Why Do Squash Players Choke When Close to Winning?

Choking happens when awareness of the outcome replaces focus on the process of playing each point.

When you are close to winning, your mind shifts from playing the ball to thinking about the result. This causes tension, hesitation, and errors on shots you would normally make without thinking. The solution is to try to stay in the present by focusing entirely on the next shot. Treat each point the same whether it is match point or 0-0. Developing a consistent between-point routine helps keep your attention on the process.