CONNECTING OUR EYES, BRAIN, AND BODY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Optical Illusions Can Help Your Golf, Tennis, and Sports Performance
Altering perception can make it easier to succeed in sports
Optical illusions refer to visuals that we perceive and interpret differently than what is actually really present. They are used to challenge how our brains process visual information and can profoundly affect how we experience the world. In terms of sports performance, optical illusions can play a critical role in helping athletes improve their skills.
Optical illusions can be used to help athletes build the ability to identify visual cues in the environment which can help them respond quickly and more accurately. Several published research studies have described the perception differences noted by successful athletes as compared to unsuccessful athletes. In a 2005 study, researchers noted that successful softball batters perceived the oncoming ball as larger than unsuccessful batters. Similarly in a 2010 study researchers noted that tennis players who were successful perceived the balls to be moving more slowly, and the net to be placed lower, than less successful players.
