Visualizing Success

The use of visualizations is a powerful tool for performance. This is especially true in disc golf. Visualizations can be used from the tee to the putting green to envision what you want to happen. While this does not guarantee success, it provides the backbone of a solid pre-shot routine. Let’s see how visualizations can be used to gain more confidence, calm nerves, and shave strokes off your score.

Visualization Station

First off, visualization is defined as follows, “The process of creating a mental image or intention of what you want to happen or feel in reality.” In disc golf terms, we apply this to each individual shot. When throwing a shot, typically there is a preferred route and one should create a mental image of seeing the flight path to the target landing zone. Visualizations look and feel different in all of our minds but the end result is a clear and concise mental image of the task at hand.

As I wrote in another post entitled “How To Use Thinking To Your Advantage,” You want to envision where you DO want to land and not overthink the obstacles to get there. How many times have you hit a tree and said, “I knew I was going to hit that!” Chances are you had already envisioned yourself hitting that tree and then you did it. Funny how that works.

The first aspect you should bring to your visualization routine is a positive outlook. While yes, this seems inherent to the process, much of our mental chatter is negative or aversive. Let go of that. Let positivity bring forth the visualization and envision your disc in flight. Bring this positive mindset to whatever obstacles are in the way. Instead of saying, “Oh no, I don’t want to throw there” or “I don’t want to hit that tree,” envision your disc flying through the open space and landing in a proper landing zone saying,” I want to land there.” This small change in approach brings about a huge uptick in confidence.

The next aspect you should bring to your visualization is to couple it with other pre-shot routines. This may include deep breaths or gripping your disc a few times or hopping up and down or whatever else puts you at ease. The key is to be consistent and do this mental and/or physical routine before every shot.

Visualizations are extremely helpful in competitive rounds, but they are solidified during practice rounds and field work. Take your time during practice and remember to keep your routine consistent. This will translate to competitive rounds as the mental muscle memory will kick in for an effortless pre-shot routine that puts you at ease and breeds confidence. Remember that confidence is built through a positive outlook.

Scientific Evidence

Research is now showing the tangible effects of visualization. An article in the Huffington Post entitled “How to Use Visualization to Achieve Your Goals” states this; “According to research using brain imagery, visualization works because neurons in our brains, those electrically excitable cells that transmit information, interpret imagery as equivalent to a real-life action. When we visualize an act, the brain generates an impulse that tells our neurons to “perform” the movement. This creates a new neural pathway – clusters of cells in our brain that work together to create memories or learned behaviors – that primes our body to act in a way consistent to what we imagined.”

To the mind’s eye, visualization and a real-life occurrence are the same thing. Either way, the neural pathway is formed as a memory and the mind is able to recall the data. So in effect, visualizations provide the mind an experience that your shot has already happened. You then perform it a second time in the physical plane as the neural pathway relives what you just visualized. What a world!

Obviously, this does not mean that if you simply think it you will do it. However, it does suggest that visualization techniques can be incredibly beneficial in sport. Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest ball golfers of all time, once said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp in-focus picture of it in my head.” The more you practice visualizations, the more you will effortlessly bring them to competitive rounds. Take it from Jack Nicklaus, they work.

Conclusion

Visualizations should be the backbone of your pre-shot routine. They allow a sense of confidence to settle in while seeing the perfect shot. Science shows the efficacy of this routine and proves that it deserves a place in your game. Remember to solidify this routine in practice and it will be effortless during competitive rounds. Positivity breeds success!