ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Psychology

How a Sportsman’s Mind Works

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
April 16, 2012 - Updated on April 14, 2022
in Psychology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Of all the skills that athletes and sportsmen possess, the most underappreciated ability is a sportsman’s mental acuity. While sports and games of all types require a great amount of physical ability, what separates a good player from a great player is how they analyze the game on the field. Let’s take a deeper look at this concept.

Some games, such as golf or poker, require a high level of mental strength. In golf, it is often said that a major portion of the sport is mental over physical ability. A golfer that is able to focus on his game and block out all distractions and focus on the current shot is much more apt to be successful than the standard golfer. Tiger Woods is a prime example used by many when talking about psychology in golf. Many feel that Tiger’s off-the-course problems have been haunting him to the point where one never knows what type of game Tiger will exhibit on the golf course.

Poker psychology goes a step further. Not only does a player need to be too strong mentally, but they must also be able to influence the mental state of other players. For example, in poker, the best hand does not always win. A bluff is a very powerful tool in the game as the person using it is betting on whether the person will have the cards and the courage to call. When playing against a weaker player, it is often correct to bluff frequently against them and takes advantage of their timid nature.

Strategy in sports and games is also much more of a mental endeavor. Coaches can draw up plays and tell the players what they should do, but much of this is a guideline to approach a situation that can be in flux. Take for example a soccer goalie. A great amount of what he does in a game is based on his physical ability to jump and block shots. However, in addition to those abilities, he must be able to analyze a developing play and then determine where to best position himself in order to make that play. As no two plays are the same, the goalie must be able to analyze each and every play and even his opponents’ abilities and strengths and make the choice on the fly as to how to best defend his goal.

Poker strategy is also a constantly evolving mental exercise. Each and every hand a player must analyze not just their cards, but also their position relative to the other players, their stack sizes, who is likely to raise with nothing, who will raise with just strong hands, who might be tilting, and then decide how he is going to play when the cards get to him. Also, figure in that around 30 hands an hour are played over a 10 to 12 hour day and this becomes a long and draining mental endeavor.

The mind of a sportsman has to be sharp and focused at all times if they want to be successful. They cannot sit back and simply react to what is happening in front of them. They must analyze, plan, and then act on decisions made during games that are constantly in flux. It is no surprise that the most successful sportsmen also tend to be among the brightest in the game, proving that sports are as much mental as they are physical.

RelatedPosts

“Climate change is a security risk,” Pentagon report reads
Sex is painful for 1 in 13 women, but no one wants to talk about it
Mysterious features observed on Saturn’s moon Tethys
New bill could require California to get 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2045

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

News

Coolness Isn’t About Looks or Money. It’s About These Six Things, According to Science

byTibi Puiu
11 hours ago
Archaeology

Ancient Roman Pompeii had way more erotic art than you’d think

byMihai Andrei
11 hours ago
Animals

Wild Orcas Are Offering Fish to Humans and Scientists Say They May Be Trying to Bond with Us

byTibi Puiu
12 hours ago
Clumps of gold recovered from a mine placed on a wooden table.
Chemistry

No Mercury, No Cyanide: This is the Safest and Greenest Way to Recover Gold from E-waste

byRupendra Brahambhatt
13 hours ago

Recent news

Coolness Isn’t About Looks or Money. It’s About These Six Things, According to Science

July 1, 2025

Ancient Roman Pompeii had way more erotic art than you’d think

July 1, 2025

Wild Orcas Are Offering Fish to Humans and Scientists Say They May Be Trying to Bond with Us

July 1, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.