Friday, April 22, 2022

Putting Yips - What Causes Them?

Kirby Spencer McDonald is the founder and a managing partner of Illuminate Financial Group in Omaha, Nebraska. Among other responsibilities, he handles compliance matters, trains financial advisors, and oversees recruitment. Outside of his work, Kirby McDonald lives an active lifestyle and enjoys playing golf. One phenomenon that can affect golfers is putting yips, the cause of which remains a subject of debate.

Putting yips are involuntary wrist movements that golfers may experience when putting, and other symptoms can include spasms, freezing, twitches, or tremors. This results in poor putting and wild swings on the golf course. Although yips were once considered a manifestation of nervousness during a game, many researchers theorize that some cases have other causes. Most believe that there are two types of yips.

Type I yips concern players who exhibit signs of focal dystonia, a neurological dysfunction that triggers involuntary muscles contractions when performing a specific task. Putting yips of this sort might possibly develop in a manner similar to writer's cramp. Due to the positive correlation between yips and golfing experience, some experts suggest that certain muscles in the wrists and upper arm become overworked over time. Furthermore, a golfer's anxiety can increase the frequency of involuntary movements.

Type II yips occur as a result of elevated anxiety and psychological mechanisms associated with buckling under pressure. The overthinking that accompanies these feelings impairs concentration and skill execution, leading to muscle spasms and a subsequent decline in performance.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Student Retreats Run by Youth Frontiers


The founder of Illuminate Financial Group in Omaha, Nebraska, Kirby Spencer McDonald supports local and national charitable organizations. Through Illuminate Charity, the company’s nonprofit arm, Kirby McDonald assists groups such as Youth Frontiers.

Youth Frontiers improves the lives of students through character-building events called for students, educators, and parents, each focused on a certain attribute and associated skills. Student-focused events share a similar format, with students from the same grade learning a chosen skill together. Each “retreat” lasts between five and five-and-a-half hours, and concludes with a collective sharing session.

The Kindness Retreat, for fourth- and fifth-graders, teaches conflict resolution skills and the value of kindness. The Courage Retreat addresses adolescents’ fears and how to process them and take positive action.

Youth Frontiers’ Respect Retreat teaches ninth- through 11th-graders the importance of respecting themselves and others, and standing up to disrespectful behavior. To help seniors prepare for life after high school, the Wisdom Retreat provides a safe environment for students to share their high school experiences, gain closure for their time there, and enhance relationships with high school friends.

Parents Start Saving for College?

A resident of Nebraska, Kirby Spencer McDonald is the founder and president of Illuminate Financial Group. Kirby McDonald offers wealth accu...