Employ Sound Pregame Mental Toughness Strategies, Not Superstitious Rituals
by Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.

Consistent mental preparation leads to consistent performance, the hallmark of champion athletes, and the pregame warm up is an excellent time to integrate your mental strategies. Think of your pregame routine as your final mental tune-up prior to competition. It has four important purposes: (1) to get loose and physically warm up, (2) to focus the mind, (3) to instill confidence, and (4) to help you trust your ability.

The pregame routine is also an excellent time to transition from life into sport – to put on your "game face." Some sports psychology experts would say that sport is an “escape” from the daily hassles of life. The structure of sports allows you to become fully immersed in the experience and lose your self-consciousness. That’s all very Zen … but what should you include in your pregame routine?

Superstitious rituals – eating a ham sandwich before every game, wearing the same shirt, talking to your bat – are not the same as pregame routines. Athlete superstitions are based on the notion that if a certain behavior once brought you good luck, repeating that behavior will bring you more luck. Superstitious rituals have been around since the dawn of sports, and as irrational as they may seem, they sometimes promote a sense of confidence or control. But do they really generate confidence, or are they just wacky habits?

Let’s start by discussing the difference between superstitious rituals and pregame routines or rituals. Pregame routines help athletes prepare mentally and physically for competition – in a rational, systematic and meaningful way. On the other hand, a superstition is, by definition, irrational: “I ate cold pizza with a plastic fork right before scoring three touchdowns yesterday. Therefore, if I eat cold pizza with a plastic fork today, I’ll score at least three more touchdowns.”

Many athletes have superstitious rituals, but don’t know why they continue to use them.
Tiger Woods probably wears a red shirt for Sunday’s round because he experienced good “luck” when wearing red on previous Sundays. Michael Jordan (who graduated from North Carolina) always wore UNC shorts under his Bulls uniform for good luck. A hockey player who always laces the left skate before the right does so to control pregame jitters. Athletes use superstitions because they think it brings them luck or controls the future. If a lucky shirt works, some athletes will wear it until the first loss (when it loses its “magic”). It’s hard to argue with Tiger Wood’s success on Sundays. But does he win on Sunday because he wears a red shirt or because he’s a mentally tough competitor?

Unlike pregame routines, superstitions are not based on science or reason. But they aren’t necessarily bad. If superstitions build confidence and boost team morale, why not use them? We have a saying in sports psychology, “If it works, use it.” I would argue that anything that enhances faith in your performance is a bonus. But I’d also offer a warning: Never believe that superstition is the only reason for your success.

Sound mental preparation strategies create the proper mindset for success and are based on reason and science. Don’t rely on lucky superstitions to bring you success.

Want to learn more about the mental game of golf and pre-shot routines? Check out Dr. Cohn's Golf Psychology programs.