Elevating Your Mental Game: Joel Turner's Strategies for Athletes Seeking Peak Performance

Joel Turner, a world leader in target panic science, discusses the mental game and how it applies to sports, specifically baseball hitting. He shares his background as a law enforcement officer and firearms instructor, and how he overcame target panic and performance anxiety. Turner introduces the concept of the mental game equation, which involves knowing when, where, and how to direct the conscious mind into a specific task at a specific moment. He explains the difference between open loop and closed loop control systems and emphasizes the importance of correct thinking and staying in the open loop system during sports performance. In this conversation, Shawn French and Joel Turner discuss the importance of in-game adjustments and the impact of external distractions on athletes. They emphasize the need for athletes to practice getting loud in their own heads and drown out external voices. They also highlight the significance of practicing in loud environments to prepare for high-stress situations. The conversation extends beyond sports, with Joel explaining how mental game skills can be applied to various areas of life. Joel announces the upcoming release of an online course and website to help individuals develop their mental game skills. They also touch on the difference between motivation and discipline and the limitations of motivational speaking. Takeaways The mental game equation involves knowing when, where, and how to direct the conscious mind into a specific task at a specific moment. Open loop control systems are used for fast and efficient movements, while closed loop control systems are used for slow and precise movements. Thoughts are what you hear, while thinking is what you say. It is important to recognize the difference and focus on self-instruction rather than self-talk. Successful athletes have specific phrases or instructions they say to themselves during performance to keep their conscious mind in the right place. Determination and decision-making are crucial in achieving success in sports and directing the conscious mind to the right tasks. Athletes should avoid making in-game adjustments and receiving instruction on mechanics during competition. Athletes need to practice getting loud in their own heads and prioritize their own thoughts over external distractions. Practicing in loud environments helps athletes develop the skill of maintaining focus in high-stress situations. Mental game skills can be applied to various areas of life, including relationships and problem-solving. Motivation is not as important as discipline in achieving long-term success. Motivational speaking often lacks practical guidance and fails to address the depth of the mental game. Connect with Joel Turner- Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/joelturner_shotiq/ Website- https://www.shotiq.com/home Buy his course- https://www.turnermodel.com/mindiq Sign up for Shawn's Free Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/thedeterminedsociety/newsletter   The Determined Society is hosted by Shawn French — a show for people who refuse to quit. Every episode goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the real stories behind resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of a life built on your own terms. Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all others.. If this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and leave a review. It helps more than you know. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.