I Ask People Visiting "YipsGeGone"  to Tell Me Why it's Important They Get Over the Yips

Many Players are Relieved to Hear They're Not Alone...

 ... Here Are Just Some of the Responses (I've removed any identifying info, but otherwise they are un-edited).

I am 15 yrs old and have been a catcher all my life. About a year ago I developed a problem throwing the ball back to the pitcher. It's all I can think about. I have a chance to play varsity this year as a freshman but the problem is destroying my enjoyment of the game.

I have a scrimage game on saturday (I live in Florida) and am already worrying about it. I can't seem to focus on anything but the throw back to the pitcher.

My arm gets tight and I don't know when to let go. I love baseball and just want more than anything to get back to where I was before this problem began. It's destroying the thing I love to do most.

Because i want to get back to the player that i use to be. I use to be so confident in my throwing but now i cant seem to throw to save myself! I want to get back to the days when i use to not think about my throwing and i knew i was going to make the play everytime.

I am only 19 and a national player and i want to get this right now so i can go back to enjoying the game i love.

I am a hardcore golfer - been so for many years.

I am a physician (cardiology) - and golf is a key element in my stress relief in time off. This year, I really grinded on my game and got my handicap from 10 down to 5 - mostly with long game improvements with some steady short game work. Finally, in a tournament at my club I was in first place after day 1 of a tournament - best competitive round i ever had - and on day 2 arrived at the club with yips...missed 12 inch tap ins all day - hit fairways and greens all day long - and shot a 90. It's a horrible proposition - but i don't feel like playing anymore. if i can't putt -it's not enjoyable, it's embarrassing, and not fulfilling the purpose golf should have in my life...

PLEASE - help me.

THANKS.

Here is a short thing about my problem.

about a year ago 07 summer, I had a few incidents where the pitcher had struck out the batter and I would have to throw the ball down to first,

first time I just messed up but after that I would start thinking about throwing it down there when the chance happened again and

I would throw the ball away in some form or another. In the 08 season I was worried about throwing to first on dropped 3rd strikes but never had to do it much

I tried to make it so I wouldn't have to. latter in the same season around July I started lobbing the baseball back to the pitcher,

I just couldn't throw it back. it got to the point where it was a huge arc back to the pitcher and no matter how hard

I tried I couldn't throw the ball back to the pitcher. I lived with the situation for the rest of the season hoping that some how it would leave

after the season had ended and I was away from baseball for a few weeks. Well now I am at Sonoma state university and its still there. Last Friday

I may have had one of the worst bullpens of my life I was trying to overcome it and not focus on it but it still was there affecting my throws,

I had 3 go over the fence I hit a player sitting on the bench and spiked the ball probably a dozen times. this all happening while

2 coaches where there a dozen sum pitchers and like 4 catchers.

 My confidence throwing now is all over the place, if I have to throw the ball to the pitcher I have absolutely no confidence now that I can do it.

I am a college baseball coach, as well as a competitive player in summer leagues. I have had to endure the "throwing" yips for over 25 years. They came upon me literally in one day at a baseball practice. I am a catcher, primarily, and need to throw quality BP.

Prior to the onset of the yips, I threw hard consistent throws back to the pitcher and threw BP for the whole team because I was accurate and put some pace on the ball. Although I have had some success battling it over the past 10 years or so with the use of a well-known anti-depressant that also has OCD repressive properties, that success has been intermittent and I simply do not want to take the drugs anymore.

You ask above what one would give to be rid of this problem. I am not sure I could put a price on what being free of this problem would mean to me. I have so many days where I am involved in baseball as a coach and a player and not to have to deal with the anticipatory anxiety, let alone the suffering while it's happening, would be priceless to me. I hope that I can be involved in your program.

Your message or question:: The first time my throwing problems occurred were at the beginning of my Sophomore year in highschool during tryouts. We were warming up just playing catch from about 20 feet away and just could not throw it to my partner or find my release point.

I remember all the coaches looking at me like they were thinking, "Is this kid serious?" Throwing the ball felt unnatural, like i forgot how to throw, and it was incredibly embarrassing and still is.

I am now a senior and I continue to have throwing problems where the ball either goes straight into the ground or way in the air. I've tried so many things to correct it but nothing has worked. College scouts are looking at me because they have seen my ability to hit, and I feel like I will lose their interest unless I correct my throwing. I was also wondering how much the phone sessions would cost

I need to get back on track, if I have a chance of playing again or getting a job peirod in baseball. I have been having trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher for years. This is the only thing stopping me from getting a job. I need help please.

