What to use Imagery for

Learning to use Imagery

Using Imagery in Training

You can significantly improve the quality of your training sessions by effective use of imagery. By performing the skill being practiced in your mind before you execute it, you can focus on all the important parts of the skill. For example, if a golfer images a perfect golf swing before he actually carries one out, he is more likely to remember all the points that go into making a good swing, and maintain focus throughout it.

Imaging of an activity before its execution has the following advantages:

• It forces focus and concentration on execution of skills when otherwise you might just be tempted to go through the motions.
• It allows you to slow down and analyse fine skills or complex techniques to form as perfect a model of the technique as possible.
• It reminds you what to concentrate on to execute the skill perfectly.
• It allows you to compare how the physical movement compared with the perfect image. Thishelps you to detect faults in technique. Alternatively if the technique was better than the image, the image can be adjusted.

In addition imagery can be used in training to practise sports psychology skills.

For example, you might imagine appearing before a large hostile crowd, and experience the stress and anxiety symptoms that you might expect. Within your mind you can practise the stress management skills that will be explained later.

You might use imagery to practise pushing through pain barriers, or might practise keeping technique good when you imagine that your limbs feel exhausted.