yips

yips
 n.— «After winning his first game against the Mariners on June 23, pitching six encouraging innings, Bierbrodt’s control looked lost again. In 1 2/3 innings Monday, he walked five batters. Once more, some misses could be measured in feet. In baseball, such misfiring is referred to as “yips.” They cost one-time Pittsburgh star Steve Blass his career. Most recently, St. Louis pitcher Rick Ankiel was afflicted with the yips in 2000.» —“Rangers’ Bierbrodt tries to put shooting behind him” by Barry Horn Dallas Morning News July 3, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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Further reading

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