In this interview, Padraig Harrington talks about how he approaches the game of golf as well as how he handles the pressures of going down the stretch in a final round of a tournament. Click here to learn more about how certain techniques can help you develop this same confidence when the game is on the line. Click here to fill out our contact form to get you started with our Mental Apex elite training.

Many times you’ll hear your coach or a teammate say, “you need to focus” or “come on, concentrate!” Rarely do you hear someone tell you exactly what to concentrate on. Everyone tries to focus out there when competing. The key is to be able focus on the right elements of competition. The correct focus for an athlete should be on the process of what you’re doing instead of the outcome of the task.

All athletes grow up conditioning their mind to focus on the outcome of a task. Will I win or lose? Will I make this free-throw? Will I hit a home run or strike out? This list goes on and on. Great execution of focusing is when you are able to block out the outcome thoughts and focus on the process of what you do to achieve the outcome you are striving for. For instance, your focus should not zero in on whether you will make this 8 foot putt for birdie, your focus should lock in on the techniques you use to get relaxed, the execution of your putting routine and executing the right feel of that 8 foot putt.

Focusing on the process of what you are doing allows you to put your energy and concentration on something you have 100% control over. When focusing on various outcomes then your invested energy is now tied up in situations you have little control over. If you were to enter a tournament and I asked you, “How much control do you have over winning this tournament?” Your response may range anywhere from 5 to 50 percent depending on how you perceive all of the elements of that tournament. Thinking like this makes it a lot more difficult for to be successful when your focus and energy is on such small percentages. Remember to stay in your circle when focusing because these are the tangibles you can control over 100% of the time.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex