GOLFING WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED This page intentionally left blank GOLFING WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED Mastering Visualization Techniques for Exceptional Golf ERIN MACY AND TIFFANY WILDING-WHITE New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2009 by Erin Macy and Tiffany Wilding-White All rights reserved Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher ISBN: 978-0-07-161508-2 MHID: 0-07-161508-3 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-161507-5, MHID: 0-07-161507-5 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the 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works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hill’s prior co sent You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms THE WORK IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE McGraw-Hill and its licensors not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise To John Thank you for your unconditional commitment and confidence in me —E.M To Mom and Dad, for sharing with me the love of life And to Carter, the love of my life —T.W This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Acknowledgments ix An Introduction to the Fifteenth Club: The Path to Peak Performance xi THE FIRST HOLE Your Ace in the Hole THE SECOND HOLE Visualization in Action 15 THE THIRD HOLE Power of the Positive Mind 35 THE FOURTH HOLE Consistency Under Pressure 57 THE FIFTH HOLE Your Internal Driver 87 THE SIXTH HOLE Life’s Lessons 111 THE SEVENTH HOLE Sample Golf Visualization Scripts 123 THE EIGHTH HOLE Design Your Own Visualization Scripts 147 THE NINTH HOLE How Far Have You Come? 157 References 169 Bibliography 175 Index 179 vii This page intentionally left blank ACKNOWLEDGMENTS n writing Golfing with Your Eyes Closed: Mastering Visualization Techniques for Exceptional Golf, we appreciate the enthusiasm, expertise, and editing shared by those close to us Thank you to our most amazing and supportive husbands, John and Carter, who are also our biggest fans Our thanks go to those whose expertise in golf contributed to the writing of this book: Michael Greller, Tom Greller, MaryJo McCloskey, Tim Hyatt, Matt Beck, Christine Collier, and Rob and Melissa O’Neill To our editor, Ron Martirano, for his belief in our project, and to Alexis Hurley for her time and professional insight Many others gave valued advice along the way: Dr Dan Benardot, Lori Blair, Madeleine Blais, Michelle Choy, Dr Keith Henschen, and Dan McCracken To our incredible editing team: Sherry Macy, Vicki Sanders, and Debby and Bill Winslow It’s in the genes To our classmates Amy, Brian, Chris, and Dan, who were part of the original project and to Dr Greg Shelley for the initial inspiration George Fox University was generous to provide many of the photos sprinkled throughout the book Through it all, we are thankful for our friends, especially Julie and the Newberg family, for their interest and cheerleading in what we’ve been working to complete And always, to our families, for their constant love, encouragement, and positive influence in our lives I ix REFERENCES 171 16 Terry Orlick, Psyching for Sport: Mental Training for Athletes (Champaign, IL: Leisure Press, 1986) 17 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 18 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 19 Manfred Tschan, “Motor Development and Skill Learning,” lecture (Newberg, OR: George Fox University, 2000) 20 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 21 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 22 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 23 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 24 Linda J Bunker, “Golf: Sport Psychology Challenges,” in The Sport Psychologist’s Handbook: A Guide for Sport-Specific Performance Enhancement, ed Joaquin Dosil, 301–320 (West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, 2006) 25 Criswell Freeman, ed., The Golfer’s Book of Wisdom (Nashville: Walnut Grove Press, 1995), 89 26 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 27 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 