A cue word (or trigger word) is a short, personal phrase — usually one or two words — that an athlete uses to direct attention or summon a desired state under pressure. Examples include "feet," "smooth," "next," "explode," or "breathe." Cue words are the practical, in-the-moment form of self-talk.
A good cue word has three qualities: it's short enough to use in real time, task-directed (pointing at what to do rather than what to avoid), and rehearsed — practiced alongside the action until it reliably produces the intended state. The rehearsal is what makes the difference; a cue word drilled hundreds of times in training becomes a dependable tool, while one invented in the moment is just hope.
Cue words power several other skills. They anchor pre-performance routines, they enable fast mistake recovery, and they help with refocusing after distraction. They are one of the most portable and immediately useful mental tools an athlete can develop.