Investigation of Effects of Hypnosis, Relaxation, and Mental Rehearsal on Performance Scores of Golfers and Runners.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefit of hypnotic techniques, relaxation, and mental rehearsal for improvement in performance scores for golfers and runners. Treatments were designed to be similar to interventions reported to be successful with individual athletes yet unsupported by larger investigations. No significant results were obtained for either sport. Explanations for obtained results included an actual absence of true effect, masking of effects by continuing methodological problems in the area of athletics and hypnosis, and the lack of generalizability of positive effect. Well controlled, indepth case studies were recommended for future investigation