Why we choke and how you can profit from it
I’ve just finished reading a fascinating summary about why we choke under pressure. It delves into the brain’s mechanics, explaining how information is stored and transferred between different regions. Typically, we rely on a semi-autonomous part of the brain for skilled tasks.
However, when this information is transferred back to the more thoughtful, conscious part of the brain, performance can fall apart. You can be in the zone one moment and thrown out of it the next, either by accident or due to your opponent’s tactics.
This concept resonates deeply with my own experiences. Understanding why we choke offers crucial insights into how skills are learned and become second nature. It’s also enlightening to grasp what happens inside the mind of an athlete or even an entire team during high-pressure situations.
Consider these questions: Why do athletes lose confidence? Why can’t they perform as they did moments ago? Why does a team suddenly falter? What can a manager do to restore their confidence? What does it really mean to restore confidence?
I have two personal stories that illustrate why we choke, each separated by many years. Additionally, I have a practical experience that ended quite profitably. These experiences underscore the importance of understanding and managing pressure, whether in sports or any other high-stakes situation.
Choking in Tennis
When I was young, I would often play doubles tennis with a friend. Individually, we weren’t particularly skilled, but together, it was as if we were telepathic. Our lack of technical prowess was more than compensated by our ability to out-think our opponents. We could read the game and move around the court in perfect harmony, creating a formidable challenge for even the most skilled players.
One memorable spell saw us defeating several opponents and advancing to the latter stages of a tournament. Our progress astonished us; despite our strong partnership, we knew we weren’t as naturally talented as many of the teams we faced. Nevertheless, buoyed by our success, we played with increasing confidence.
Reaching a critical match, we spoke about the significance of our journey and how incredible it would be to push through to the final stages. The excitement and pressure were palpable.
However, what followed was one of the worst games of tennis we had ever played. Our coordination faltered, our strategy crumbled, and we were left mystified at how we could perform so poorly after coming so far. It was a bit embarrassing to reach such a pivotal stage only to fall apart.
The experience was humbling, reminding us that even the best partnerships can falter under pressure.
Choking in Golf
Many years later, I found myself in a senior corporate role where entertaining clients was crucial. Often, this meant playing golf—a sport I had never tried. So, I turned to a friend who was a golfing fanatic. With his guidance and lots of practice, I aimed to become semi-competent, just enough to play on a championship course without embarrassing myself.
Finally, feeling somewhat confident, I entered an amateur tournament. But to my dismay, I played one of the worst games of my life. I was constantly hitting the grass instead of the ball, or barely skimming it, sending it a few yards away. Fortunately, my playing partners were sympathetic, aware of my nervousness.
Reflecting on my earlier tennis experiences, I sought advice from a local golf pro. Surprisingly, he didn’t critique my technique much; instead, he focused on my mindset. He observed my swings and acknowledged areas for improvement but emphasized something more profound.
He talked about the mental tricks our minds play during a game. He had me intensely focus on my actions and then try not thinking about them at all. His insight was clear: I was overthinking every shot during the tournament. To improve, I needed to relax and enjoy the game.
His advice was unconventional yet effective. He suggested I stop overanalyzing each shot. Instead, I should hum a tune or recite a book in my mind. Of course, I needed to line up the shot and ensure everything was right, but I had to avoid overthinking. Just let it happen.
Questions like, “Is the lie perfect? Is that grass in the way? Did I choose the right club? Should I adjust my aim?” needed to be replaced with thoughts like, “What a beautiful course,” “Wouldn’t it be great to get this close to the hole?” and “That was a great tee shot.”
By focusing on the enjoyment of the game rather than its mechanics, I learned to play with a clearer mind and greater confidence.
From failure to success
A year after my disastrous performance in the amateur tournament, I decided to give it another shot at a different course. Armed with newfound knowledge and confidence, I stepped onto the course with a calm mind and a relaxed attitude.
Not only did I play well, but I had the round of my life and ended up winning the tournament! Aiming for a better performance was my goal, but winning it all was beyond my wildest expectations.
On that particular day, everything clicked perfectly. My drives were straight as arrows, often exceeding my usual distance. My hazard shots were impeccable, I sank putts from 20 feet out, and even chipped over trees to land on the green. I could do no wrong.