28 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 29 Linda J Bunker, “Golf: Sport Psychology Challenges,” in The Sport Psychologist’s Handbook: A Guide for Sport-Specific Performance Enhancement, ed Joaquin Dosil, 301–320 (West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, 2006) 172 REFERENCES 30 Dan S Kirschenbaum, Mind Matters: Seven Steps to Smarter Sport Performance (New York: Cooper Publishing Group, 1997) 31 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 32 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) Chapter Robert M Nideffer, The Inner Athlete (New York: Crowell, 1976) Criswell Freeman, ed., The Golfer’s Book of Wisdom (Nashville: Walnut Grove Press, 1995), 109 Mark H Anshel, Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice, 3rd ed (Scottsdale, AZ: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, 1997) Leonard D Zaichkowsky and Amy Baltzell, “Arousal and Performance,” in Handbook of Sport Psychology, 2nd ed., eds Robert N Singer, Heather A Hausenblas, and Christopher Janelle, 319–339 (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2001) Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990) Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990) Criswell Freeman, ed., The Golfer’s Book of Wisdom (Nashville: Walnut Grove Press, 1995), 87 Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990), 69 Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990), 70 10 Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990), 70 11 Edmund J Bourne, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1990), 70 12 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 13 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 14 Andrea Schmid and Erik Peper “Strategies for Training Concentration,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 316–328 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 15 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) REFERENCES 173 16 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 17 Peter Jacobsen, Buried Lies (New York: G P Putnam’s Sons, 1993), 47 18 Amy Moulton, “Model Showing the Narrowing of Attentional Focus That Occurs with Increasing Mental Activation,” paper presented in Applications of Sport Psychology course (Ithaca, NY, 2001) 19 Peter Jacobsen, Buried Lies (New York: G P Putnam’s Sons, 1993), 79 20 Terry Orlick, In Pursuit of Excellence, 3rd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2000) 21 Peter Jacobsen, Buried Lies (New York: G P Putnam’s Sons, 1993) 22 Terry Orlick, In Pursuit of Excellence, 3rd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2000) 23 Robert S Weinberg and Daniel Gould, Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 2nd ed (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999) 24 Andrea Schmid and Erik Peper, “Strategies for Training Concentration,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 316–328 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 25 Nate Zinsser, Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams, “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 270–295 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 26 Andrea Schmid and Erik Peper, “Strategies for Training Concentration,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 316–328 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 27 Dede Owens and Linda K Bunker, Advanced Golf: Steps to Success (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1992), 323–324 28 Andrea Schmid and Erik Peper, “Strategies for Training Concentration,” in Applied Sport Psychology, ed Jean M Williams, 316–328 (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998) 29 Criswell Freeman, ed., The Golfer’s Book of Wisdom (Nashville: Walnut Grove Press, 1995), 17 30 Mark H Anshel, Sport Psychology: From Theory to Practice, 3rd ed (Scottsdale, AZ: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, 1997) Chapter Johnmarshall Reeve, Understanding Motivation and Emotion, 2nd ed (Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College, 1997) Eugene F Gauron, Mental Training for Peak Performance (Lansing, NY: Sport Science Associates, 