Perfectionism has been placed under the researcher’s microscope in recent years to determine whether this complex personality trait has a positive or negative influence on performance and well-being. Some of the most controversial examples of perfectionistic individuals can be found in the world of elite sport. When Tiger Woods won his first Major at Augusta…
There are certain patterns in a player’s performance that characterize a lack of self-belief and mental toughness. For instance: Do you typically start the round off “cold” and settle into a groove after a few holes? Do you need to have your swing “just right” before you feel ready to put a good score on…
Over coffee on the terrace, I sat down with Laguna Country Club’s Tour Professional Scott Barr to find out his view on consulting a sport psychologist and how mental skills training has raised his game at various points in his career. When did you start mental skills training, and who got you involved? “It was…
“When you focus your discussion with yourself and your caddy on the present moment you can rapidly regain control of your emotions and make more clear decisions.” Great players have the ability to bounce back from making mistakes during a round, or from disappointing performances during important tournaments. Developing and maintaining a positive approach to…
I know sport psychology…said the coach, the trainer, and everyone in between. How can a sport psychologist add value to my team? There’s no doubt that a top coach understands the psychology of their sport in intricate detail. There are cases when an experienced coach may have stronger knowledge of the sport than the sport…
The first tee can be the most nerve wrecking shot in your entire round. You have the driver in your hand, your probably are not as “warmed-up” as you should be, and you may have a few people watching from the club-house or the next group on the tee-box. How can you manage the jitters…
THE CURRENT CLIMATE: For the majority of swimmers and coaches in Singapore, the second quarter in the year represents a change in pace and training focus. After a hectic first quarter of back-to-back meets and major events you may be feeling worn-out and needing time to reflect. A small percentage of Singapore club swimmers have…
As a former Division-1 collegiate athlete I understand how challenging it can be to balance sport at a high level and maintain good grades. Late nights, early mornings, and taking exams on the road doesn’t make it easy to strike a balance between the two areas, but here are three reasons why it’s crucial to…
No matter your skill level as a player – beginner, league player or professional, there is one mental phenomenon that we all fight from time to time on the course. This phenomenon is the subtle but destructive change in our experience from enjoying the round and playing freely with little thought or tension, to a…
Knowing how to perform at your best more consistently requires astute awareness of what you are focused on, how you feel, and what you are doing when you are performing at your best and your worst. Like baking the ultimate cake, you have to know how to mix together your best performance ingredients. To help…