Can’t visualize/see shots? Any advice?

[jetandollie]

I can’t pinpoint what or when something happened but on the course I just don’t “see” any shots and certainly do not see any putts at all anymore. 
 

I don’t know if it’s because work is so busy and I’m just on the course trying not to think about anything or my mind is elsewhere due to decision fatigue. I’m not playing poorly or worse than usual, I just stand behind the ball and see the ball…and the hole in front of me. I swing and move on.
 

Any advice on how to see shots better, or visualize outcomes and focus more/better on the course? Do you even need to in order to improve?

[phizzy30]

I'm a firm believer that you should only have one or two thoughts related to the swing and visualization should only be brief on each and every shot/putt.  Overthinking or spending too much time visualizing can be detrimental.  Do you have a consistent pre-shot routine?  If not, you should start incorporating one.  Get yardage, visualize the shot you want to hit, get into your pre-shot routine and pull the trigger. 

Edited August 6, 2023 by phizzy30

[jetandollie]

I don’t really think at all, which is what I’m asking I guess. 

Everyone says that, “visualize the shot”. I get what that means but what if you don’t see anything when you try to do it? What are you supposed to visualize? 

[tatertot]

5 minutes ago, jetandollie said:

I don’t really think at all, which is what I’m asking I guess. 

Everyone says that, “visualize the shot”. I get what that means but what if you don’t see anything when you try to do it? What are you supposed to visualize? 

Do you ever watch golf on TV? If you do, think of Shot Tracer.

[North Butte]

Back when I used to take a lot of lessons and attend golf clinics, I'd hear my golf coach always talking about the importance of pre-visualization like that. How it helps prepare you to make a committed, consistent swing, helps you focus on the target, etc.

 

I finally broke down and told him I simply could not generate a mental image of a ball flying through the air, no matter how hard I tried. I can imagine a putt or chip rolling on the green but my imagination has some wiring problem when it comes to imaging a ball flying through the air. Too abstract or something. 

 

He said he knew plenty of people like that and it just wasn't something everyone is able to do. He suggested I just keep an image of the target in my mind while I swing and not try to imagine the ball flight. Which is easy enough. I think of all the many, many things harming and limiting my golf game that particular inability is not the worst of them!

[phizzy30]

2 hours ago, jetandollie said:

I don’t really think at all, which is what I’m asking I guess. 

Everyone says that, “visualize the shot”. I get what that means but what if you don’t see anything when you try to do it? What are you supposed to visualize? 

Visualize the shot shape.  Either high/low, draw/fade. 

[jetandollie]

18 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Visualize the shot shape.  Either high/low, draw/fade. 

How do you think about visualizing what shot shape is realistic to hit?

[bobfoster]

For me, visualization and the pre-shot routine are integrated. I start by seeing two things: Where I want the ball to land, and how I want it to get there (relatively straight, draw, or fade). Then take a single practice swing that would produce that shot shape. Step up to the ball, take the stance, one waggle and then hit. 

 

Basically, see the shot, feel the shot, hit the shot. 

 

But if OP is having difficulty determining what visualization is, here's maybe another way to look at it. When you actually hit the ball, you see the ball travel. Watch it launch, watch the shot shape, watch it land. When it stops, it should be fairly easy to immediately remember what you just watched. You can "visualize" what you just saw - i.e., create an image in your mind (you are basically just doing an instant replay of sorts).  

 

Pre-shot visualization is exactly the same thing - creating a mental image - except it is "pre-remembering". Instead of playing a tape of what you just saw, play a tape of what you want to see. 

 

Not sure if that makes any sense at all. 

Edited August 6, 2023 by bobfoster

[umamimami]

OP - I think you answered your own question

4 hours ago, jetandollie said:

 

I don’t know if it’s because work is so busy and I’m just on the course trying not to think about anything or my mind is elsewhere due to decision fatigue. I’m not playing poorly or worse than usual, I just stand behind the ball and see the ball…and the hole in front of me. I swing and move on.
 

Any advice on how to see shots better, or visualize outcomes and focus more/better on the course? Do you even need to in order to improve?

 

If you're here because you're trying to have fun I think that you've written enough here to figure out how you can keep having fun on the course.


On the upside you're also finding out that you can play decent golf without being 100% firing on all cylinders!!

 

Please also give yourself credit for what you're already accomplishing and what standards you're trying to meet.
You have the best answers for yourself. Some starter questions that you could explore:

Does visualization come back when you're refreshed? Next long weekend take monday/tuesday off and see where you're at then?

Does this impact your game? How's the score been trending?

 

Would trying to do something I currently don't feel able to do be advantageous or would it be a burden?

 

[nkurz]

Perhaps you already know this, but the fancy word for being unable to visualize things in your "minds eye" is aphantasia.  If you search for it, you'll find a lot of useful pages.  Different people have it to different degrees, and there are some online tests to see where are at.

