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Psychological pressure and performance in competitive environments: The first-hole effect in youth golf

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  • Xu, Minbo
  • Wang, Oliver

Abstract

A growing literature in behavioral economics has studied the negative impact of psychological pressure on professional athletes’ performance in sport settings with extreme pressures. This paper expands the literature to a more common sport setting in which both psychological pressure and players’ skills are not extreme. We use a large dataset from the U.S. Kids Golf tournaments to document a first-hole effect in youth golf: golfers’ performance at a hole is significantly worse if they play the hole as the starting hole. The first-hole effect is consistent with the widely held notion of first-tee jitters and inconsistent with alternative explanations.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Minbo & Wang, Oliver, 2023. "Psychological pressure and performance in competitive environments: The first-hole effect in youth golf," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:224:y:2023:i:c:s0165176523000320
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Psychological pressure; Tournament; Golf;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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