The Sport Shooting Psychologist

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The Sport Shooting Psychologist

Performance Psychology insights & content. 1:1 mental training and owner of The Shooting Mindset Academy

21/05/2025

Wrapped an incredible conversation with clay shooting legend Cheryl Hall last night for the latest Elite Insights interview in The Shooting Mindset Academy!

Some brief highlights:

- “Make it count”. Treat every single clay with the same respect and intention
- When competing, Cheryl breaks down when she needs to maximise her concentration to moments, rather than making the competition a mental marathon
- She visualises “Bob the ******* to deal with distractions and negative thoughts 😂
- Focus on the process, not the end result - “You can’t lose what you haven’t got”
- Breaking barriers: How she fought for gender equality in shooting

Thanks Cheryl, for a brilliant Elite Insights session. 👊🏻

If you want to learn more about mindset, download my FREE ‘Build Your Performance Mindset’ guide, LINK IN BIO🏆🧠

12/05/2025

Have you ever noticed how quickly your mind creates stories about your performance?

In a fascinating 1944 study, researchers showed people simple geometric shapes moving on a screen.

Participants didn’t just see shapes—they saw “men fighting” and “a woman escaping.”

They created elaborate stories where none existed.

This happens in shooting, too. “I always struggle in finals” or “I can’t perform in certain conditions” can become reality simply because we believe them.

These narratives aren’t fixed. They can be changed.

The first step to changing them is awareness. When you know your story, you don’t have to keep fighting it.

In my “Build Your Performance Mindset” guide, you’ll see what stories you are telling yourself about your performance.

Are they helping or hindering you?

Download my complete “Build Your Performance Mindset” guide for free!

Link in bio 👆

08/05/2025

📚 NEW FREE GUIDE: Build Your Performance Mindset 🧠🚀

“Performance is all about doing the right things at the right moment in alignment with your beliefs and values.”

“After years of trying to control their minds, shooters discover that acceptance creates space.”

“Instead of trying to control your internal experience, psychological flexibility is about developing the capacity to be present with whatever shows up inside you while still taking effective action.”

My guide explores how to build this performance mindset, to develop a foundation for performing consistently even under pressure.

I’ll share practical techniques to notice unhelpful thought patterns, create mental space, and align your actions with your values.

Download to discover how to perform at your best even when things don’t feel perfect inside.

📥 Download link: https://sportshootingpsychologist.com/bypm
(and in my bio) 🚀

23/02/2025

We are really looking forward to our next technical and mental masterclass at Owl’s Lodge on 25th March 2025.

This is a day for shooters of all levels looking to develop their all-round game.

More info, including booking details, can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1pjqv_vBo6Xbm6xbe3IaHoE5eqLblMmhIVjBTx5VeQAU/mobilebasic

Any further questions, please reach out to Guy or Paul.

23/10/2024

Planning vs. Reality

As a sport psychologist working with competitive shooters, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about perfect plans—it’s about adaptability.

While we meticulously prepare for competitions, the reality often differs from our expectations.

It’s important to embrace both the planning AND the possibility for chaos.

Can you adapt when the plan goes out of the window?

Your plan should:
 • Challenge you constantly • Expose you to real pressure • Include varied competition experiences • Regularly test your technical and mental skills

Remember: You won’t become a champion by being a great practice shooter.

True progress comes from facing that tidal wave of competition emotions head-on.

Success leaves clues, but there’s no constant upward trajectory.

It’s about minimising psychological error whilst trusting the work that got you there—even when plans go sideways.

Want to level up? Compete more. Train smarter. Debrief thoroughly.

As ann old coaching told me, build that iron bridge that doesn’t break. 🌁

16/10/2024

If your go-to approach for dealing with the inevitable unhelpful things your brain and body create when under pressure is to ignore/suppress or distract then you’ve probably found that it works…

Until it doesn’t. 😫

Now if that approach is working for you, you don’t need to read any further. Keep doing what you’re doing. 🚀
 But if it’s not, you’re not alone! 👊🏻

I’ll share more details soon about reserving your spot, but I’m hosting a live, online workshop on how to switch your mindset on 14th November at 2030 UK time.

Please share this post with anyone you think might be interested in stopping the fight with their mind

14/10/2024

Are you an Olympic Trap or Olympic S***t shooter looking to accelerate your development in this Olympic Cycle?

The High-Performance Shotgun Programme is open for applications NOW.

Email hpshotgun@gmail.com and you’ll immediately receive details about who the programme is for, its benefits, associated costs, and how to apply.

The programme is open to shooters worldwide, providing comprehensive support for 12 months, starting in 2025.

The deadline for applications is 15th November.

11/10/2024

Really excited about this…🤩

🏅Calling all ambitious Trap and S***t shooters worldwide!

Are you ready to train with Olympic-Level coaches and transform your potential into world-class performance?

Introducing the High-Performance Shotgun Programme.

A year-long journey starting in mid-2025 with elite coaches Russell Mark, Lauryn Mark, and Sport Psychologist Paul Hughes.

✅ 2 International Training Camps
✅ Personalised Development Plans
✅ 12 month online access to coaching staff
✅ Cutting-edge Mental Training
✅ Limited to just 12 exceptional athletes aged 18+ years!

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate your path to Olympic success. Applications close 15 November 2024.

Interested?

Email hpshotgun@gmail.com to learn more 🚀🔝

08/10/2024

This quote by American Philosopher William James focuses on how our beliefs and thoughts have the power to shape our reality.

This can be a force for good.

And it can also shield us from our reality.

It shows the potential downside of overly optimistic thinking.

When we solely focus on positive thoughts and beliefs, we might miss the subtleties of what’s really happening around us.

This is why I advocate the skills of noticing and acceptance in my psychological practice.

Both in sport and life.

Please note the word SKILLs. Things to be developed.

By noticing and accepting, you are open to the full spectrum of human experience.

And when the tougher times hit, you will more readily tackle them head-on.

24/09/2024

Overcoming perfectionism in shooting starts with a willingness to accept that perfection is a constantly shifting destination.

Here are three mindset shifts that might help:

1️⃣ Embrace mistakes: View errors as a chance to learn and grow. Discomfort as part of the journey, allow it to guide your improvement.

2️⃣ Focus on your values: Spend time considering what truly matters to you in your shooting journey and life. Align your actions with those values, rather than chasing impossible perfection.

3️⃣ Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness when things don’t go as planned. Acknowledge your efforts and remind yourself that progress is a process. Would you speak the same way to a loved one? No? Then, actively shift your personal narrative.

As the old saying goes, perfect is the enemy of good.

Doing things repeatedly well leads to improvement.

Constantly focusing on an impossible outcome steals attention away from the present.

This

22/09/2024

A persistent challenge for shooters is to manage their response to unwanted thoughts during competition.

The common advice is to think positively, ignore the negative, to think about something else etc etc.

That works… Until it doesn’t.

So what else can you do?

Try this ACCEPT acronym below

A - Acknowledge the thought: Notice it without judgment C - Consider its impact: How is it affecting you? C - Choose your response: Decide how to act, not react E - Engage in your routine: Return to your pre-shot process P - Perform your shot: Execute with confidence T - Trust the process: Stick to your plan

It’s less important to eliminate your thoughts (a thankless task) but instead to manage your RESPONSE.

It’s a choice, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.

Next time you train, try to ACCEPT in a low-stress situation and play with it.

Then, begin to introduce it into your competitive mental method.

Address

Portsmouth

Website

https://sportshootingpsychologist.com/bypm

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