I’m sure if you’ve watched any golf on TV, you’ll be able to picture this scene. The camera’s behind the players. The player is looking down the fairway towards the flag, the player and the caddy, have a little bit of a discussion. Caddie reaches for the club, passes to the player and the caddie moves away and the player just stays there for an extra couple of seconds and he’s looking down the fairway, maybe gives the club a little bit of a waggle. And you think “Why is he doing that?” He knows where he’s going surely. He knows which flag he’s aiming for. The caddie has given him the yardage. He’s got the right club. Just go on and hit it. But the player’s just a having a minute to himself, just visualizing the shot.

And this is something that a lot of amateur golfers simply don’t do. They pick the club out of the bag. They walk straight up to the ball, plunk it down, and then look up. And that’s their only look at the target they’re really getting. And it’s very difficult from this position when you’re just about to pull the trigger to really visualize the shot.

So, I’d encourage you to take the tour player approach. Select the club. Look at the target for a little bit. Select the club. Then, just have 5 seconds standing behind the golf ball, just looking down there. Empty your mind of all your technical swing thoughts and just visualize the shot. Work out where the ball’s going to fly. Where it’s going to land? How high? How low? Left to right? Right to left? Visualize the shot. Step into the side of the ball, one practice swing, visualizing the result as it flies up the club face, then get straight on and hit it, not too technical, visualizing the shots. And the more you visualize it, the better it will come.

It does take a little bit of practice like any technique. These mental techniques take practice just like your physical techniques. Practice visualizing the shot in the driving range. Take the tour player approach on the golf course, 5 seconds to visualize it, much better results.