Visualize Better Golf Shots

I am a low handicapper and struggle with visualizing the golf shot that I am getting ready to hit. What can I do differently to help me?

You can start at home or at work, if you are the boss. Look at a picture or golf print that you have on the wall. Now close your eyes and explain the picture or piece of golf art 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.

Golf Mental Game - How To Relax

Do you have suggestions for how to relax on the golf course? I am starting to play in tournaments and I get to be very nerous and do not play to my potential. any advice would help!
We will not just give you any advice! Use these techniquies and you will be able to relax on the golf course and lower your scores!!! Here is a portion from our article "Golf Mental Game - How to relax" posted at VGS Golf.

Monitor your walking pace - again, this is very effective and can be done at anytime. Most of us do not care about going to the mall however, you might earn some bonus points with the spouse and you would be able to monitor what is a slow, comfortable or fast pace for you. Try walking at different paces during the day and monitor how your body feels at the different rates.

Monitor your breathing - this is very effective and can be done at anytime. We all have started breathing faster (whether we knew it or not) on the first tee, on the ninth green before a big putt or on eighteen to win a match. It is useful to catch yourself at home while you are relaxed and monitor your breathing in such a state so you have a baseline.

Ensure humor and fun are part of your round - this is sometimes harder to do than others. Even if sometimes you have to laugh to yourself, I have always found it possible to do though. At the club level, if you are not having fun in team events, then you need to find a new partner. I have found that most people want to enjoy themselves even at the "higher" levels of the game.
Focus on your pre-shot routine - once you have a routine ingrained then this is a good way to click into auto-pilot. It is critical that your routine is repetitive and does not waver. A change could cause anxiety and mis-trust in your golf swing.

Whistling or singing - Fuzzy Zoeller is infamous for his whistling while he is on the golf course. I tend to do this myself on the course from time to time to blow some steam. I have tried not to sing as it may result in a two stroke penalty if anyone else heard me sing! It may work for you though.

Picture a calm place - sounds corny to some but it works. My in-laws live out in the country in Kentucky. While we are there, I walk everyday and there is a big barn that sits on tops of a hill in the distance. These walks are very relaxing. The Kentucky quarter happens to have a picture on the back of the coin that reminds me of that barn I look at on my walk. When I mark my ball with it, I am able to remember my relaxing walks and I can feel my body relax. This place might be the beach for you, your back yard or a sunset. The point is it does not really matter as long as it relaxes you.

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Email us back and let us know how it goes!!!

Gio Valiante - Fearless Golf - Conquering The Mental Game

In watching the golf channel, I am interested in learning more about Gio Valiante teachings. Does he have a book out that is available for purchase?

Gio Valiante does have a book out called Fearless Golf - Conquering The Mental Game. Dr. Gio Valiante's book is in hardback. Gio Valante's background includes being a pioneering sports psychologist, studing the sources of an athlete's fear, investigating the physiological impact of fear on performance and developing a groundbreaking program for conquering it. In his book Fearless Golf, Valiante explains how fear plays havoc with physical motion and presents specific ways that you can break free of its grasp and shoot your lowest scores. Realizing the need to replace a fixation-on-results with a commitment to mastery of oneself and one's mind, your approach will not only help you reach your true potential, in addition, it will make playing every round fun again.

The Wireless Golf Coach at VGS offers golf products under the categories of Golf Art, Golf Books, Golf Equipment, Golf Fitness Equipment, Golf Full Swing Training Aids, Golf Gifts, Golf Greeting Cards, Golf Instruction CD, Golf Instruction DVD, Golf Launch Monitor, Golf Picture Frames, Golf Training Aids, Ladies Golf, Practice Net, Putting Golf Training Aids, Tee Gift, Wine and Golf, Golf Course Supplies as well as Restaurant Supply.

We have customers throughout the US such as Houston TX, Jacksonville FL, Seattle WA, Atlanta GA, San Diego CA and Las Vegas, NV. Also ask questions and receive free golf advice on the golf swing or golf products from a PGA Professional at The Wireless Golf Coach Blog.

Should I Always Tee In The Center Of The Tee Box?

I have noticed on TV that many of the professionals tee their balls on different sides of the tee. Is there an advantage to this and should I be doing it as well?


No matter what your handicap, you should move around where you tee the ball on the tee box. Let's say you are playing a straight hole. Wouldn't it make sense to tee in the middle of the tee box? NO! If you slice the ball, tee up on the right side of the tee box and aim at the left/center of the fairway. This will give you the best chance to hit the fairway. Oviously, if you draw or hook the ball, you will want to tee up on the left side of the tee box and aim at the right /center of the fairway.


To find other general interest golf books or golf instruction books go to Wireless Golf Coach.

How Can I Improve My Course Management?

What can I do over winter to improve my course management?

If you play a course on a regular basis and are currently looking out of a window watching the snow fall, you can plot where you made your birdies from on each hole. Keeping in mind the birdies that you have in the past, make a list of the holes at your local course and answer the following questions:
When I made birdie, I used ______club off of the tee and my drive was typically ended up where?
When I made birdie, the flag was typically in what position?
When I made birdie, how far away from the flag was my putt?

Answering these three questions will help you plot where you need to be to give yourself the best chance to make more birdies this coming year!

At VGS Golf find golf instruction articles written on topis such as Full Swing, Golf Club Fitting, Golf Fitness, Mental Game, Putting, Short Game, Golf Equipment, Ladies Golf, Junior Golf as well as various topics that you would hear in a 19th Hole.

In addition VGS Golf offers golf products in the following categories:Full Swing Golf Training Aids, Golf Art, Golf Books, Golf Equipment, Golf Gifts, Golf Greeting Cards, Golf Instruction CD, Golf Instruction DVD, Golf Picture Frames, Ladies Golf, Putting Golf Training Aids, Wine and Golf as well as a VGS Golf Blog and a Wireless Golf Coach - Question And Answer Golf Blog

How Do I Start To Work On My Mental Game?

I have been wanting to work on my mental game. I really do not know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?

Of course we do!!! We have written an article titled 5 Steps To Improve Your Golf Mental Game which should give you a good start. Two of the golf tips talk about your breathing and how to be your own best caddy. Let us know what you think and how it works!

At VGS Golf find golf instruction articles written on topis such as Full Swing, Golf Club Fitting, Golf Fitness, Mental Game, Putting, Short Game, Golf Equipment, Ladies Golf, Junior Golf as well as various topics that you would hear in a 19th Hole.

In addition VGS Golf offers golf products in the following categories:Full Swing Golf Training Aids, Golf Art, Golf Books, Golf Equipment, Golf Gifts, Golf Greeting Cards, Golf Instruction CD, Golf Instruction DVD, Golf Picture Frames, Ladies Golf, Putting Golf Training Aids, Wine and Golf as well as a VGS Golf Blog and a Wireless Golf Coach - Question And Answer Golf Blog