yips

\YIPS\

noun

: a state of nervous tension affecting an athlete (as a golfer) in the performance of a crucial action

So...performance anxiety. The athlete's impotence. I wonder why it's so specific to golf. I wonder if golfer's carry the YIPS into other parts of their lives. I wonder if one can get the YIPS playing mini-golf. I wonder where this word came from; M-W doesn't seem to know. Apparently the YIPS has been in use since 1962. I wonder what happened in the early 60's to make golfers so nervous? I feel like "the" should be part of this word—THE YIPS. One wouldn't use the word YIPS without a definite article. It's kind of like "the clap."

I have no answers today, only questions.