Matt Wilson

Director of Instruction, Baltusrol Golf Club. Committed to helping athletes realize their goals. Curious. Opinions mine.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

@rebeccabultsma @united Sadly not. Clear messaging is lacking.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

@united Me, sitting on the tarmac at #ewr for 2.5 hours in the blazing heat.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

hey @united. this is going great; we now get to go back to our gate to get the fuel that we need (and likely burned sitting here) for the new route that we - wait for it - aren't cleared to take off on yet. it gets better....there is no gate. beer plz, thx.

[Alex Auerbach @AlexAuerbachPhD]

When I think about sustaining excellence over time, one concept comes to mind:

Adaptive capacity.

We have to learn to take on progressively higher, harder challenges if we want to give ourselves a chance at greatness.

We have to stretch ourselves, rest, and then iterate.

[Emily Phoenix @phoenixemily]

Congrats Monet!! An individual win and a 61 in the second round is some pretty nice golf 👏 @GolfCanada @mattwilsongolf @smussani

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

Some thoughts on the internal athletic experience during the biggest moments and why flexibility and tolerance may unlock further success and enjoyment.

https://t.co/Pz47fhWkfE

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

I often find it to be the case that the athletes we coach end up teaching us just as much, if not more, about the path towards mastery; some reflections from one such case.

https://t.co/go6rJPVeUp

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

Making room for imperfection https://t.co/WMwSiPzSCQ

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

I learned a lot about performance from my parents. Some thoughts from my Dad about 'playing with commitment'.
https://t.co/ixdRgCYmX7

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

The aim? Actionable insights in under 5 minutes, composed in fewer than 500 words, delivered every second Monday. Starting March 4th, 2024. https://t.co/QsVQyvDQQe

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

Curious Coaches brought me tremendous joy. I like to write, and making a positive contribution is something I value being able to do. Logically, If I enjoy an activity and hold something as a value, I should probably do (and uphold) it.

So, here it is. A Substack.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

My hope is that my academic background coupled with my applied coaching experience can provide meaningful commentary for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone else who is interested in the pursuit of better.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

@mfinneygolf Amen.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

@pgaofcanada Mad River

[Matt Schnuck @mattschnuck]

In 2012 Novak Djokovic had a breakthrough in his mental game.

His insight (and what it can do for you):

As he began playing on the biggest stage - he’d have doubts at the worst moments.

Match point. Self Doubt.

Pre-breakthrough, he saw these thoughts as a major problem...As bad...As something he needed to eliminate.

“I used to freeze up whenever I made a mistake.”

His breakthrough - accepting he could not eliminate his negative thoughts and self-doubt ...Even at the worst times on the court.

Old Mindset:
I need to improve so that negative thoughts NEVER arise on the court. If doubt occurs, something is wrong.

New Mindset:
Because I am human, I expect negative thoughts to happen when the pressure is highest. When they arise I just use my tools to manage them skillfully.

Now he EXPECTS doubt to arise on the biggest stage. His insight:

“Everyone goes through these thought processes of self-doubt. I don’t think it is particularly bad. I used to think it was bad. So I was trying to ignore it or shut it down.”

“But the major transformation in a positive way for me started when I acknowledged and accepted those thoughts as part of me.”

Novak’s radical shift was to stop trying to eliminate negative thoughts. But instead to develop strategies that acknowledge his humanity and would be effective when they would inevitably arrive.

Takeaway 1:

Even the best in the world face self-doubt, often at the most inconvenient times. The goal isn’t eliminating these voices - it is finding tools to deal with them skillfully.

Takeaway 2:

Conscious breathing can be an anchor to come into the present moment when negative thoughts arrive at inconvenient moments. Practicing breathwork in low-stakes moments allows one to use this tool to move beyond negative thinking when it matters most.

Novak: “Now when I blow a serve or shank a backhand, I still get those flashes of self-doubt, but I know how to handle them.”

Mental fitness is a state of readiness.

Readiness is judged by how quickly can you recover...

It’s not about staying perfect.

It’s about practicing to be prepared.

If this resonates, comment below and follow
@mattschnuck for insights on inflections in life, entrepreneurship and 25 years in business.

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

Yup. The faster you/we can accept this as fact, the better.

[Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0]

#LeafsForever

[Matt Wilson @mattwilsongolf]

Worth the watch.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Giannis is outstanding: “There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not, some days it is your turn, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win.”