Visualization must be done well in order to reap the benefits. It works best when the images are vivid. When you can engage all the senses in your mental picture, it is more effective.

If you don’t have much of an imagination or if you struggle to create a vivid mental picture in your mind, try watching a video tape of someone with perfect form or look at a picture or a video of yourself executing a skill well before you close your eyes and start to visualize.

Make sure you put yourself in a quiet place with no distractions so that you can concentrate on creating your mental images.

For beginners, make sure that you learn from your coach what perfect form is and what it looks like. If you are not sure, ask someone who knows. Go watch an elite team practice or watch a game on television. It is imperative that you visualize yourself executing the skill with perfect form. Mental images of yourself with bad habits will reinforce that bad habit and make it even harder to break.

1. Why Visualize?
2. How to Visualize
3. When to Visualize