[The yips: a movement disorder among golfers]

Abstract

Background: Although the yips occurs commonly in golfers, this neurological movement disorder is a relatively unknown phenomenon among physicians.

Case description: A 47-year-old golf player developed a disturbing, neurological movement disorder that manifested when playing golf: the yips. These jerks occurred when putting, but not during practice rounds. The patient's father suffered from similar yips.

Conclusion: The yips is a task-specific dystonia, which can also manifest in players of other sports. Multiple factors, such as genetic predisposition and anxiety seem to be involved in its pathophysiology. The disorder is relatively common among both professional and amateur golfers. The adverse impact can be big and a cure is yet to be found.