Players with "The Yips"

[Solid D]

Mike Vanderjagt aka "Vandershank", "Vanderfade", "Vanderslice" or whatever nickname you choose to use, appears to have what golfers call "The Yips".

Who are some of the best examples in pro sports history, of players who have totally lost their mental focus and confidence following at least decent success?

Here are some of the ones I thought of who just basically fell apart:

Steve Sax (Throwing accuracy)
Chuck Knoblauch (Throwing accuracy)
Greg The Shark Norman (shot/putt accuracy)
Nick Anderson (FT and career meltdown)
Jan van de Velde (losing a 3 stroke lead on the last hole of the Brittish Open)

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Rick Ankiel.

Mark Wohlers.

[Solid D]

Brad Lidge and A-Rod are treading water.

[BeerIsGood!]

If short term counts I'd definitely say A Rod. He was unstoppable when he was in Texas and Seattle, but has always folded under the pressure of NY post season baseball. And now that's carrying through to the regular season as well.

[Squid]

Scott Norwood

[sa_butta]

Mike Vanderjagt aka "Vandershank", "Vanderfade", "Vanderslice" or whatever nickname you choose to use, appears to have what golfers call "The Yips".

That idiot should have gotten liquored up before the game to calm his nerves.
-Peyton Manning

[Obstructed_View]

I'll give Vanderjagoff a mulligan because he's coming back from injury and it was preseason. He's on a zero tolerance policy from here on out AFAIC.

[Guru of Nothing]

Donnie Moore?

[Guru of Nothing]

On a lighter note, Mark Fidrych.

[Solid D]

Donnie Moore?

That's a sad one.

[Solid D]

As I think about it, there are some players who had significant careers but had one unshining moment late in their careers that defined them. Donnie Moore is a tragic example.

Bill Buckner and Jackie Smith are other examples of horrible one-time mistakes that will forever be attached to their names...even though you can't really classify their moments as The Yips. Just an untimely error that goes down as their calling card for time immemorial.

[FromWayDowntown]

Mackey Sasser

[slayermin]

Todd Marinovich had a bad case of the "heroin" yips.

[sa_butta]

Scott Norwood

^^^^^^^has to be #1 all time^^^^^^^

Ricky Williams-completly lost focus on his career in pro football.

[Kori Ellis]

Steve Sax (Throwing accuracy)

It's not nice to mention this, considering Steve Sax was my crush when I was a young teenager.

Well him, along with Kyle Macy.

[Guru of Nothing]

As I think about it, there are some players who had significant careers but had one unshining moment late in their careers that defined them. Donnie Moore is a tragic example.

Bill Buckner and Jackie Smith are other examples of horrible one-time mistakes that will forever be attached to their names...even though you can't really classify their moments as The Yips. Just an untimely error that goes down as their calling card for time immemorial.

And then there are the Max McGee's of the world.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

The '05-'06 Mavs.

[slayermin]

The '05-'06 Mavs.

I was a Nowitzness to the Nowitzyipps.

[Obstructed_View]

Waco high's own Lin Elliott had the yips. Maybe it's something about the last name.