Athlete Mindset

Dirk has really helped me during the moments of self doubt. The pressure and negative self talk over a bad shot during a golf match was getting in my head. I needed a strong mental game to compete at State and thanks to Dirk, I successfully medalled by using what he taught me. I now have the mental skills to match my physical skills.

I have been very fortunate to have worked with Dirk for a while now. He has helped me tremendously. Dirk has provided me with the skill set I need to reach my goals on and off the golf course. He listens to what I need and helps me use strategies to improve in the areas where I am struggling. Dirk has also been a positive influence throughout my high school golf tryouts and really taught me where my focus needs to be before, during, and after play. Some of the things we have worked on are staying positive, the importance of being on track, and skills not to be nervous. The exercises he has provided me have been very beneficial in improving my golf game. I am very grateful to have him as a mental coach and support for me.

Working with Dirk on mental performance has been a game-changer. He taught me how to handle negative self talk such that I was able to free my mind and perform at a much higher level during competition. We also improved my practice routine to be more specific and engaging which better simulates what can be expected on the course. My sessions with Dirk have paid off tremendously not only as a golfer, but also in my personal development.

I think that I am better at keeping my focus. I also think I am better at coming back from bad shots and not being impacted by the past.

As I began to develop more physical ability and see success in my sport, I noticed how mentally unprepared I was to handle what followed. I slowly discovered the need to put as much time into mental preparation as I did my physical preparation. The work done through mental performance with Dr. Downing caused a complete turnaround in my collegiate career that has now given me an opportunity to confidently pursue professional golf.

Dirk and I started working together at a time when I was struggling with my game. The mental processes we discussed had an immediate impact in increasing my enjoyment playing golf. This helped reduce tension and allowed me to score better. So much so that very soon after beginning to work together I shot -6 in a college event finishing 4th, a result that was by far the best of my season. The work we did together was critical for me in becoming the SEC Men's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year and in the following year playing 7 of 11 tournaments under par. Something which I had never before come close to achieving!

I had the opportunity to work with Dirk during my golf career at Mizzou and he is outstanding! Dirk was the biggest asset to my career that helped me compete at the highest level and reach my goals. He truly understands the game and how each individual player works. I couldn’t be more pleased with how Dirk has helped my game progress! I credit a huge amount of my success to his mental performance coaching.