#58: Why Correlation Lies in Sports Vision

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Laby unpacks one of the biggest misconceptions in sports vision - the idea that correlations fully explain how visual skills impact performance. After decades of analyzing athlete data, he reveals why linear thinking misses the real story and how a non-linear, threshold-based approach uncovers the insights that actually drive results. Using examples from baseball hitters, Dr. Laby shows how small visual improvements only create big performance gains when an athlete crosses a specific threshold—highlighting why individualized, targeted training matters far more than generic visual improvement. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or trainer, this episode will change the way you think about visual performance and training. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: The visual system is non-linear, so correlations alone can be misleading Real performance gains occur when athletes cross specific visual thresholds Small improvements only matter if they happen near those thresholds Targeted, individualized visual training is far more effective than general improvement EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: 00:42 - The Non-Linear Nature of the Visual System 01:01 - Practical Example: Baseball Hitters 01:36 - Understanding Threshold-Based Performance 03:07 - The Logistic Curve Model 03:39 - Practical Implications for Athletes and Coaches 04:20 - Rethinking Visual Training 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Sports Vision Radio so you never miss an episode on the science of peak performance.