As I approached the final holes, I realized my score was good enough to win, so I played it safe, focusing on high-percentage shots. Becoming aware of my potential victory did influence my play, but I managed to stay composed and see it through.
A combination of improved performance, a bit of luck, and my new mental approach culminated in a win. The large silver trophy now sits proudly in my dining room, a testament to that epic round of golf—a story I happily recount!
The key difference was clear: in the first tournament, I had choked under pressure, just as I had in my early tennis matches. In the latter tournament, I was relaxed, at ease, and let my subconscious handle the game.
Winning was a bonus; the real victory was learning the art of not choking. This life-changing lesson transformed how I approach high-pressure situations, especially those involving risk. It taught me to trust my training, stay relaxed, and enjoy the process, allowing my natural abilities and all that practice to shine.
Spotting chokes
Often, you’ll encounter opponents who deliberately try to make you choke, knowing some people are more susceptible than others. However, understanding what triggers this reaction can help you navigate these situations more effectively..
Spotting Moments of Broken Concentration
In any sport, there are moments when a team’s or a player’s concentration is disrupted. These can be critical opportunities to gain an edge. Look out for:
Injury Breaks: An injury to a key player can disrupt the flow of the game and unsettle both the injured player and their teammates.
Weather Interruptions: Sudden changes in weather or delays due to rain can break the rhythm of the game and affect performance.
External Distractions: Events like a noisy crowd, technical issues, or unexpected occurrences can take players out of their zone.
Time-outs and Substitutions: Strategic breaks called by coaches or sudden substitutions can disrupt momentum and focus.
Choke points
There many situations in sport that can create key moments when a player or an entire team chokes. Here are some example I can think off, but there are many .
Football
One of the most shocking moments in World Cup history was Brazil’s 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil. Brazil, playing at their national stadium, were expected to perform well, but they completely collapsed under pressure, especially in the first half when they conceded five goals within 29 minutes.
Some teams are better than others at penalty shoot-outs. Any professional footballer should be able to score from 12 yards, but a penatly shoot-out is the ultimate pressure cooker situation and more likely to bring on choke.
I spent ages looks at game states in football many years ago. One of the things I discovered was that when a team takes the lead but loses it, it tends to change how they play. For example a team that races to a 2-0, that then concedes. Is more likely to drop deeper into a defensive position to defend their remaining lead.
Golf
Jean Van de Velde’s collapse at the 1999 Open Championship is legendary. Leading by three strokes on the final hole at Carnoustie, he made a series of poor decisions and mistakes, ending up with a triple-bogey 7. He lost the ensuing playoff to Paul Lawrie.
Greg Norman’s performance in the 1996 Masters is one of the most famous collapses in golf history. Holding a six-shot lead going into the final round, Norman shot a 78 and lost to Nick Faldo by five strokes.
In 2016, Jordan Speith looked set to claim another US Masters champioshiop and traded at 1.09 going into Ahem Corner. On the way out he had collapsed and handing Danny Willet the leader, which was graciously taken. Read more here.
Tennis
Jana Novotná led Steffi Graf 4-1 in the final set and appeared to be on the verge of victory. However, she lost five consecutive games, giving Graf the championship. The image of a tearful Novotná being consoled by the Duchess of Kent became iconic.
Andy Murray reached the final of the Australian Open tennis on serveral occasions, but never quite managed to win it. In 2013 he was a set up against Novak Djokovic and was playing well. With the scores tied in the second set tie-break a feature fluttered down from the ceiling. Murray’s concentration was broken and he went on to lose the tie break and the match. Read more here.
These examples are among the most notable instances where athletes or teams have struggled under pressure, often leading to dramatic and unexpected outcomes.
Summary
Grasping what’s happening in someone’s mind—whether it’s your own or an opponent’s—is a crucial tactic in sports, but this also spills into you trading and strategy. This insight can give you knowledge of where key turning points can dramatically shift the outcome, particularly in individual player sports.
By identifying these moments, you can adjust your strategy to exploit the lapse in concentration. For instance, in tennis, if an opponent seems rattled after an injury timeout, you might play more aggressively to capitalize on their distraction. Similarly, in team sports, rallying your team to maintain focus during weather delays can keep your side mentally prepared while the opposition struggles to regain their composure.
It’s here that you will find the greatest trading opportunties.