Researchers at the Center for Sport & Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University examined the effects of relaxation, imagery and trigger control procedures and found that “hypnosis can improve golf-chipping performance and increase feelings and cognitions associated with flow”. Findings were reported in Perceptual & Motor Skills (December 2000).
The Journal of Sports Science (April 1993) reported that researchers at the School of Kinesiology at The University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, investigated the effects of imagery on the soccer playing of both skilled and novice players. Performance on the post-test as measured by response time (the time to complete the soccer task) revealed a significant improvement for both the skilled and novice players in the imagery group.