Your eyes really are the window to your 'system'.

By: Steve Riggs on 04/18/10 10:59 AM

I often times tell a client that one of the best visual learning tools can be your TV during a golf tournament. The only caveat is to decide when you are going to watch the event and when you want to learn something.

When in a ‘learning mode’ turn off the sound on your TV and watch ‘golf swings’, not golf shots. Pay particular attention to slow motion swings. Do not 'listen' to the commentary or alalysis. Your system has its own way of processing without outside input.

I am one of those professionals who believe it very difficult to learn visually and auditorily at the same time.

Here are a couple things you can try to prove my point:

1. Put on a DVD or video of any swing improvement program you have.

Watch it with the volume turned up as you normally would. You do not have to watch the entire program, just 5 to 10 minutes of the show. Preferably where there is a lot of swinging as well ‘noise’ or verbalization going on.

Now go back to the same section you have chosen and watch again. This time, turn the volume off so you are left only with visuals.

My guess is that even if you have watched the particular video many times, you might just see some parts of the swing motion that you never noticed.

2. Watch a training video with a lot of text in addition to golf swing action. Again, hopefully, you have viewed the particular video several times.

Once you have watched normally for a few minutes reset the video only this time turn the picture off so you can only listen to the presentation.

Either you are going to get hung up trying to remember what the text was OR you will clearly be able to visualize the motion in spite of not being able to actually see it. Your ability to ‘visualize’ the swing motions is a good first step to developing the ability to visualize or see the shot on the course. If you seem unable to picture what is going on, swing wise, it is something you might just spend some time working on.

So, the next time you see Tiger or Phil at an event swing the club, mute, the sound and watch the swing. You will be doing your swing and game a favor.

Always remember, when it comes to motion, visualize don’t intellectualize.

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Steve Riggs is a veteran teaching professional of over 30 years experience working with clients as well as consulting around the U.S. and Caribbean. Listen to Steve's radio program THE LESSON TEE Wednesdays at 12:05 Eastern Time Zone on WNRI 1380 AM Radio, or listen live at www.mynegm.com . Download Steve's Podcasts FREE at mynegmLESSONTEE Podcasts and listen to his swing advice on the go or visit his real time instruction platform: TLTGOLF.COM . To contact Steve via email: sriggs13@cox.net