A common question I get asked is how to quieten the mind during pressurised moments. The solution starts with finding where exactly the attention is focused in those moments. It is almost always the case that thoughts and attention are fixated on uncontrollable scenarios.
Outcome for instance is not directly in the realm of personal control, yet we find ourselves invested in it. Outcome depends on a variety of factors not directly under personal control, such as weather, terrain, competitors and course. A lot of our training is outcomes based. You train to succeed, you train to win. It is difficult then to keep outcome from clouding the mental picture. This is particularly relevant to “pressurised situations.” Outcome becomes so important to those in a performance environment due to the amount of effort and training that has been put in to achieve that outcome. That brings us to the potential root of this common problem that so many high performers face. Strong focus on outcome right from the beginning can easily turn out to be the reason that the outcome is not achieved. When your focus is so intensely on something that is not entirely in your control, that focus can easily turn into anxiety and worry. Your subconscious brain attaches a natural high level of anxiety to thoughts of events and scenarios that it does not have full control over and where the outcome is an unknown.

I advocate directing that mental energy to the daily habits, behaviours and processes linked to outcome, rather than outcome itself. This way you can build your confidence! You can have control over those habits, behaviours and processes and you can hone them to a sharp edge.

The skill of quietening your mind is learned through the consistent focus on controllable processes that occur in the present. Focus on habits, behaviours and processes you have perfected with your coach and on the practice range. Every shot and every scenario has a solution that can be linked to a trained process. The outcome may not always be as desired, which, of course, is not within your control. So why worry. Whatever the outcome, there will be another process or habit that you can apply. The best you can do regarding outcome is to begin with the end in mind.

Beginning with the end in mind is a phrase that my dad taught me and it refers to tackling any task by first thinking of, or visualising its successul completion. Note the difference, 'its successful completion’ in this scenario you have already achieved success, there is no anxiety related to outcome. It's a given. 

So in preparation for those anxious moments, focus on processes that you have control over and ensure that they are ingrained.  When that pressurised moment comes, apply the process and see only success in your minds eye. That you have control over. Whatever the outcome, you go again next time.