Become the Unstoppable Player on Court – with Mind Training
By Craig Townsend
Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mental Trainer & Founder of
NeuroFrequency Programming™
A groundbreaking method that integrates multiple advanced & proven techniques - including hypnotic suggestion, NLP, visualization, and brainwave frequencies - to unlock deeper potential, dissolve limiting patterns, and rewire the mind’s natural automation for lasting transformation. Learn more about NeuroFrequency Programming™ and the Multi-Track Transformation System™ →
The new era has arrived at the elite level of basketball.
Coaches and top players have finally realized training the mind is just as important as a flawless pass, perfect intercept, and accurate shot.
Simply… because your mind controls everything you do on court.
Players who perform better under pressure are mentally tougher.
Working with an increasing number of players and coaches for over three decades,
it was obvious how little mental training they had been doing.
That soon changed – and so did their results.
These methods work perfectly with elite basketball, which allows little time for conscious thought during the heat of a game – as most actions are performed on auto-pilot.
These actions come directly from the subconscious Your subconscious is the powerhouse of peak performance, controlling all bodily movement, storing your training experience and muscle memory, and guiding your body with effortless efficiency and precision. – where all the inner training takes place.
Talent and on-court magic all happen instinctively, from deep within your subconscious. It is the control center of all your body’s movement.
This is why I teach the same mind techniques that Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, LeBron James, and other legends have used throughout their careers – because they work.
Mind mastery is no different from mastering physical skills – you have to work out at the inner gym.
Developing unbreakable belief, focus under pressure, and the ability to pre-program performance in advance… the rewards are endless.
So it's time to start training it up. Today, I’ll show you some powerful techniques you can do from home. I’ll outline both traditional methods, as well as the latest fast-track techniques used by elite competitors for accessing peak performance and overcoming barriers.
When your mind is working for you, it's all there, on autopilot – without thinking.
Belief, confidence, consistency, focus, brilliant passing, intercepts, shooting, intuitive movement, anticipation… whatever you need.
This is where all the magic comes from. Your subconscious controls it all.
This is why your mind is a massive way to improve – fast.
Peak Performance on Court
You see glimpses of this at those times on court when you feel you simply can’t do a thing wrong – everything works for you.
This is when your mind has clicked into "the Zone The Zone is the peak performance state where your body runs directly from the subconscious. Movements flow naturally, distractions fade, and effort feels effortless as you perform at your absolute best. " – the optimum mental state for basketball performance.
When you are in the zone, everything on court flows instinctively – everything you try comes off, you feel like you "cannot miss."
You become high voltage, pure electricity on court – powered by your subconscious.
You become a turbo-charged warrior with explosive acceleration, unstoppable aggression, and skill levels off the charts.
Mastering Your Mind (& Body)
OK, so how do you perform like this more often? Let's start with visualization.
Visualization involves regularly and realistically picturing in your mind the exact way you want to perform on court.
This is one of the most powerful ways of accessing your body's "control center."
Once you become accomplished at visualizing, it brings major improvement to your on-court performance – in all areas.
So which players use mind techniques? At the elite level – pretty much everyone...
Steph Curry used visualization his entire playing life. From the age of 2, he played imaginary mental games about being a champion – even his grandmother acted as commentator.
By the time he was ready to play, his mind was primed and ready to go.
Scientific Testing of Mental Training
Visualization was even scientifically tested on basketballers at the University of Chicago. Players were tested on their free-throw ability and randomly placed into three groups. The first group practiced shooting free throws for an hour each day.
The second group visualized shooting free throws daily (without physical practice), while the third group didn’t practice at all. After 30 days, the players who physically practiced improved by 24 percent.
The group that didn’t practice showed no improvement – no surprises there.
But the third group – those who had only visualized – improved by 23 percent, almost the same as those who physically practiced!
Needless to say, using BOTH visualization and physical practice can produce massive and rapid improvement.
This demonstrates how powerfully mental training influences your play. Once players realize the difference it makes, it becomes a permanent part of their routine.
(Let's face it – why wouldn’t a player use a secret weapon their opponents know nothing about?)
Uses / Advantages of Mental Training
- Improved Performance Under Pressure – Deliver your best when it matters most.