It''s important that I get rid of the yips because I love the game of baseball. I am a college player and it is ruining the potential that I have to be great. I stayed in the lineup because I was a hitter, but I used to be a premier fielder, too. I was considered a great fielder not a liability. Now I can''t even throw the ball to first? I need help, I want to get back where I was.

It is important to me to lose my yips because when i was younger i could throw no sweat i was the best player in my age group where i live. Im not sure exactly when it happened but when i got to be a freshman in highschool i began to not be able to make the short throws anymore.

exactly as you said my palms get sweaty i get anxious and nervous before every throw. We begin winter workouts in our basketball gym and i cannot for the life of me throw to some one standing there without just simply lobbing the ball.

it is so embarrassing my coaches just tell me that im thinking too much. If it was that easy i would be able to fix it. I used to be good at catching but i cannot throw back to the pitcher. Usually taking a small crow hop only to lob the ball back to him. on two occasions i got so worked up that i went to throw the ball back to the pitcher and did nothing but throw it strait into the ground the ball bounced and then rolled to the pitchers feet .

once i even threw the ball around the horn before a strikeout because i was so preocupied with how nervous i was. it would mean the world to me to be able to play like i used to and i hope you will help.

My case of the "yips", started about 2 years ago, in a district championship game my freshman year. I was a pretty good ball player. good enough to make the varsity as a freshman. Obviously I never played that year, but i still felt i was part of the team.

Anyways, it was the district championships, and I was warming up our star pitcher in the bullpen. I really looked up to this guy as a player, and when we began throwing, I made one bad throw in the dirt at his toes. Usually this wouldn't have been a big deal, but I was throwing with the best player on our team, and the only thing i could think of was not making another bad throw.

This led me to overthink on every throw, and before I knew it, I was throwing the ball in the dirt halfway beetween us, or 5 feet over his head. This was so humiliating to me. He couldn't believe what was happening, and soon, he was laughing at me. Now, two years later, i still have the same problem. I do fine whil e throwing from the outfield or pitching.

I think its when i'm throwing hard, that I seem to do alright. It's just those simple little throws, from short to second, or pitcher to first. Or even just warming up before games, when i can't get it out of my head, and I always end up making a fool of myself.

Baseball is my favorite sport, and I used to love playing it more than anything else, but now i just dread throwing, because I always think about whats going to happen before it does, (like when i'm throwing) and it always does happen.

This would meen so much to me if I was successful in eliminating this terrible thing. Please Help ME!

I am a division 1 college pitcher and i have feared going to the field to play catch every day since i was in 8th grade.

its made me hate the game at times.I want to love the game again and i know i could be so much better if i was free of this demon.

My son is a Sophomore in High School and playing fall ball started having the yips with most throws. He has been an outstanding pitcher but had one bad inning this fall and now has a hard time warming up or even playing catch. He would like to overcome this problem by Spring Baseball.

I want so badly for baseball to be fun again. I am playing in college now and i want to be the starting 2nd baseman but my fears are so great about my throwing i feel i need to quit.

it happened to me in a game my senior year in high school, my coach yelled at me and told me i was hurting the team. I havent been the same infielder since. Reading your article is like you are speaking directly to me. Because there are times i feel like I am all alone.

My problem with the yips is not with my golf game, it''s with throwing darts. I love the game and throw on a team. At one time I was one of the best in my league.

One day during a match I felt it hit. All of a sudden I could not make my arm move forward. When I finally did I had zero control over where my dart was going. It''s as if my arm was possessed.

The muscles contract, spasm, freeze, or shake uncontrollably. I was able to overcome the problem after much work and practice but the problem came back. Several years later I''ve been through this over and over again. I''m looking for a final solution.

I really love throwing darts with my team, but I''m almost to the point of giving up for good. Please help me!

I've been playing baseball since I was 5. I've always been LHP/OF I even got a partial scholarship to play at a D1 school.

I redshirted my first year. Came back to fall ball and after a decent (towards the poor side) performance on a friday I came back monday and had the yips. I got cut and played OF for a JC that year. I still struggle with the yips and baseball means everything to me! I can't imagine having to give it up because I hold myself back.

i'm a 53yr old low handicap golfer. i've suffered from yips approx. 20yrs. i used to love competitive golf(tournaments and cash games), now i hate it. i can easily miss an 8" putt and even if it goes in the anxiety of the process rips my stomach lining out. the yips have progressively filtered all the way thru the rest of my bag.

