The secret: Visualization.
Thanks to it, your practice sessions will be more efficient. Therefore, you may reduce their duration and save on baskets of balls costs. According to me, 4 visualization sessions combined with one single practice session are better than 5 practice sessions alone. Imagine the time and money saved for more rounds of golf or more golf lessons!
It is scientifically proven that it greatly improves athletes’ performance. And you can do visualization sessions almost anywhere, anytime. Except, obviously, when driving, since you must have closed eyes to do so.
The recipe is quite straightforward: get a comfortable seated or lying position and close your eyes. Imagine yourself swinging a club as you would on a course or driving range. You may also stand up while you visualize the shot you want you to get better at.
On the course as well on the range
You will increase your odds of successfully performing a golf shot with visualization. Use it just before your pre-shot routine (see The 5 Golf Fundamentals videos).
You may also improve the visualization efficiency by doing it immediately after a golf shot (see the article Wilfred and Willy). Two opposite situations will occur: You made an excellent shot, or you missed it more or less:
- For a successful swing, just try and remember what yo did well in order to repeat it more easily. In turn, this will help you ingrain more good habits.
- For a less than perfect swing, just visualize what a perfect one would feel or look. This will allow you to correct right away the not-so-good swing you just made. Moreover, you will avoid bad habits altogether (see the article Habits are Permanent).
- Good breathing technique also helps a lot. See A Guide On The Different Breathing Techniques And Their Benefits.
Visualization comes handy for rushed people, but you are not one of them, are you?
See also Visualization Techniques for Athletes.
