How much do you really understand about the visual skills behind elite athletic performance?

In this episode, we kick off the year with something a little different — a five-question sports vision quiz drawn directly from Eye of the Champion. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or simply fascinated by the science of high performance, this episode reveals why vision is far more than just seeing clearly, it’s about prediction, decision-making, and preparation.

You’ll discover the most misunderstood aspects of sports vision, why generic training programs often fail, and how elite athletes gain a competitive edge long before competition begins.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why the primary role of vision in sport is prediction, not clarity
• Which Olympic sport requires the sharpest distance vision and why the answer surprises most people
• The Sports Vision Pyramid and what must be optimized before higher-level training works
• Why reaction time training only benefits certain athletes and how to know if it’s worth your time
• What the Quiet Eye phenomenon is and how it improves performance across multiple sports

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:43 Question 1: Core Purpose of Vision in Sports
• 02:18 Question 2: Sports Specific Visual Requirements
• 03:53 Question 3: The Sports Vision Pyramid
• 05:00 Question 4: Reaction Time and Athletic Performance
• 06:16 Question 5: The Quiet Eye Phenomenon

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• Sports Vision NYC
• Connect with Dr. Laby on Instagram
• Pick Up a Copy of Eye of the Champion
• Download The Ultimate Sports Vision Guide for Athletes [FREE]

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Sports Vision Radio so you never miss an episode on the science of peak performance.

Every season, athletes and coaches ask the same question: Does sports vision training really work, or is it just another performance trend?

After more than 30 years working with athletes across Major League Baseball, the English Premier League, and elite sport worldwide, Dr. Daniel Laby gives a clear, science-backed answer: yes, sports vision training works, but only when it’s done correctly.

In this episode, Dr. Laby cuts through the hype and explains why most vision training fails, what elite athletes do differently, and how coaches and players can train vision safely, effectively, and in a way that actually transfers to performance on the field.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why 20/20 vision doesn’t equal elite performance and what truly matters when the game speeds up
• Which visual and perceptual-cognitive skills are actually trainable and backed by decades of research
• Why most sports vision training fails and how generic drills and apps miss real-world transfer
• How to train vision safely and effectively so it integrates with movement, decision-making, and competition

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:24 - Common Misconceptions About Sports Vision
• 01:02 - The Sports Vision Pyramid
• 01:16 - Key Research Findings
• 02:21 - Common Problems in Vision Training
• 03:11 - Effective Vision Training Strategies

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• Sports Vision NYC
• Connect with Dr. Laby on Instagram
• Pick Up a Copy of Eye of the Champion
• Download The Ultimate Sports Vision Guide for Athletes [FREE]

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Sports Vision Radio so you never miss an episode on the science of peak performance.

There’s a brief moment before every shot, often less than half a second, that can determine success or failure. It’s not mechanics or technique. It’s what happens when the eyes stop moving.

In this episode, we explore The Quiet Eye, a powerful but often overlooked performance skill used by elite athletes. Research shows that successful performances are preceded by earlier and longer visual fixation on the correct target, while missed shots under pressure often involve late or unstable gaze shifts.

You’ll learn why Quiet Eye isn’t about staring longer, how it prepares the brain to execute movement, and how it can be trained without changing mechanics, especially when the pressure is highest.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

• Quiet Eye predicts success, especially under pressure
• It’s task-specific, the right target matters
• The eyes prepare the brain for execution
• Quiet Eye can be trained without changing technique

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 - The Crucial Moment Before a Free Throw
• 00:15 - Understanding Quiet Eye in Sports
• 00:52 - The Science Behind Quiet Eye
• 01:43 - Training Quiet Eye for Better Performance
• 02:02 - Practical Quiet Eye Drills
• 02:39 - Quiet Eye Under Pressure

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• Sports Vision NYC
• Connect with Dr. Laby on Instagram
• Pick Up a Copy of Eye of the Champion
• Download The Ultimate Sports Vision Guide for Athletes [FREE]

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Sports Vision Radio so you never miss an episode on the science of peak performance.