We often associate optimal performance with maximal effort. The athlete who is grimacing and straining to the finish line is often considered the model of success. However, when performing movements that require maximal speed, unbridled maximal effort does not necessarily translate into optimal performance. The concept of relaxation must be ingrained into all aspects of technical execution. If all muscles are tight and contracted, it is much more difficult to initiate a high-velocity movement. This is true for all movements that require acceleration and technical proficiency, whether the movement is swinging a golf club, hurling a baseball or sprinting. A finely tuned athlete has the ability to not only turn muscles on quickly, but also turn them off quickly, which is important for a high-speed, complex task such as sprinting. Communicating to athletes that the optimal performance does not necessarily come about through the application of maximal exertion can be useful in honing their relaxation abilities