Advanced Tip of the Month
Visualization is a Valuable Skill

Most golfers are very good at visualization. The problem is, this skill is often used to conjure up images of bad shots from rounds gone by.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is how our memory works. It has been proven that our brains remember things much more easily when we attach strong emotion to the event. Most golfers react with strong emotion when they hit a poor shot and react passively when they hit a good one. This pattern triggers the process of stock piling memories of poor shots and forgetting good ones. When it comes time to pull an image out of our database, the majority of the time a poor image will be found.

Step one to using visualization as a tool is to begin reacting to poor shots without any emotion and taking the time to pat yourself on the back when you hit a good one. This will fill your memories with good images and make it easier to have good thoughts while you are playing.

Step two is to acknowledge how important visualization is to your success as a golfer and begin to spend time developing the skill. Spend a few minutes whenever you get a chance, visualizing yourself playing golf. If you are like most people, you will play a hole or two and your mind will wander to other things, or the images of you playing golf will be unclear or jerky. As you spend more time practicing this skill, your ability to see clear and flowing images will develop and you will be able to play a few holes of great golf in your mind. Once you have honed this skill a little further, you should add it to your pre-shot routine. If you can clearly see the shot you are trying to play before you set-up to the ball, your odds of pulling it off will go up dramatically. Also, if you actively work on "seeing" good shots, you won't be so apt to have a bad image pop into your mind at the wrong time.

With a little practice, you can make your brain a valuable tool instead of a major obstacle.