Mental Strategies To Deal With The Yips
Have you ever had the throwing yips and wondered where they came from and how to get rid of them?
Have you ever had the hiccups and wondered where they came from and how to get rid of them?
There are similarities between the hiccups and the yips…
The hiccups are an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm; the yips are also a spasm interfering with a player’s throwing motion…
No one exactly knows the causes of the hiccups or the yips or can sense when they are about to begin…
Many people having the hiccups try some bizarre methods to cure themselves of the symptoms. A lot of baseball players attempt strange methods to cure themselves of the yips extra throwing practice, changing arm angles, experimenting with different grips.
But there is one huge difference between the hiccups and the yips… No one with the hiccups is so embarrassed that they don’t admit they have the hiccups… But baseball players with the yips try to keep the issue under wraps at all costs.
Chase Headley had an error-riddled 2015 season in his first full year as the New York Yankees starting third baseman. Headley often yipped during routine throws to first.
Headley had 23 errors surpassing his previous career high of 13 back in 2010. Twelve of those 23 errors were throwing errors mostly on routine plays.
Headley committed 16 errors during his first 69 games for the Yankees in 2015 as compared to only eight errors total in 127 games last year.
Related Article: How Can You Free Up Your Throw?
If you compared his throwing technique when Headley yips, he is tentative, holds the ball long, double-cluthes, takes several steps between fielding the ball, then sails the ball.
Last year, Headley was more confident in his throwing; he threw the ball decisively and with conviction. When making a bang-bang play, Headley threw the ball in one fluid motion relying on his mere instincts.
Since there was physical explanation as to Headley’s change in approach to fielding, it appears he is dealing with a mental block… the yips.
Though Headley alluded to the mental component of his throwing woes, he still tried to work on the issue with extra fielding practice.
HEADLEY: “I did the extra work, but it wasn’t one thing to look at. More than anything I had gotten to the point a little bit where I was getting caught in between. Hopefully it’s behind me and hopefully it makes me mentally stronger.’’
But the yips are an overthinking problem. Working on technique or mechanics often keeps you stuck in the yips because it forces you to continue thinking about the problem.
In order to overcome the yips, you need to work on mental solutions to return to an instinctual feel for the game.
To overcome the yips, try the mental game strategy:
Instead of thinking about your mechanics or the outcome of your throw, mentally count out the tempo of the throw.
After fielding, count 1-2-3 as you go through the throwing process. This will allow you to throw without over-instructing yourself during the throw.
The key to overcome the yips is to combat the fear and embarrassment that you feel about making a poor throw…
Learn how to develop a strong mental game and you will see positive results in your physical game.
Related Baseball Articles:
- One Mental Key to Beat The Throwing Yips
- 2 Effective Strategies to Conquer The Throwing Yips
- Two Strategies to Beat The Pitching Yips
Breaking The Yips Cycle Audio
Breaking The Yips Cycle AudioIf you can throw well when alone, but can’t take it to games, this is a mental game issue and not a physical challenge!
The Yips Cycle is a vicious cycle that causes ball players to stay trapped in overthinking and over control…
Learn to throw or pitch freely again with my proven audio and workbook program!