Dr. Hanson, it is vital i lose my "yips". I first encountered the problem almost 5 years ago when the pitcher had to jump when i threw it. a coach got on me for it and i've never been the same since.

I understand all the problems you described, dreading every moment of throwing back to the pitcher. I've developed a "wrist-flip" way to throw it back but even that doenst always work.

in the back of my head im constantly doubting and fearing my next throw to the pitcher. ironically i throw out nearly 70% of would be base-stealers. its just that damn throw back to the pitcher.

please help me it would mean the world to me. I'm starting next spring at a local JUCO and i'd absolutly love to be yip-free and have a fresh start.

I have been moved to the outfield because I couldn't make the throw from second to first. It really bothers me that it has come to this for both the embarrasment of it and the fact that if I was an infielder I would probably be much higher in my baseball career by now. Instead I am in Low-A.

I am currently a junior in high school, and I have a 90 mph fastball and have a chance to play college baseball, but back in February I had a bad scrimmage and I havent been able to throw strikes since. I feel your program could help

hi there, this seems like a dream come true! i am in 10th grade and i was supposed to be my high schools baseball teams'

starting jv catcher. however, the yips have taken over me, and i look like an idiot out on the field. the coach will only put me in if we are winning or losing by a lot. i can make the throw to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd beautifully.

however, the throw to the pitcher is herendous. the ball goes anywhere but the his mit. i am a good hitter, and it is not affecting my hitting game at all. i have tried everything i feel that i can do...i even tried picturing everyone in the field looking like big bird! please help me, it will end countless days and nights dreading my next baseball event.

thanks a lot

I would like to have information on the yips. programs and costs, my 17 year old has just developed them. he loves the game. I would like to provide him help if at all possible.

My 14 year old son, Corey, developed a case of the yips after a very poor pitching outing during his first season of Fall, high school baseball. It progressively got worse as the season went on.

It got to a point where he could not throw on target from 10 feet away.

Overthrows and even underthrows at that distance were common. He fought throw it and after a couple of months, he has shown some improvement, but he says that he just does not "feel the same" anymore. The problem has pretty much relagated him to the outfield on his Spring, J.V. team. He used to pitch and play second base, but no more. We are willing to try anything at this point.

Baseball is my life. Ever sense i can remember i've played Baseball. I'm 25. Played H.S. ball and dominated on the hill and at the plate. Played college ball and dominated both again.

Drafted again as a Pitcher to the [pro organization] in 2003. Showed up to extended Spring Training throwing 95. Something happened that year...I was afraid of killing someone with my fastball.

I could throw a flawless bullpen, but as soon as someone got into the box, I would aim the ball. I went from throwing 96 to 83 when someone would walk into the box.

I would throw curve ball after curve ball and get out of innings. I couldn't throw my fastball. I would bounce it halfway, throw it completely out of the cage, you name it.

I couldn't explain it. Ultimately, i got released. I took a year off to get back into hitting shape. Played one year of independent ball as a first baseman, got picked up last year by the cardinals, but got released again.

I'm going back to independent ball this year but as a hitter AND a pitcher.

But, in the back of my mind, the fear of the YIP's. Please consider me as a client. I know i have what it takes to get to the big leagues. I've had scouts tell me I could get to the big leagues faster as a pitcher than a hitter. I figure this will be my last year if something doesn't click for me on the hill. I hope you might have some words of advice for me.

Hey Dr. Hanson,

I have the baseball yips. I can't throw the ball anymore. I am a college baseball player and I need help. It is destroying my entire life. I signed up on your website nomoreyips.com I think it was, but I was wondering when I could start.

I would do anything to get rid of this. I read that guy would give up his right arm, I'd give my left but I need to field with it. But seriously I would do anything to get rid of this.

My son, an ametuer athlete has struggled withnthe yips since high school. As a result he stopped playing basseball in college. Now that he graduated he joined an ameture league and the yips returned immediately. He has never lost his love of baseball. Can you help him lose the yips? thanks for the help

I play both fastpitch and slowpitch softball. Sometime within the past year I have developed the so called "yips". It doesn't happen all of the time but I have a fear of throwing short distances. My game would be back at the high level it once was if I could kick this nasty force.

I'm hoping you can help me. I am a 30-year old high school baseball coach in New Jersey. Over the past few years, I have developed the "yips." Throwing batting practice has become painful. I get nervous, shortness of breath and can't throw accurately from 30-45 feet. It's embarassing, especially since I have played ball my whole life.

I'm a freshman infielder at a small division 1 college and I, unfortunately, have the yips.

