How To Easily Visualize A Golf Shot

We hear it every single weekend about how Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are able to visualize a golf shot before they execute it. The player that really became prevalent on the PGA Tour to be able to visualize a golf shot was Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus would not swing until he had already seen the golf shot in his mind form beginning to end in his mind. Some also say that this is where the slow pace of play came from as well since many players were attempting to mock the best player in the world at that time.

I have worked with all levels of players from beginner to professional and I have had many tell me that they can not visualize a golf shot. This is simply Baloney!!! All of us can do it and need to do it if we would like to lower our scores. Some of us have to do it a little different than the others but being able to visualize a golf shot can be accomplished very quickly. Let me show you how:

You can start at home or at work (if you are the boss). Look at a picture that you have on the wall. Now close your eyes and explain the picture or object in as much detail as possible. While your eyes are closed zoom into the picture and zoom out to make sure you can catch all of the details.

Another way to improve how you visualize a golf shot is to picture something outside such as your car. What color is it? Is it clean? What about the particulars of your new rims or how the interior is laid out? Where is it parked right now? Can you “see” yourself opening up the door and sitting in the seat and turning the key and driving out? You get the picture (haha). Again, get as picky and descriptive as you can. Practice with items that you know very well and have good recall on these items.

So now that we are the golf course how are we going to visualize a golf shot? As we go through our pre-shot routine, we will gather all pertinent information such as lie of the golf ball, wind direction, obstacles in our landing area, etc. As we gather this information, we will need to pick out a golf club that will allow us to hit the shot needed. Will we need a draw or a fade? Watch it! You are starting to visualize a golf shot. Once the proper club is chosen, then see yourself hit the golf ball from you swinging the club until the ball has finished rolling.

Okay, some of you are still screaming that you can not visualize a golf shot. Here is the most simple way to do it. Simply tell yourself, your caddy or the little guy on your shoulder what you are getting ready to do. Many do not see this as visualization because you are talking through the golf shot. Talking through the shot that I am about to hit has helped me immensely as I used to be one of the players who could not visualize a golf shot.

Max Johnson of The Wireless Golf Coach at VGS Golf. Click for more Mental Golf Game Articles, Cds or DVDs.