The Effect of a Client-Centered Approach on Flow States and the Performance of Three Elite Golfers

This study examined the effect of a client-centered approach to consultancy on the performance and flow experiences of three elite golfers during golf competitions organized by the European Golf Tour. Interviews were used to explore the experiential knowledge and psychological strategies of each golfer. After gathering this information the first author applied his academic and consultancy expertise to help clients ft their psychological strategies into a preshot routine for putting, driving, iron play, chipping, and sand shots. Their performance and flow state experiences were analyzed using a single-subject, multiple baselines, across subjects design combined with a procedure to monitor clients’ internal experience (Wollman, 1986). The results indicated that all three clients improved their mean stroke average and increased their mean flow scores from baseline to intervention. There were a few overlapping data points between baseline and intervention conditions for the performance scores. The qualitative...

[1]  Alan E. Kazdin,et al.  Research Design in Clinical Psychology , 2021 .

[2]  Owen Thomas,et al.  Intervening with Athletes During the Time Leading up to Competition: Theory to Practice II , 2007 .

[3]  G. Martin,et al.  Applied research studies with single-subject designs: Why so few? , 1996 .

[4]  R. Thelwell,et al.  The effects of a mental skills package on ‘repeatable good performance’ in cricketers , 2003 .

[5]  P. Lindsay,et al.  In Pursuit of Congruence: A Personal Reflection on Methods and Philosophy in Applied Practice , 2007 .

[6]  M. Csíkszentmihályi,et al.  Flow in sports: The keys to optimal experiences and performances. , 1999 .

[7]  Ian Maynard,et al.  Effects of asynchronous music on flow states and shooting performance among netball players , 2003 .

[8]  J. Hardy.  Speaking clearly: A critical review of the self-talk literature. , 2006 .

[9]  I. Maynard,et al.  The Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Golf-Putting Performance , 2001 .

[10]  J. Hardy,et al.  Please Scroll down for Article Journal of Applied Sport Psychology Effects of Attentional Focus on Skilled Performance in Golf , 2022 .

[11]  Neil Wolffian.  Research on Imagery and Motor Performance: Three Methodological Suggestions , 1986 .

[12]  D H Barlow,et al.  Single-Case Experimental Designs: Uses in Applied Clinical Research , 1973 .

[13]  G. Wulf,et al.  The learning advantages of an external focus of attention in golf. , 1999, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[14]  Ralph L. Rosnow,et al.  Essentials of Behavioral Research: Methods and Data Analysis , 1984 .

[15]  R. Polman,et al.  The effects of an individualized imagery interventions on flow states and golf performance , 2005 .

[16]  I. Maynard,et al.  Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Golf Performance , 2000, Perceptual and motor skills.

[17]  Colin Robson,et al.  Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers , 1993 .

[18]  Costas I. Karageorghis.  Entering “the zone”: A guide for coaches , 1999 .

[19]  Daniel T Bishop,et al.  A grounded theory of young tennis players use of music to manipulate emotional state. , 2007, Journal of sport & exercise psychology.

[20]  J. Pates,et al.  An Investigation into the Effects of Hypnosis on Basketball Performance , 2001 .

[21]  G. Kendall,et al.  The Effects of an Imagery Rehearsal, Relaxation, and Self-Talk Package on Basketball Game Performance , 1990 .

[22]  Jack Nicklaus.  Golf My Way , 1974 .

[23]  John S. Partington,et al.  Mental Links to Excellence , 1988 .

[24]  K. Ravizza.  A philosophical construct: A framework for performance enhancement. , 2002 .

[25]  Gregory A. Dale,et al.  Existential phenomenology: Emphasizing the experience of the athlete in sport psychology research. , 1996 .

[26]  Robert J. Rotella,et al.  Golf is Not a Game of Perfect , 1995 .

[27]  R. Eklund,et al.  Assessing Flow in Physical Activity: The Flow State Scale-2 and Dispositional Flow Scale-2 , 2002 .

[28]  Susan A. Jackson,et al.  Joy, Fun, and Flow State in Sport , 2000 .

[29]  C. Drew.  Introduction to Designing and Conducting Research , 1980 .

[30]  I. Maynard,et al.  The effects of hypnosis on flow states and three-point shooting performance in basketball players. , 2002 .

[31]  D. Barlow,et al.  Single Case Experimental Designs: Strategies for Studying Behavior Change , 1976 .