The Sweet Spot - Golf Podcast The Mental Trap That Creates the Yips w/ Jason Kuhn
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Mar 9, 2026 Jason Kuhn, former Navy SEAL and performance coach who treats the yips across sports. He recounts his own yips journey and working with elite athletes. The conversation explores why the yips are involuntary nervous-system responses, practical neural-retraining drills like dry-fire and micro-steps, and how pressure, identity, and context shape performance breakdowns.
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Anxiety Is A Symptom Not The Root
- The visible anxiety golfers feel is often a byproduct of the involuntary yip reaction, not its cause.
- The nervous system redirects blood from extremities and amplifies loss of feel at impact, worsening the loop.
Higher Stakes And Identity Fuel The Yip
- Modern youth sports and shrinking margins amplify threat perception; year-round play and identity ties increase yip risk.
- As consequences grow (college, pro), the nervous system treats routine actions as higher-stakes, triggering defense responses.
Recliner Drill Rebuilt Jason's Release
- Jason fixed his throwing by rolling a ball into a recliner from close range, isolating release, and associating the motion with positive reward.
- The absurd low-risk drill rebuilt feel and confidence through small wins.