- Accessing the Zone – Achieve peak performance states more often.
- Improved Focus – Visualization and relaxation sharpen your mental clarity.
- Increased Confidence – Build unshakable belief in your abilities.
- Overcome Slumps – Break out of performance dips quickly.
- Reduced Anxiety – Learn to manage nerves and pressure effectively.
- Better Decision-Making – Make accurate, fast choices on court.
- Greater Motivation – Boost your commitment to training and success.
- Faster Recovery – Bounce back from setbacks or injuries.
- Increased Resilience – Build mental toughness for tough competition.
- Expanded Self-Awareness – Understand strengths, weaknesses, and your opponents.
Champions Do Things Differently…
"Visualization is a powerful tool. I see myself making game-winning shots and outperforming my opponents."
– Michael Jordan
"The power of the mind is incredible. Through visualization, I can perform at my best and achieve greatness on the court."
– Steph Curry
"Visualization is a key part of my preparation. I see myself making crucial plays and leading my team to victory."
– LeBron James
"Mental training is crucial in basketball. When I visualize success and believe in myself, I can achieve greatness on the court."
– Shaquille O'Neal
"I'm a big believer in the power of visualization. I've always believed that if you can see yourself doing something, you can make it happen."
– Shaquille O'Neal
Mental conditioning also helps you break through slumps and barriers, taking your game to the next level.
The only sure way to ensure ongoing, consistent success on court is to also train your body’s control center – your subconscious mind.
Implementing & Mastering These Techniques at Home
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For generations, athletes have relied on powerful techniques like visualization to gain a competitive edge. Now, with advancements in modern technology, these techniques have become even more sophisticated
I will outline some examples for you shortly, which you can practice at home (as effective do-it-yourself programs are what most people are asking for).
I have outlined the various options below to cater to different levels, so you can choose the best path you'd like to explore..
Training Options - For Different Standards, Levels & Skill Sets
Depending upon your level of experience and expertise, there are two distinct approaches to mental preparation - as below:
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Option 1: Mental Exercise Practice
Building Foundations – for New & Entry-Level Competitors
If you’re just beginning your journey - or have time to practice regularly - this approach helps you build a solid mental foundation through proven traditional techniques.
These methods offer gradual but powerful shifts in mindset, clarity, and confidence.
Focus Areas:
1. Creating Powerful New Beliefs
2. Visualization & Mental Rehearsal
3. Developing a Positive Mindset
For those who want faster results with less repetition, see the advanced option below.
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Option 2: Accelerated Techniques
Achieve results in 4–6 weeks that might otherwise take up to 12 months with traditional training.
If time is limited or you're ready to skip the manual work, explore the Fast-Track Audio Program – developed from decades of coaching elite athletes, combining neuroscience with hypnotic techniques. Just $29.
These audios integrate everything below directly into your subconscious, so no manual repetition is needed.
And for the ultimate in personalized training...
Consider NeuroFrequency Programming - a system of customized theta-level Theta brainwaves (4–8Hz): Unlocks heightened creativity, mental clarity, and subconscious alignment - ideal for accelerated learning, focus, and peak performance. mental training recordings, personalized to your exact needs, training, schedule, mindset, and competition challenges - to deal with confidence, focus, resilience, and overcoming nerves or lack of belief, and up to 3 months of monitoring results.
Of course, if time is not an issue, you can always begin by doing the exercises manually - and if you are not satisfied, you can always progress to the next level - combining these and other techniques simultaneously, to accelerate results (see below).
And so for those committed to dedicating time to regular practice and reinforcement, I have provided a selection of options and info below you can work through, and explore further.
(if you have further questions - simply drop me an email)
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1. Embedding Positive Core Beliefs
This exercise, called a contemplation, embeds powerful new core beliefs within your subconscious, as these enormously influence performance.
Your beliefs - weak or strong - ultimately determine your results - and how far your potential can develop. They are the dominating force - more powerful than motivation, talent, ability, fitness, power, etc.
These are your 5 Core Beliefs list to instill, below. Focus on each point in the list for 30 seconds daily, thinking of positive thoughts related to the topic and reasons why it's true for you.
Do this until the reasons are true for you.
