eye on the ball....

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willimatic

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I was playing today and for some reason I thought about if I even look at the golf ball really. I noticed that I see the ball at address but then I don't really look at it (or focus on it you can say) anymore and then next thing I know I'm looking at it flying to my target! I don't know if I actually stop looking at the ball or what, just found it interesting.

What do you all do? Do you look at the ball intently during the entire swing? Just on backswing? Just curious!

Thanks,
 
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ej20

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Not absolutely certain here but Hogan said he lost sight of the ball somewhere on the downswing.I don't think watching the ball intently is all that important in golf as the ball is not moving like a tennis ball.Some people have better skills I suppose....John McEnroe was rumoured to be able to see the brand name on ball during rallies.Hard to believe that one though.
 
westy

westy

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Looking and Seeing.

Seeing the ball allows your brain to dial it up in 3D space.(orient)
You dont need to focus on it, you just need to see it to know where it is. (look)
You cant focus on a cricket ball coming at you, but you can smash it.(target)
It happens below the conscious level, so trying probably wont help anything, but to impede it.(flow)
 
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ej20

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westy said:
Seeing the ball allows your brain to dial it up in 3D space.(orient)
You dont need to focus on it, you just need to see it to know where it is. (look)
You cant focus on a cricket ball coming at you, but you can smash it.(target)
It happens below the conscious level, so trying probably wont help anything, but to impede it.(flow)
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I think you will find it infinitely more important to "watch the ball" intently when playing cricket than in golf.Some players do it better than others,thats why they become international players.One of the most important fundamentals in batting is watching the ball as it comes out of the bowlers hands.I remember a bloke trying to make the school team facing up to their fastest bowler.He said he simply could not see the ball.

It's actually possible for blind golfers to play to a decent level.I'd like to see blind tennis and cricket players do the same.
 
RIduffer

RIduffer

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willimatic said:
I was playing today and for some reason I thought about if I even look at the golf ball really. I noticed that I see the ball at address but then I don't really look at it (or focus on it you can say) anymore and then next thing I know I'm looking at it flying to my target! I don't know if I actually stop looking at the ball or what, just found it interesting.

What do you all do? Do you look at the ball intently during the entire swing? Just on backswing? Just curious!

Thanks,
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I do the same thing as you willimatic. I look at the ball at address, but then I'm not conscious of seeing the ball at any other point during my swing until it's flying through the air (hopefully).

At times, "eye on the ball" was a great swing thought that had me hitting shots flush. Other times, it seemed to have the opposite effect where I would keep my head too still and make terrible, awkward swings. Not sure if it just worked as a placebo or what...
 
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willimatic

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A basic gaze is a very good way of describing it. I am not worried about it, I just had never really thought about it and then I then it popped up in my head while playing.
 
drewyallop

drewyallop

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I see the ball at address in relation to everything else - feet, legs hips, arms hands and same during the waggle. Then I let the swing go and trust that the ball will still be there. If my eyes are anywhere they are in the hips and shoulders (strange I know but this is what it feels like). Only on short pitches and chips do I focus on the ball throughout the swing. Staring it down on longer clubs leads to no weight shift to the right and a power-sapping tendency to aim the club-face.
 
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SJO

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willimatic said:
I was playing today and for some reason I thought about if I even look at the golf ball really. I noticed that I see the ball at address but then I don't really look at it (or focus on it you can say) anymore and then next thing I know I'm looking at it flying to my target! I don't know if I actually stop looking at the ball or what, just found it interesting.

What do you all do? Do you look at the ball intently during the entire swing? Just on backswing? Just curious!

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Very similar to you. I was practicing recently and realised that I don't really look at the ball intently. I guess it's because your mind is immersed in the feelings that are necessary to hit it well.
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

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My eyes point and see "white on green" but I'm more aware peripherally of the divot about to happen. I absolutely DON'T try and keep my head down.

Driver: I try and miss it on the toe (my personal thing).
 
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willimatic

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cmartingolf said:
My eyes point and see "white on green" but I'm more aware peripherally of the divot about to happen. I absolutely DON'T try and keep my head down.

Driver: I try and miss it on the toe (my personal thing).
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Cmartingolf

You try to miss your driver on the toe? What does this do for you?
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

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I get stuck under plane, especially with the driver, and have a bunch of low heel strikes. So, I try and hit it off the toe and generally hit it on the button.

In order for me to "play" my best, I feel I have to hit down and left on the driver. I know I'm leaving some yards on the table, but it helps me keep some balls out of the woods. I'm looking forward to seeing Brian in Vegas to explore a possible AoA change w the driver.
 
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willimatic

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Interesting. I miss with heel hooks as well, it's very annoying as it seems not many can relate. At least with the folks I'm playing with consistently! They all seem to hit fades, while I'm the lone guy on the left side of the course.
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

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willimatic said:
Interesting. I miss with heel hooks as well, it's very annoying as it seems not many can relate. At least with the folks I'm playing with consistently! They all seem to hit fades, while I'm the lone guy on the left side of the course.
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Will, for me, I just couldn't believe my path was so inside out. I remember standing on the range at the NCPGA Stroke Play (a few years ago) and I was talking to the Titleist Rep. I hit a few shots pretty decent and he pointed out my path issues. The light bulb went off, sort of... It took a few other Trackman sessions to find a "FEEL" that got me in a place where I could have a dependable tee ball.

I'm a damn good iron striker and rarely miss to any large degree. It's the Driver that has been my achilles heel. So, I take it to a crazy level; I tee the ball very close to the tee markers. Depending on the trouble off the fairway, say I pick the left marker. I tee the ball behind it about 18" and about 8" inside the box. Then I aim pretty straight and try and hit the tee marker with the clubhead!!! Serious. I don't come anywhere near it, but it helps me remember to have some carry and helps get the impact on the sweet spot or toward the toe. Generally, it's a pretty sweet 2 yard cut that flies about 240-260 and takes whatever the ground gives me.
 
texagjosh

texagjosh

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Any of you ever try a blind golf swing? If so, how'd it work out?

I have difficulty moving from practice swing to over-the-ball swing because I haven't convinced my mind that the ball is incidental to the swing. I feel like even having the ball in my vision really jacks up my intent with the swing.
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

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texagjosh said:
Any of you ever try a blind golf swing? If so, how'd it work out?

I have difficulty moving from practice swing to over-the-ball swing because I haven't convinced my mind that the ball is incidental to the swing. I feel like even having the ball in my vision really jacks up my intent with the swing.
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A friend of mine, Glen Albaugh, professes a drill where you close your eyes at impact and try and feel/guess where the ball went. It's a great drill. Scott McCarron does it a lot during practice.

Glen wrote a very solid golf book called Winning the Battle Within.

George Knudson played a lot of golf with his eyes closed during his swings and rarely performed any differently. He shot 67 (-4) at the National once with his eyes closed during each shot.
 
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adamscot89

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Swinging with your eyes closed is really difficult for people for a couple different reasons. For one thing people who have spent their entire lives using their sight as a means of balance find it difficult to balance themselves with their eyes closed. Try standing on one leg and lifting the other up in the air, pretty easy, but when you close your eyes it becomes a lot more difficult to maintain your balance and move. Also even though you are not directly looking at the ball in your downswing you use your eyes to locate it and assist your muscle memory. Kind of like a basketball player throwing a no look pass based on where they are standing on the floor, or a baseball player seeing the spin of curve-ball and anticipating the drop, swinging lower without actually seeing the ball. Luckily for golfers the ball is sitting still. I wouldn't consciously worry about looking at the ball though, next thing you know you'll be wondering whether you exhale or inhale during your downswing.
 
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