The Psychology of Golf Performance Under Pressure

The Psychology of Golf Performance under Pressure offers contemporary, research-informed information regarding the key psychological factors affecting golf development and performance under pressure. Through the authors’ substantive expertise - all of whom are notable scholars and/or practitioners in the field of golf psychology - the text provides a highly accessible ＂real world＂ application of theory to practice, through the provision of evidence-based guidance regarding how to maximise golf performance under pressure.

Golf is a sport that has embraced sport psychology, with many of the highest ranked players in the world (male and female) openly working with a sport psychologist and advocating their importance. As a result, an increasing number of high-profile practitioners are working full-time within the sport around the world, encouraging trainee sport psychology practitioners to pursue their career within golf. Accordingly, there is an ever-increasing demand for high-quality information pertaining to the psychological demands of golf; the key psychological variables that affect golfing development and performance; and evidence-based strategies which enable effective golf performance under pressure.

This novel text provides a comprehensive portrayal of the psychological factors which enable effective golfing development and optimal performance under pressure. A theoretical review of the pertinent psychological factors followed by the practical application of theory for the provision of ＂take home messages＂ will ensure that this book is of value, interest, and benefit for golfers, coaches, golf organisations, and even the parents of golfers, alongside sport psychology scholars, students, practitioners, and researchers alike.

Denise Hill, PhD is an Associate Professor of Applied Sport Psychology at Swansea University, UKa BPS Chartered Psychologist and HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist. She is also a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Psychology and has been an Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist for over 20 years. She is a keen amateur golfer, having played internationally for Wales, UK.

She has extensive experience as a psychology practitioner, working with athletes, coaches, and organisations across sports. This includes being the lead psychologist within soccer, rugby union, swimming, snooker, and boxing governing bodies, alongside providing individual psychological support to a number of elite referees / officials, equestrian competitors, and athletes. However, most of her applied work has focused on supporting golfers to thrive under pressure and achieve their sporting goals. Indeed, Dr Hill has worked with numerous golfers from amateur through to elite status, including being the lead mental skills coach for Golf Wales, and continues to provide psychological support to a number of male and female players on their respective European golf tours.

In terms of research, Dr Hill has produced in excess of 60 publications, mainly focused on the phenomenon of choking in golf, and the design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based interventions to alleviate the choke among choking-susceptible golfers. She has been invited to present her research at various UK and International conferences, and regularly disseminates her findings through the media.

Jamie Barker, PhD is Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, UK a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Jamie has an international research profile with research interests in stress, group dynamics, wellbeing, and mental health. Consequently, he has obtained over a £1million in external funding, co-authored over 85 scholarly publications and published five books including Single case research methods in sport and exercise psychology, The Psychology of Cricket, Tipping the Balance and the recently published Psychology of Soccer.

As an applied sport psychologist Jamie has over 20 years of experience working in business, professional sport, and the military. For example, he has consulted with Sony Europe, Sony Mobile, the Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, Great Britain Rowing, Watford Football Club, and the Royal Air Force. In 2016 Jamie worked as a sport psychologist at the Rio Paralympics. Presently, Jamie consults with the Football Association, the England Senior Cerebral Palsy Football Team, and Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Karl Steptoe, PhD is the Sport and Performance Psychology Lead at Loughborough University, UK a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council, and an Acceptance and Commitment Therapist. In addition, Karl is a Qualified PGA Golf Professional with over 20 years of coaching experience. As an applied psychology practitioner, Karl provides services in line with the core cognitive, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic principles that guide his consultancy.

Karl works across a number of performance domains including sport, education and business and has held roles as Lead Psychologist within Premier League first team football, football academies, County Cricket first teams and academies, Great Britain Paralympic programmes, and with golfers, caddies, and coaches on the Men’s’ and Ladies European and United States PGA golf tours.

Karl has contributed chapters on his applied work to several publications including: Becoming a Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Professional: International Perspectives; Global Practices and Training in Applied, Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology: A Case Study Approach; Sport Psychology for Young Athletes; Football Psychology: From Theory to Practice; and The Psychology of Soccer.