Please tell me you can offer me some advice to help me fix this problem. This is the only thing keeping me from starting as a freshman and I would do whatever it takes to fix this problem.

Everything you described on your website is exactly what I am going through. I dread pre-game in and out, I dread throwing before practice. I can't even toss with my roommates without sailing a throw over their head or spiking it straight into the ground.

Please tell me this isn't a scam, I love the game of baseball and have worked very hard and because of this problem I am considering quitting. This damn throwing problem, as stupid and ridiculous as it it, is making me consider quitting a game I've loved playing since I was 8.

I hate this problem please tell me you can help.

My name is Tom and I am a junior in high school. I know I am varsity material, but the Yips are holding me back. It''s killing me. I know I can be one of the best pitchers in the county. I have a great fastball, but the yips hold me back.

The worst part is throwing a ball over to first to keep runners close, or fielding and throwing the ball. I can''t seem to do it. When I am on my own or just messing around with friends, I fire the ball in on target, but when I get in practice or the game, I fall apart and am not able to do anything, and now it seems like it is starting to effect me in the field too. I really need your advice, I read your articles and there was an event, I went to a parochial school freshman year, very good school for athletics.

Now I know I am not the greatest athlete but I am good. It all started when I had to turn double plays in try-outs. I bounced every ball 8 feet in front of me, everyone looked at me like I never played baseball before, and I got cut the next day because of that(I know that because the coach told me and I did well in everything else).

This always seems to haunt me, please help me out if you can. I can''t go on playing like this, I want to go back to the way I used to play, carefree and fun. Thank You for taking the time to read this and please help me out.

I'm a former AA pitcher for the Houston Astros. Released because I developed the yips. Nobody new I had them since I could throw my curveball with no problem. However my once mid 90's fastball had dropped to low 80's with zero control. They started in college when my pitching coach messed with my mechanics, it escalated by the end of my college career due to the pressure of needing to be a top draft pick like i was out of high school. Finally I got so afraid of hitting someone at the plate I started babying the ball.

BUT! I'm not the one that is needing your help, my career is over and i'm content.

I coach a 12yr old baseball team in [city] and we have a kid who's got a big league arm. By far one of the best young athletes you can find. His former coach verbaly abused him to the point when he pitches he throws without letting go of the ball, or he pumps 2 or 3 times. He's fine in practice and I recognized this early on therefore have never said a n egative or angry word about it to him. Since i've had them and been around guys with more severe cases than mine I know full well you can't "talk" someone out of them.

His mom had no clue this existed and is relying on me for help. My only treatment for him is to put him on the mound and tell him to throw as hard as he can. Hoping that can be his focus and nothign else?

Hi, I am a bullpen catcher for the [major college] baseball team. I am a sophomore and have had the yips since the beginning of freshmen year. Never before have I been scared of throwing, but I know am scared to death to throw it back to the pitcher.

I actually thought I got rid of them earlier this year, but they are now coming back.

I really really want to lose them because its so humiliating when I''m warming up a pitcher and people are watching and all of a sudden I can''t throw it back. It makes me miserable all day worrying about having to throw at night. It makes me so mad because it should be so simple but I can''t even visualize myself throwing the ball correctly.

It just feels weird to throw the ball. Being on this team should be a really fun experience, but I hate it and want to quit so bad some days...

My son(senior highschool) last season of baseball. He used to be a good pitcher, but since about 2 month before, he seems to have got yips. He can't throw as before when playing catch.

His ball lands way before the target or overthrow way high right. looks his wriest is regid, stiff. Now he has fear to throw. I want him enjoy the last season. He was crying. He said he feels no sence of release point.

Only 2.5 months are left from now. Is there any quick recorse ?

I play college baseball and fear making errors. This affects me on the field and at bat. I must loose the yips if I am going to be succesful at this level. Further more I hope to advance on to pro ball some day...

I am 15 years old. I am exremly interested in what you talk about with the confidence and the Yips. I play fastpitch softball for alomost my whole life now and I am always trying to get better, but I am having a small problem. Multiple coaches including my parents say that I am very tense and that is causing me decrease my playing ability.

I was wondering if you know anything that would possiblie make me a better player and to help me relax. I also have another problem it seems that my throws have become less acurate and as a shortstop and catcher my throws need to perfect. It seems that I have to think about throwing and hitting more then I used to and I also feel that I am messing up more then I have ever done before.

I thank you for your time and hopefully you will be able to help me because I am worrired that if I can't get someone to help me soon I won't have a chance to play in college and I want to than k you for the confidence building steps I have really taken interest in those steps and tried to use them in my everyday life.