 

You might think that this would be a terrible disadvantage for visually oriented tasks, but there is strangely little correlation between ability to view images and ability to function.  I don't know of anything specifically about golf, but my guess would be it's not actually too much of an issue.  

 

Personally, my visualization skills are very weak.  I'm much more likely to describe the shot I want in words than in images.  I'm not a great golfer, but I don't think I'm being held back by this.  At the least, there are probably many other things that hold me back more.  

 

I'd suggest mostly ignoring the "picture" part of the advice but otherwise add the equivalent to your routine as best you are able.   

 

 

[bladehunter]

I never lose this ability for a swing shot.  But I struggle terribly with keeping the picture on putts.  I lost it today after having it for 5 holes when it goes , you’re  just blind. It’s a terrible feeling.  

[bladehunter]

36 minutes ago, nkurz said:

Perhaps you already know this, but the fancy word for being unable to visualize things in your "minds eye" is aphantasia.  If you search for it, you'll find a lot of useful pages.  Different people have it to different degrees, and there are some online tests to see where are at.

 

You might think that this would be a terrible disadvantage for visually oriented tasks, but there is strangely little correlation between ability to view images and ability to function.  I don't know of anything specifically about golf, but my guess would be it's not actually too much of an issue.  

 

Personally, my visualization skills are very weak.  I'm much more likely to describe the shot I want in words than in images.  I'm not a great golfer, but I don't think I'm being held back by this.  At the least, there are probably many other things that hold me back more.  

 

I'd suggest mostly ignoring the "picture" part of the advice but otherwise add the equivalent to your routine as best you are able.   

 

 

Great info.  You’re correct. I’ve read on this alot. And I’ve found that im one who is near 100 % visual communicator.  I hear words and to understand , I automatically translate them into pictures.  I play short clips in my head during  every conversation . 24/7 365.  This is why when I can’t “ see” while putting it’s really debilitating.  You could tell me it’s a cup right dying speed. And I can’t do anything with that unless I can see it .  Which is also why on the rare occasion I get a read from someone else’s putt , I have a very high probability of making it. The visual is right there and free.  Or if I have had a similar putt before and I recall the travel. I’m likely to make it. But a new putt , with no read ? It’s very hard to see it.  And very hard to commit 

Edited August 6, 2023 by bladehunter

[SNIPERBBB]

Never really been a visualization guy. I'm more of an instinctual player, mainly because of my trapping background where we tend to see the perfect spot and that's what we focus on.  On the course, I pick up my "perfect spot" and you hit the ball at that spot and the body tries to make it work.

[RoyalTroon]

Aye one fiedle, afore ye e'er swung. 

[phizzy30]

9 hours ago, jetandollie said:

How do you think about visualizing what shot shape is realistic to hit?

For tee shot, I look to see if there's a dog leg or trouble on the left or right side.  Then I visualize whether I wanna hit my stock draw or setup for a fade.  It doesn't always workout for me, but my main priority is to stay away from trouble.  For approach shots, I look at the pin location then assess to see where the trouble is.  Long/short, right/left.  On shots over 160, I usually will hit to the fat part of the green.  On anything less than that I may or may not go pin seeking depending on the surrounding trouble.  With that being said, I will hit my stock draw 85% of the time unless I'm forced to hit a fade. 

Edited August 6, 2023 by phizzy30

[iutodd]

On 8/5/2023 at 10:38 PM, jetandollie said:

How do you think about visualizing what shot shape is realistic to hit?

 

Hit the shot you know you can hit.  I know that the pros can "work" the ball both directions, and you see guys on IG do the same. But the vast majority of the time...pros and low handicap golfers are hitting the same ball flight because they know how to hit it and they know what the ball will do for them.  Good golf scores come from consistency: e.g. if the pin is on the left and you hit a fade don't suddenly try to hit a draw to the pin, just try to hit your fade to the middle of the green and two-putt.  

 

So it starts with knowing what you can hit.

 

Then pick your start line.  I try to think about what I want to see the ball do as it comes off the club and I'm following through.  Where do I want the ball to be in the air?  Maybe instead of trying to think about the shape of the shot - try to think of a snapshot of the ball mid-flight.  You can sort of "connect the dots" if you want - from the tee box, to the ideal spot in mid-air, to where you want it to land.  (So you have to know your yardages as well!)

 

I "visualize" because it helps me crowd out all other bad thoughts.  Like if there is water right it doesn't do me any good to think: "don't hit it in the water".  It's much more constructive to think: "Hit your normal shot down the left side of the fairway, start it just on the right edge of the far bunker." 

[ShortGolfer]

Just pick a spot where you want it to land and hit it there.  Nothing else matters!