Does your golf game suffer from the “yips”—sudden jerks and twitches that ruin a shot? Maybe you’re a little mentally unbalanced. Don’t worry, you’re not crazy. You just might have more activity on one side of your brain than the other.

Debbie Crews is an assistant research professor in sport psychology at ASU. She studies the brain activity of golfers. Results from her research indicate that people plagued by the “yips” actually show more activity in the brain’s left hemisphere than in the right. The left hemisphere is associated with logic, analysis and verbal reasoning.

During testing, golfers who performed well were able to quiet the left side of their brains. Their left brain activity was balanced with that of the creative and intuitive right hemisphere.

Crews’ findings support the notion that getting into a “zone” of relaxed awareness promotes better sports performance than active thinking.

“We’re talking about a state of synchrony,” says Crews. “When we have a problem with how we are performing, so often we turn to mechanics. But the mental and emotional side is just as important.”

Crews’ work can help golfers to improve their performance. But the information is also valuable to other athletes, musicians, and even surgeons suffering from twitchy hands.—Diane Boudreau

Go to: Health & Medical: Exercise and Fitness | Social Science: Psychology

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