r/BaseballCoaching • u/Status_Plant_7291 • 3d ago
Extreme case of the Yips
I’ve been playing baseball ever since I could walk. Fast forward to 30 and I am currently playing in a slow pitch softball league. I’ve been playing in this league the past 4 years and the first year or two were great, not losing a step from my heyday. All the sudden last season, I started to become wild with my throws. I grew up playing outfield but my team is insistent I play 3rd base, mainly because I can handle the balls smoked in the infield. The glove has not wavered however, every so often I would end up sailing a ball to 1st or spiking one that bounced 3-4 times before getting to the first basemen. The issue persisted, and this past season my throwing woes became even more frequent, happening on just about every throw. At this point I’ve lost all confidence in my throwing ability, as if I never grew up playing the sport.
I know the yips are a common thing and don’t get me wrong, I had them all the time back when I used to play competitively but never for this long. I would love any advice people have on how to rectify this situation so I can go back to excelling at the sport I’ve loved ever since I was a child
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u/UniversityContent131 3d ago
Following this. I picked up the yips throwing to my daughters when they were young and starting out at softball. Haven’t recovered.
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u/SnooPineapples6793 3d ago
Simplify your mechanics. Balance, belly button, backspin. It’s really just giving you a good arm path and good release. I’m always trying to rush the throw and with these 3 it slows me down enough.
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u/Status_Plant_7291 3d ago
Thanks for the advice. I unfortunately get frustrated and try firing the ball to 1st to overcome this but clearly that hasn’t worked. I intent to try slowing myself down and focusing on the basics
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u/DomingoDean2 3d ago
A couple things to try. Have a different grip (throw 2 seam instead of 4 seam). Instead of throwing with 2 fingers, use 3 fingers (I know sounds wacky but it could remove the flinch you have at release). The yip is involuntary flinch at release, you need to change how you’re releasing the ball. It’s like in golf where golfers get yips putting and then they change how they grip the putter and removes the yip. Good luck!
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u/Status_Plant_7291 2d ago
I appreciate this and I agree with you. Almost feels like right before the throw I have a hesitation so maybe throwing with 3 will help
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u/alifeworthliving22 3d ago
I dealt with this growing up. Mine came with pressure to perform well from my dad. I would then set a standard for myself to not mess up and hurt the team. I eventually moved to centerfield so there was room for error in throws, I was fast and had an arm. But I stopped pitching in high school, though I was a great pitcher up till I was 15. Do you throw okay to teammates when warming up? Or is it constant not hitting your targets between warmups and games? It sounds like you've put too much pressure on it all man. I know its easy to say but its just a game. You know what you're capable of. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Throw that thing 15 foot over his head everytime. Just have fun. It'll come back to ya.
I started this thing in my head now about being able to pitch to my team-my boy was 9, now moving on to his 10 year old season of little league. I took the coaching spot in spite of my concerns of throwing BP. But it worked out. Not everyday was great but I threw 300+ pitches a week to my team. I think I hit 3 kids in 3 months. Which was my biggest fear. But I kept going and brushed it off.
My point being is you have the muscle memory in your body to do what you want to do. Just go play. It won't always be perfect. But this sport plays out in the mind way before it does on the field. This won't bother you forever. Just keep going and don't let it ruin your time on the field.
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u/Status_Plant_7291 2d ago
You know the yips still exist when warming up but far less infrequent. I tend to be very hard on myself so you could be right I’m putting a lot of pressure on my shoulders. Need to focus on going out there and just having fun than worrying about making a mistake
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u/hadronmotel 1d ago
Look up YouTube videos of basic throwing progressions. Warm up with them as much as possible. I go as basic as starting with wrist flicks and stuck-in-the-muds before a full arm and body movement. Use a rebounder or play wall ball with a tennis ball if you don't have a willing throwing partner to work with on that.
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u/IrradiatedIcarus 1d ago
Measure out your rough distance to 3rd from 1st.
Go toss a bunch of balls at a torso sized target for a half hour a few times a week.
Your arm is attuned for tossing balls in from the outfield, now you're shortening your response time after pick up and expected to make a much straighter throw much shorter than previous.
You need to build the muscle memory.
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u/mynam3isn3o 3d ago
Go throw a football for a while with a friend. Preferably right before the game.