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Most amateurs will probably have heard advice saying they should
picture shots in their mind, but how do they do it properly? Tip
should contain everything you should do when visualising your shots.
Many people don't think they can visualise. In fact, everybody
can visualise. Visualisation is a key mental skill crucial to success
in golf, yet in my experience only a few amateurs consciously visualise
anything and, tour pro's at best only do a fraction of what they
should be doing. Wherever you are right now, close your eyes (or
leave them open if you prefer) and describe in detail the clubs
you have in your bag, at home or in your car. Imagine your woods,
irons, putter, the bag itself, and so on. Got it? Next describe
in full detail the bar, restaurant or locker room at your golf
club, or one you have visited. Describe the layout, the furniture
style and position, window views, etc. Next pay close attention
to the picture in your 'minds-eye'? Is it digital quality or more
like an old sepia photograph, or somewhere in between? Then shift
your attention to the finer distinctions, called submodalities,
in your picture, is it; colour or black and white, bright or dull,
moving or still, panoramic or in-a-frame, flat or 3D, in sharp
focus or hazy, life or other size, close or far away, and anything
else you notice?
Next recall the greatest Tee shot you have ever taken, and as you go back to
that specific time now. Imagine in your 'minds-eye' standing behind the ball
and looking down the fairway towards the target or line you have chosen. Then
pretend you are a film director making a movie in your 'minds eye' of your
desired ball flight. Where golfers consciously 'visualise' as part of their
preshot routine, they generally only 'see' a partial image, the ball rising,
of the expected ball flight. This reflects aiming for the line. When picture
quality is poor, you are most likely about to take a poor shot. Conversely,
good picture quality is an indication that a good shot is more probable. Visualisation
is worth doing well, since it is one of the few things where you have 100%
conscious control over what you are doing.
If you are trying to improve your accuracy, distance and consistency
off the tee then a complete flight, bounce and roll picture is
needed. You must imagine the complete trajectory shape, the ball
rising and falling, amount of spin, bounce and roll to a complete
rest. Jack Nicklaus in Golf My Way (1975) say's 50% of shot placement
accuracy is 'visualisation'. The flight trajectory is just one
of several discrete steps required in the 'visualisation protocol'
in preshot routines. This will be addressed in a forthcoming article.
What you visualise for different aspects of your game varies, but
'how' you do it is the same.
Visualisation is actually a misnomer. It really refers to all
your senses or modalities. That is seeing with your 'minds-eye',
hearing with your 'minds-ear' and experiencing the 'feelings' within
your body and any emotion or mood that is present. Now go back
to your greatest tee shot and see what you see, hear what you hear
and feel what you feel. You have now proved you can visualise properly.
You may notice differences in the picture, sound and emotional
quality between memories and future events. In much the same way
you may notice differences between good and bad shots - before
you hit them! By only taking shots when you have a good picture
in your 'minds-eye' will take many strokes off your handicap.
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| © MIND4Golf Academy 2004 |
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