Winners Mind - Advanced Sports Psychology

The key to delivering a top class performance, according to snooker legend Steve Davis is 'to play as though it means nothing, when in fact in means everything'. Easy to say, but not quite so easy to execute.

Well it is possible but difficult to do. One aspect that helps is if you play to the same standard whatever the level of competition or whatever the opponent and surroundings. One game to play, one level of pressure. As we know in most sports the pressure can build as the game advances, the final black, the last hole, the deciding set. The pressure comes on as the points and shots become more significant.

So when does the game mean nothing - routine practice? When does it mean everything, an important event? We can play with the factors that build importance and significance. We can play with the factors that reduce it. When someone says its only a game that seems frustrating when you have given it your all. "The game is everything!" Can you play your practise game in an important event. However can you play your top competition game whilst practicing.