1984) Yves Chantal and others, “Motivation and Elite Performance: An Exploratory Investigation with Bulgarian Athletes.” International Journal of Sport Psychology 27, no (1996): 173–182 Diane L Gill, 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Linda Bunker, and Jean M Williams “Cognitive Techniques for Building Confidence and Enhancing Performance.” In Applied Sport Psychology, edited by Jean M Williams, 270–295 Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1998 INDEX Abdominal breathing exercise, 64–66, 114 Ability accurate perception of, 37 attribution of performance to, 92, 93, 94 Acting “as if,” Adaptable goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96–97 Advanced visualization, 17, 20–21 Affirmations, 50, 51 See also Mental mantras; Swing thoughts Amateur Open, U.S., 58 Analysis paralysis, 8, 24 Attentional cues, 80–81 Attribution, 92–93 Beginning visualization, 17, 18 Berra, Yogi, 102 Bill (in the course of life), 118–19 Bogey, putting for (imagery script), 136–38 Boros, Julius, 81 Brain See Left brain; Mind-body connection; Right brain Breaking 100-90-80 (imagery script), 138–41 Breathing exercises abdominal, 64–66, 114 calming, 22, 66 Calming breath exercise, 22, 66 Chip shots, 16 Choking, 75 Christine (relax, detach), Coaching strategies and alternatives, 83 Coach’s Corner on alternative coaching strategies, 83 on attentional cues, 80 on believing in visualization, 21 on focus, 70 on goal-setting, 98, 100 on motivation, 90, 96 on the pendulum technique, on relaxation techniques, 70 on right-left brain differences, on self-confidence, 40, 41, 45 on transferring golf skills to life, 113 Commitment to one’s shot, 26, 81–82 Competition simulations, 77, 79 Concentration, 72–81 See also Focus; Refocusing attentional cues and, 80–81 competition simulations and, 77, 79 the danger zone and, 74–77 Consistency under pressure (See Pressure) self-confidence and, 43 Control aspects of game under, 93, 94–95 of images, 8–9, 11–12 of thoughts, 43, 45–53, 117–18 179 180 INDEX Coping (during injury) visualizations, 30 Cotton, Henry, 12, 61 Countering, 52–53 Couples, Fred, 27, 72 Creativity, Cue words and actions, 48, 49, 71, 80–81 Cycle of influence, 42, 43, 117 Danger zone, 74–77 Detachment, Dickinson, Gardner, 112 Distractions, 72, 73, 77, 79, 116–17 See also Triggers Effort, attribution of performance to, 92, 93, 94 Encouraging goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96 Energizing imagery script, 63 Expectations attribution of performance to, 93, 94 of others, 42 External triggers, 70, 72 External visualization, 10–11 on the course, 12–13 described, 3–5 Extrinsic motivation, 89–92 examples of, 89 intrinsic motivation compared with, 90–92 Fifteenth club, xi “Five Minutes in Paradise” technique, 115 Five senses, amplifying, 10–11 Flow, 24 Focus, 51–52, 70, 116–17 See also Concentration; Refocusing Follow-up assessment, 158–67 Fudge! Fix, Forget, Focus, 51–52 Funk, Fred, 27 Goal(s), 96–110 action plan, 106 assessment of, 98–100 intermediate, 101, 103, 104–5 long-term, 101, 103, 104–5, 106 M.A.S.T.E.R (See M.A.S.T.E.R goals) in personal life, 119–21 setting, 101–4 short-term, 101, 103, 104–5, 106 tricks for sticking to, 106 Goal tree, 104–5 Grand Slam, 58 Greatest Game Ever Played, The (film), Haney, Hank, 25 Harmon, Butch, 27 Harvard University study, Healing visualizations, 29 How Far Have You Come? in applying visualization, 32–34 follow-up assessment, 158–67 in goal-setting, 108–10 in handling pressure, 85–86 in self-confidence, 55–56 Imagery scripts, 123–46 breaking 100-90-80, 138–41 designing, 147–55 energizing, 63 M.A.S.T.E.R goals, 100–101 playing a new course, 144–46 playing from the rough, 130–32 INDEX playing with different pairings, 141–43 pretournament warm-up, 125–28 putting for bogey (or worse), 136–38 putting for par, 134–36 recovering from a poor shot, 132–34 refocusing, 78–79 relaxing, 61–63 teeing off, 128–30 Imagination principle, Immelman, Trevor, 24–25 Injuries, 29–31 coping visualizations, 30 example of visualization during, healing visualizations, 29 practice visualizations, 30 success visualizations, 31 Intermediate goals, 