It’s the 18th hole at The Belfry. The British Masters title is up for grabs. And Scotland’s Ritchie Ramsay has moved into prime position. He’s one ahead with the last to play. He drives off safely. But then he dunks the approach shot in the water. It’s a bogey six. His title chances are over. All because of one shot. Closing out for a win is one of the hardest things in golf. You’ve played pressure free golf for seventy one holes. Now it comes down to this. You don’t want to make a mistake. You are trying to take […]
Read More...Sports Psychology Blog
Welcome to the Sports Psychology blog. Here you will find insights on current sporting events, from the perspective of a sports psychologist.
The purpose of this blog, is to get inside the sporting drama…why the player or team do what they they do…their thinking…mindsets…attitudes…their fluctuating state of confidence…and all the other mental and emotional pieces that create the psychology of sports.
The most recent articles are at the top of the List Of Sports Psychology Blogs Index.
Football Psychology: Pep Guardiola – The Cause!
And so Manchester City are through to yet another Caraboa (League) Cup Final, after a two goal win at Old Trafford.
Always a little bit sharper, quicker and tuned in than their local rivals, City had the benefit of a twelfth player.
Read More...Football Psychology: Ralph Hassenhuttl – Passion!
The final whistle has sounded at St Mary’s. Southampton have secured a narrow victory over champions Liverpool. And Austrian manager Ralph Hassenhuttl is on his knees.
It’s his first ever victory over Jurgen Klopp and his team and he is celebrating as if the Saints have just secured the league title.
Read More...Darts Psychology: Gerwyn Price – World Champion!
So, six years after entering the sport Gerwyn Price secures his first ever World Title.
This isn’t any kind of surprise to followers of darts, as Price’s uber competitive spirit and sporting disciplines have had him marked down as a future champion ever since he came through Q school.
Read More...Tennis Psychology: Novak Djokovic – Frustration!
So Novak Djokovic is defaulted out of the US Open. Angry at not being able to convert first set points against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Sore from falling on his shoulder. Frustrated at losing his serve. Culminating in hitting a ball towards the back of the court, which hit a line-judge in the throat.
Read More...Snooker Psychology: Mark Selby – Confidence!
So Mark Selby is back in the World Championship semi-finals for the first time since 2016-17.
Interestingly, after his domination of Aussie cueman Neil Robertson in the quarters, Selby spoke about his loss of confidence in recent years.
Read More...Snooker Psychology: Kyren Wilson – The Process!
We have just concluded the second session of the World Snooker Championships quarter-final.
And defending champion Judd Trump is in trouble. He is 10-6 down and out of form.
Read More...Snooker Psychology: Anthony Hamilton – Attitude!
And so Anthony Hamilton is through to the main draw of the World Championships, for the first time since 2008.
Anthony saw off the hard to beat Perth cueman Scott Donaldson, whilst admitting that he wasn’t playing his best snooker.
Read More...Golf Psychology: Tony Finau – Winning!
There was an interesting article on BBC Sport the other day about American golfer Tony Finau.
It was highlighting the fact that since his win at the Puerto Rico Open in 2016, Finau has finished inside the top ten of PGA events, thirty times!
Read More...Snooker Psychology: Allan Taylor – Confidence!
A couple of seasons ago, tennis player Kevin Anderson enlisted the help of a sports psychologist, to help him match game outcomes to his talent.
In other words the giant South African felt he was under-performing.
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