Why “Just Throw It Harder” Doesn’t Fix the Yips in Baseball
“Just throw it harder…”
This is advice that my mental performance coaching client, “Johnny,” got from one of his baseball coaches.
Johnny is a catcher who received the advice to “just throw it harder” from his coach after gingerly skipping a ball to first base.
He felt every eye in the park on him.
Hearing the advice to “just throw it harder” only made him tighten up.
The harder he tried to “just” fix his throwing troubles, the harder it got.
Johnny’s experience working through the yips brought us together while he was in a “gap” year at a sports academy after graduating from high school.
That’s how the yips in baseball often go. A throw an athlete has made thousands of times suddenly feels impossible, and well-meaning advice adds more pressure.
[IN-BODY IMAGE HERE. Alt text: Catcher making a confident throw back to the pitcher after working through the yips in baseball]
Step 1: Understand the Athlete with the Yips in Baseball Before Trying to Fix Them
When I start working with any client, I focus on understanding them.
However, understanding an athlete challenged with the yips is just different.
It’s hard to know why the yips happen to athletes.
Some research suggests that the yips may be linked to personality traits, such as agreeableness. I even had Johnny take a personality assessment, but people-pleasing wasn’t his issue.
The point is: the yips aren’t simple, and every athlete’s path is unique.
That’s why the first step with the yips in baseball is to slow down and ask questions.
When did it start? Which throws are affected? What is the athlete thinking and feeling right before the ball leaves his hand?
Step 2: Experiment With Different Tools
There is no one-size-fits-all approach in mental performance coaching.
(That’s why I created the 10-Day Level Up Your Mental Game Challenge.)
Every athlete’s situation is different, so I often ask them to try interventions that I think might help them.
I introduced Johnny to imagery, or visualization.
I introduced Johnny to mindfulness to practice being present without judgment.
I introduced Johnny to journaling to help him focus on incremental daily improvement.
Johnny found the tools valuable, even though at first he told me imagery felt awkward — like pretending. But after a week, he noticed his brain felt calmer before each throw.
Ultimately, none of these tools was sufficient on its own.
Johnny was making progress, but still searching for a way to take down the yips.
That’s normal. With the yips in baseball, the first tool an athlete tries is rarely the whole answer. Each one teaches him something he can use later.
Step 3: Build a Routine of Your Own
Then, he started piecing together elements of each new tool he had been learning.
- Receive the ball mindfully.
- Grip the seams comfortably.
- Pick up the target visually.
- Take a hop step toward the target.
- Let it rip.
That’s when it clicked. Johnny wasn’t just trying my tools anymore. He was building his own.
Through experimentation and repetition, Johnny found a way to consistently improve his throws.
He practiced his routine in bullpens, in drills, and in games.
He started to judge success by consistently executing his routine, and positive results followed.
Like other performance routines for athletes, Johnny’s gave him something to focus on besides the outcome of the throw.
The Result: A Confident Problem-Solver
Six months earlier, he dreaded routine throws.
Now, his coaches told him they trusted him behind the plate.
Johnny was open-minded, experimented with new approaches, and practiced consistently to develop a new way of thinking.
Most of all, he was patient and didn’t panic.
The Takeaway for Athletes Facing the Yips in Baseball
So, what’s the point?
Confidence doesn’t always come from the desired results.
Confidence comes from the ability to solve problems under pressure.
A confident problem-solver:
- Responds rather than reacts.
- Applies the right combination of tools to create a solution that works.
- Learns from mistakes instead of letting them define identity.
If your athlete is struggling, remember: It’s not about finding the perfect fix.
It’s about helping them experiment, stay patient, and trust they can figure it out.
The yips in baseball can feel permanent in the moment. Johnny’s story shows they don’t have to be.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Yips in Baseball
What are the yips in baseball?
The yips in baseball are a sudden loss of the ability to make throws an athlete has always made easily, like a catcher’s throw to back to the pitcher. The athlete still has the skill. Something gets in the way of using it, and trying harder usually makes it worse.
What causes the yips in baseball?
There isn’t one clear cause. Some research suggests a link to personality traits such as agreeableness, but that didn’t fit Johnny. Every athlete’s path into the yips is different, which is why understanding the individual comes first.
Can a player get over the yips in baseball?
Johnny did. He went from dreading routine throws to earning his coaches’ trust behind the plate in about six months. It took experimentation, a routine he built himself, and consistent practice in bullpens, drills, and games.
How can parents and coaches help an athlete with the yips?
Skip advice like “just throw it harder.” It adds pressure and makes the athlete tighten up. Help them experiment and stay patient, and judge progress by whether they stuck to their routine, not by where the throw ended up.
Michael Huber, MA, CMPC® holds a master’s degree in sport psychology. He helps young athletes ages 14 to 22 be themselves when everyone is watching, including learning how to navigate overthinking under pressure. Learn more about Michael.
If this post resonated with you 👉Schedule a free 30-minute consultation now