Preparing for Match Play: How Mental Imagery Can Support Performance Success
The 2026 Solheim Cup is taking place 7-13th September at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. It is one of the few occasions in women’s professional golf where the format changes the psychological demands of performance. Unlike traditional stroke-play events, players compete directly against an opponent, with each hole becoming its own contest.
In our previous Solheim Cup blog, we explored what makes match play such a fascinating psychological challenge, from momentum swings to the pressures of head-to-head competition. This follow-up post takes the next step by examining how golfers can use mental imagery to prepare for these demands and support performance when the stakes are high.
What Is Mental Imagery?
Mental imagery is much more than simply "seeing" a successful performance. It involves creating or recreating experiences in the mind using multiple senses, including visual, kinaesthetic (movement and feel), auditory, and emotional experiences. Athletes often use imagery to rehearse performance situations, build confidence, manage emotions, and prepare for challenges before they occur.
New to mental imagery? Start with this blog post: Introducing imagery: a key mental skill for success in sport and life
In golf, imagery might involve seeing the flight of the ball, feeling the rhythm of a swing, hearing the sound of clean contact, or mentally rehearsing how to respond after a disappointing shot. Research has shown that effective imagery can enhance confidence, support attentional focus, and help successful athletes prepare for pressure-filled situations (Armstrong, 2023; Di Corrado et al., 2025; Kouali et al., 2020; Milley & Ouellette, 2021; Williams & Ginty, 2024). For match-play golfers, these benefits may be particularly valuable.
The Psychology of Match Play
Match play creates several psychological challenges that differ from stroke play.
Momentum Can Change Quickly
A poor hole in stroke play can have lasting consequences for an entire round. In match play, however, losing a hole is simply losing a single point in an ongoing contest. This can be both an advantage and a challenge. Players must be able to leave mistakes behind quickly and refocus on the next opportunity rather than dwelling on what has just happened.
Pressure Is Personal
In stroke play, the course is often the primary challenge. In match play, every success and failure is experienced relative to an opponent. This direct comparison can increase anxiety, self-consciousness, and concerns about making mistakes. Players may become distracted by what their opponent is doing rather than focusing on their own game.
Tactical Decisions Become More Complex
Match play can encourage different decision-making strategies. A player who is behind in a match may decide to take greater risks, while a player who is leading may choose a more conservative approach. Making these decisions effectively requires confidence, commitment, and the ability to stay focused under pressure. Mental imagery can help golfers prepare for all of these challenges before they step onto the first tee.
Five Ways Mental Imagery Can Support Match-Play Performance
1. Prepare for Pressure Before It Happens
Many golfers use imagery to picture successful shots. However, some of the most effective imagery involves preparing for difficult situations.
Rather than imagining a perfect round, golfers can mentally rehearse:
Losing an early hole
Facing a challenging putt to halve a hole
Playing in front of a large crowd
Responding to an opponent's exceptional shot
By mentally experiencing these situations beforehand, athletes can build confidence in their ability to cope when they arise. The goal is not to eliminate pressure but to become more prepared for it.
2. Strengthen Pre-Shot Commitment
One of the most common uses of imagery in golf occurs during the pre-shot routine.
Before stepping into a shot, golfers can imagine:
The ball's flight towards the target
The line and pace of a putt
The feel and rhythm of a committed swing
This approach helps direct attention towards the intended outcome rather than mechanical swing thoughts. We recommend making imagery as realistic as possible. This might include holding the club, adopting the intended stance, and mentally rehearsing the shot at the same speed it would occur in reality. By focusing on the desired result, golfers can often approach the shot with greater clarity and commitment.
3. Reset After Setbacks
One of the defining characteristics of successful match-play competitors is resilience. Even the best players lose holes. What often separates successful performers is how they respond afterwards. Mental imagery can be used to rehearse effective reset behaviours, such as:
Taking a breath
Accepting the previous outcome
Refocusing attention on the next challenge
Recommitting to a game plan
By repeatedly imagining these responses, athletes can strengthen their ability to recover from setbacks during competition.
4. Stay Composed When Momentum Shifts
Anyone who has watched match play will have seen momentum apparently change in a matter of minutes. An opponent holes a long putt. A difficult bunker shot suddenly drops. A match that felt comfortable begins to tighten. At these moments, emotions can quickly escalate.
Imagery can help golfers rehearse staying calm and composed when momentum shifts. Some athletes imagine themselves responding confidently to adversity. Others use calming images or performance cues that help regulate arousal and return attention to the present moment.
The objective is not to control the opponent's performance but to maintain control of one's own response.
5. Build Confidence Through Previous Successes
Imagery can also be used to revisit successful performances. Golfers might mentally replay:
A crucial putt they previously holed under pressure
A particularly strong competitive round
A match where they demonstrated resilience and composure
These experiences provide evidence of what the athlete is capable of achieving. Drawing on successful memories can reinforce self-belief and create a stronger sense of readiness before competition.
Bringing Imagery into Your Match-Play Preparation
Like any psychological technique, imagery becomes more effective with practice. Rather than waiting until competition day, golfers can integrate imagery into their regular preparation by:
Setting aside a few minutes each week for structured imagery practice
Incorporating imagery into pre-shot routines
Rehearsing challenging match-play scenarios
Reflecting on successful performances and mentally revisiting them
The most effective imagery is typically vivid, controllable, and relevant to the situations golfers are likely to encounter.
Final Thoughts
Match play tests far more than technical ability. It challenges golfers to manage pressure, respond to setbacks, make effective decisions, and stay focused as momentum shifts throughout a contest.
Mental imagery cannot guarantee success, but it can help golfers prepare for the psychological demands that make match play such a unique challenge. By rehearsing both performance and coping strategies, athletes may feel more confident, resilient, and prepared when every hole counts.
Watching the Solheim Cup this Weekend?
As well as following the scores, pay attention to how players respond after winning or losing a hole. Notice how they reset after mistakes, prepare before important shots, and manage shifts in momentum. These moments provide a fascinating reminder that golf is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.
Written by Prof Jennifer Cumming
References
Armstrong, D.-M. (2023). A systematic review utilising synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) to explore the use of imagery interventions in youth sport. 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/jirspa-2023-0008 (Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity)
Di Corrado, D., Tortella, P., Coco, M., Guarnera, M., Tusak, M., & Parisi, M. C. (2025). Mental imagery and stress: The mediating role of self-efficacy in competitive martial arts athletes [Original Research]. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 16 - 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1517718
Kouali, D., Hall, C., & Deck, S. (2020). Examining the effectiveness of an imagery intervention in enhancing athletes’ eudaimonic well-being. Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity, 15(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1515/jirspa-2020-0003
Milley, K. R., & Ouellette, G. P. (2021). Putting attention on the spot in coaching: Shifting to an external focus of attention with imagery techniques to improve basketball free-throw shooting performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645676
Williams, S. E., & Ginty, A. T. (2024). Improving stress mindset through education and imagery. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 37(4), 419-427. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2023.2279663
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