101, 103, 104–5 Intermediate visualization, 17, 19 Internal triggers, 70, 72 Internal visualization, 10–11 on the course, 12–13 described, 3–5 Intrinsic motivation, 89–92 examples of, 89 extrinsic motivation compared with, 90–92 Irrelevant triggers, 70, 71–73, 74, 78 Jacobsen, Peter, 75, 158 Jacobson, Edmund, 66 Jon (chip shot), 16 Jones, Bobby, 28, 58, 64 Kinesthetic cues, 80 181 LDT (lie, distance, trajectory), 80 Left brain attributes of, 7–8 pre-shot routines and, 24 swing thoughts and, 27 Lema, Tony, 114 Libby (positive thinking), 36 Life, visualization in, 111–22 controlling, 117–18 everyday examples of, 112–13 focus and, 116–17 relaxation techniques and, 114–16 Lockbox technique, 115–16 Long-term goals, 101, 103, 104–5, 106 Luck, attribution of performance to, 93 Mantras See Mental mantras Mary Jo (no-fear approach), 75–76 M.A.S.T.E.R goals, 102, 106, 107 criteria in, 96–97 imagery script, 100–101 in personal life, 119–21 Masters Champion competition, 24 Matt (commit to your shot), 26 Measurable goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96 Mental energy regulation techniques, 62 Mental mantras, 28–29, 49 Michael positive thinking, 44 value of visualization, Mickelson, Phil, 27 Mind-body connection, 5–7 Mindfulness, 81 182 INDEX Mistakes See also Poor shots negative thinking and, 12 self-confidence diminished by, 40 Motivation, 88–96 See also Extrinsic motivation; Goal(s); Intrinsic motivation attribution and, 92–93 control and, 93, 94–95 Muscle memory example of, 6–7 negative thinking and, 12 Negative thinking, 117–18 after poor shots, 25 as a distraction, 72 mind-body response and, 5–7 muscle memory of, 12 replacing with positive, 45–53 self-confidence diminished by, 42 Nelson, Larry, 63–64 Nervousness, 59–70 factors influencing, 60 getting a grip on, 61–70 symptoms of, 59–60 Nicklaus, Jack, One-point focus, 81 Ouimet, Francis, Overanalysis See Analysis paralysis Overconfidence, 40–41 Pairings, playing with different (imagery script), 141–43 Palmer, Arnold, xi Par, putting for (imagery script), 134–36 Peak performance, triggering, 70–72 Pendulum technique, Penick, Harvey, 47 Picture perfect technique, 47–48 Player’s Pointers on affirmations, 51 on competition simulation, 77 on making time for imagery, 24 on motivation, 90 on visualization in life, 114 on visualization while injured, 30 Playing a new course (imagery script), 144–46 Playing from the rough (imagery script), 130–32 Playing with different pairings (imagery script), 141–43 Poor shots See also Mistakes imagery script for recovery from, 132–34 negative thinking after, 25 positive thinking after, 36 Positive paper clip exercise, 46–47, 51 Positive takeaways from each round, 76–77 Positive thinking, 12, 117 See also Self-confidence after poor shots, 36 development of, 45–53 mind-body response and, 5–7 Practice of relaxation techniques, 69 of visualization techniques, 11, 17–20 visualizing while injured, 30 Present, remaining in, 25 INDEX Pre-shot routines, 24–26 Pressure, 57–86 See also Nervousness commitment to the shot and, 81–82 concentration under, 72–81 exercises for handling, 61–70 peak performance under, 70–72 Pretournament warm-up (imagery script), 125–28 Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), 66–69 described, 23–24 detailed script for, 67–68 guidelines for best results, 66–67 Putting for bogey (imagery script), 136–38 Putting for par (imagery script), 134–36 Realistic goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96 Refocusing, 77–82 Refocusing imagery script, 78–79 Relaxation techniques, 22–24, 61–70, 114–16, 155 abdominal breathing exercise, 64–66, 114 calming breath exercise, 22, 66 Five Minutes in Paradise, 115 lockbox, 115–16 progressive muscle relaxation, 23–24, 66–69 Relaxing imagery script, 61–63 Relevant triggers, 70, 71, 72–73, 74, 78 Results, accepting, 25 Retton, Mary Lou, 101 Rice, Grantland, 116 183 Right brain attributes of, 7–8 pre-shot routines and, 24 swing thoughts and, 27 Rosburg, Bob, 42 Rotella, Bob, Rough, playing from the (imagery script), 130–32 Sarah (motivation problems), 88 Self-Assessment Scorecard, xiii–xvii on ability to control