By Elliott West
“I look to prepare the brain to avoid that ‘flight, fight or freeze’ response we naturally have when in danger or under pressure”.
Chris Henry
Introduction
Snooker players often hit a brick wall in their careers and despite a period of soul searching, reach out to a second party to try and recreate that winning formula. The gaffer in multiple sports, who refreshes the parts that others can’t reach, has to be the Lancashire innovator, Chris Henry who has worked with so many in sport and who has the natural knack of being able to rewire a mind, producing Rolls Royce precision and a reinvigorated game for those who choose to take up the challenge.
Henry has a talent which is in high demand. The 56-year-old who now lives with his family in Belgium has a long list of sportspersons that he has successfully worked with in snooker the likes of Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby with both players reaching the final of the 2021 World Championship. A final where Chris darted between both dressing rooms and in the end produced a classic and exhilarating final and an 18-15 victory for Mark Selby.
Neutral Wiring
Of course, the methods of any mind coach are shrouded in secrecy but what we do know about Henry’s technique is his priority to home in on the self-conscious and rewire it to change levels of self-belief and confidence. Neutral wiring is central to his coaching regime. A method that trains the brain to deal with situations in a neutral and calm way, expelling the flight, fight, or freeze situation from the room. Working out of his office in Bruges, aptly dubbed the ‘Snooker Palace’, Henry currently works with a number of snooker players, having previously spent time with Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White and golfers such as Lee Westwood, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Peter Uihlein.
Snooker Roots
Many of you who have been watching snooker for a number of years, will remember that Chris Henry was actually a very talented snooker player. Chris first picked up a cue when he was nine years old and used to play in the same snooker club as Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor. Born in Accrington, Henry once beat his future pupil, Stephen Hendry in a British Under-21 tournament and made it onto professional status. He even had the legendary coach Frank Callan fighting his corner. A brilliant snooker coach who brought Henry some success on the continent.
However, Chris decided to turn his attention to coaching and spent some time in America learning about what makes the brain anxious and what stops a sportsperson from performing to their optimum level. A process that involves breaking down the memory files that cause barriers to form in the subconscious. Henry display this skill when helped Shaun Murphy who was struggling to produce a televised 147 break. By putting Murphy in this dreaded zone, Shaun was able to expel his demons and went on to produce three maximum breaks in one season.
Afterthoughts
Chris is definitely one of the best mind coaches in the business and is highly regarded by those in sport. Whether he is turning his hand to golf, football, snooker or working with big corporations such as Mastercard Europe and the First Group in the United Arab Emirates. Whether working with current champions or those that have been there but whose game is on the decline, Henry seems to have the Midas touch. A magical gift that rejuvenates the skills of many who he works with and opens the doors of success once more. A fascinating and talented man, Henry is in high demand and definitely a number you should have saved on your mobile phone. When you are sent a set of coaching balls, you know you are one step closer to success.
