By Jerry Martin, NGCI

When you are waiting to hit your next shot, what do you see or think about?  Most golfers think about where they don't want to hit it, instead of where they want hit it.  What about you?  Ever find your mind wondering on the golf course?  I have found over the years of working with players at all levels on the golf course, that they tell me all kinds of things I don't want to hear, which are basically swing thoughts and not clear visualizations.

To improve your play and lower your golf scores you need to learn how to visualize every shot.  Here are some simple tips on how to do this.

1. Focus on where you want to hit the ball
2. Implant that thought in to your mind
3. Pre-play the shot while you are waiting for others to hit
4. Visualize the exact shot the way you want to hit it
5. Then step up and hit the shot

You will see with practice that eventually the golf ball will start flying and landing where you have told it to in your mind.  In order to achieve the best results start pre-playing each shot you want to hit on each hole in your mind the night before the day you are playing.  To do this find a quiet place, then close your eyes and begin playing each hole one by one, you will find as you master this discipline that the golf ball will start going where you have pre-played it the day before.  You will be amazed at the results within your capabilities.

 The mind controls our thought patterns and our motor skills, but it has to be trained and in turn train the muscles.  This will take some time, but as you improve you will look at that 125 yard shot over water, select the club, visualize the shot you want and "pull the trigger".  The shot will happen because you have pre-played this shot hundreds of times mentally.  You can and should do the same thing when you putt.  Visualize the ball going into the hole, then set up, relax and stroke the putt.  Your scores will go down, you can count on it.              

 Have fun!