thoughts, 43 on ability to handle pressure, 59 on best environment for visualization, 21 on goal-setting, 98 on how you visualize, on motivation, 90 on nervousness, 60 on pre-shot routines, 25 on refocusing under pressure, 78 on self-confidence level, 38 on stopping negative self-talk, 46 on visualization in life, 113 on visualization level, 17 on vividness and controllability, Self-confidence, 35–56 accurate perception of ability and, 37 consistency and, 43 continuum of, 40–41 cycle of influence and, 42, 43, 117 defined, 37 expectations of others and, 42 techniques for building, 47–53 184 INDEX Self-esteem list, 49–50 Self-fulfilling prophecy, 42 Self-talk, 25 controlling, 45–47, 117–18 as a distraction, 72 Short-term goals, 101, 103, 104–5, 106 Snead, Sam, Specific goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96 Strange, Curtis, Success list, 49–50 Success visualizations (while injured), 31 Swing thoughts, 26–28, 80 creating, 27–28 under pressure, 71 of the pros, 27 purpose of, 26–27 Task difficulty, attribution of performance to, 92–93 Teeing off (imagery script), 128–30 Thinking, feeling, performing cycle See Cycle of influence Thought(s), controlling, 43, 45–53, 117–18 Thought changing, 48–50 Thought stopping, 48 Tim (take it up a notch), 99 Time-bound goals (M.A.S.T.E.R.), 96 Tom (keeping things in perspective), 63–64 Triggers, 70–74 external, 70, 72 internal, 70, 72 irrelevant, 70, 71–73, 74, 78 relevant, 70, 71, 72–73, 74, 78 Uncontrollable characteristics of game, 93, 94–95 Vardon, Harry, Verbal cues See Cue words and actions Visual cues, 80 Visualization/imagery applying, 24–29 control of, 8–9, 11–12 forms of (See External visualization; Internal visualization) initial timetable, 17–22 inner workings, 3–8 in pre-shot routines, 24–26 tricks to help trigger, 12 vividness of, 8, 10–11 why it works, 5–7 Visualization scripts See Imagery scripts Vividness of images, 8, 10–11 Wilkinson, Laura, Woods, Tiger, 9, 24, 25 Writing goals, 97 as a tension reliever, 115 Zaharias, Babe Didrikson, 92 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Erin Macy, M.S., earned a master of science in exercise and sport science, emphasizing in sport psychology at Ithaca College and a bachelor of science in athletic training from George Fox University (Newberg, OR) Upon completion of her degree, Macy worked as an academic advisor for student-athletes at Indiana State University and Southern Methodist University Since her return to the Pacific Northwest, Macy has taught Mental Training for Athletes, an applied sport psychology course, at Portland Community College and worked at her alma mater, George Fox University Tiffany Wilding-White, M.S., is a sport psychology consultant to athletes in multiple sports from golf to figure skating, luge to soccer A former national gymnastics champion, she knows firsthand the rigors of competitive athletics and the benefits of mental training Wilding-White has worked as a mental skills coach for IMG Academies, including David Leadbetter Golf and Bollettieri Tennis in Bradenton, Florida, numerous private sports clubs, college and high school teams, and amateur and professional athletes She holds a master’s degree in exercise and sport science, emphasizing in sport psychology from Ithaca College and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University With her husband, Carter, she lives next to a golf course in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts Visit her website at mindovermotion.com .. .GOLFING WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED This page intentionally left blank GOLFING WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED Mastering Visualization Techniques for Exceptional... mental imagery and visualization to your game will help you reach your peak performance Our aim in creating Golfing with Your Eyes Closed is to provide you with complete information on what it... confidence and consistency in your strokes by visualizing, since your mind treats real and imagined shots similarly 14 GOLFING WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED → Muscle memory theory: your muscles physically