental resilience. One must discard negative factors and cultivate positive confidence by saying, "I can do it." Exercises or yoga to relax tension before a round are also helpful. Consistent practice is the only way to escape the yips. Some players try to overcome the yips by changing their putting style, such as altering their grip and hand position (To avoid the yips they changed his style of putting).

A: How’s your golf game these days?

B: Not so good. I’m unable to control my compulsive shakes when putting.

A: That’s too bad. You have what are called yips or twitches.

B: What are the yips?

A: It is a brain spasm that impairs the short game.

B: How can I get over the yips?

A: All I can suggest is that you try not to get too nervous when you’re putting.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.