2. My dedication to improving my skills and technique has made me a formidable competitor.
3. Nothing can stop me. I easily adapt to different playing styles, opponents, and game situations.
4. No matter what happens out there, I am an unstoppable machine.
5. I elevate my team with my inspiration performances.
2. Improve Performance with Visualization Techniques
Needless to say, the initial and primary visualization should be of yourself competing at your absolute peak of your performance - with as much, or as little, detail as you wish - while imagining experiencing great confidence and inner power while you are performing.
Do this each day, while in a relaxed state (directly before or after sleep are excellent times), and ensuring you use all your senses - ie. ensure the images are vivid, realistic, present-tense, positive, and without any external distractions.
While the results wont be as quick as using the audio recordings, slowly but surely this will bring about improvements, so be patient. As you progress in your development, consider integrating the following aspects to enhance your mind's capacity to visualize flawless performance.
As there are literally hundreds of different ways you can use imagery for various different purposes, I have included some options you can experiment with later on.
But for now, keep to the basics, and make sure you practice regularly.
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Mental Imagery Examples.....
* Create and Visualize Goals - Create specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your basketball game, and imagine achieving them in your mind.
* Making Shots - making the perfect shot, including the ball's arc, the sound of the swish, and the feeling of success.
* Mentally Prepare for Games - playing in different game scenarios, such as dribbling past a defender, taking a jump shot, and making a free throw. This prepares you for game situations.
* Use Positive Self-Talk - Create positive affirmations for yourself and repeat them while visualizing yourself performing well. This builds your confidence and motivate you to perform your best.
* Playing with Confidence - with poise, and a winning attitude - which improves focus and overcomes self-doubt or nervousness.
* Practice Your Defensive Skills - playing solid defense, anticipating your opponent's moves, and blocking shots - which helps you become a more effective defender.
* Focus on Your Breathing - taking deep, calming breaths before, during, and after the game.
* Practice Your Footwork - performing different footwork drills and moves, such as the pivot, crossover, and drop step.
* Rehearse Game Scenarios - such as fast breaks, inbounding the ball, and executing a pick-and-roll. This prepares you for a variety of game situations.
* Practice Your Shooting Form - going through the motions of your shooting form, from your stance to your follow-through. This develops good habits and improve your shooting accuracy.
* Scoring - the ball going through the hoop as you take a shot, then yourself making the shot in various situations such as being guarded or under pressure, with the crowd cheering as you make a successful shot.
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3. Affirmations for Performance
You can also manually recite a mantra over and over again silently in your mind, which is a manual auditory method which can be targeted towards specific uses - plus work great to drown out nagging negative thoughts during performance.
Note: Ensure you use a great deal more repetition to create the necessary reinforcement, seeing these will be recited at the conscious, rather than subconscious, level. A manual way to get around this can be reciting mantras in the shower, which relaxes the mind and body.
Some examples below.. ensure the statements are positive, present-tense, and with no hidden or reverse negatives.
I am a skilled ball-handler - your ball-handling skills make you feel more confident in controlling the ball and avoiding turnovers.
I have a deadly shooting stroke - your shooting ability makes you feel more confident in taking and making shots, which translates to more points on the board.
I am quick and agile - Agility and speed are huge, so always good to reinforce them.
I am a strong and powerful player - Strength and power can help you dominate in the paint and win battles for rebounds and loose balls.
I am a tenacious defender - Defense wins championships, and affirming your defensive abilities to shut down opponents and disrupt their game.
I am clever and strategic - affirming your strategic abilities to outthink your opponents.
I am a disciplined athlete - Affirming your discipline can help you stay on track and dedicated to your goals.
I am versatile - Being able to play multiple positions and perform multiple roles on the court can make you a valuable asset to any team.
I am relentless - affirming your competitive drive to push through fatigue and adversity to achieve your goals.
I'm a brilliant passer and facilitator - Passing and facilitating can create scoring opportunities for your team and help you develop a reputation as an unselfish player.
I am an effective rebounder - Rebounding can control the tempo of the game and give your team more scoring opportunities.
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Listen.... * Audio - 'The Power of Visualization & Belief' Click the 'Play' symbol to start the audio.
* Audio - 'Pre-Performance Motivator' Click the 'Play' symbol to start the audio.
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