Jump to content
IGNORED

Looking at the ball during the Backswing


verse214
Note: This thread is 5252 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I noticed a few weeks ago the I don't even look at the ball during my backswing; i generally will look at the ball at address and my eyes move back along the target line as I make the backswing and during the downswing I don't see it because it will be gone.

Does anyone else do this? Or does everyone more or less keep their eye on the ball?

I started doing this because I created a habit of checking my position in the backswing by looking back. Since i've done that so much in the past, I've gotten so used to it. Now if I force myself to keep looking at the ball, my weight will sometimes get stuck and I will forget to weight shift back (or my weight stays at the ball, where my eyes are being forced to look).

It's not a big deal but I wanted to get a general consensus on what everyone does.

Thanks!
Taylormade R9 TP 9.5*w/ Diamana Kai'li 70 S (SST PURE)
Callaway FT 3 Wood
Adams Pro Black Hybrid 20* w/ Voodoo NV8 S
MP-68 3-PW irons w/ KBS Tour X-flex (softstepped 1x)
Cleveland CG-12 52.10Cleveland CG-15 DSG 56.08 Vokey Limited Edition 60-V w/ KBS black nickel S-FlexCircle T Beached Center Shaft...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I look at the ball only, but in reality, I see the ball, the ground, my club, leaves and everything else as one big picture. My minds eye is focused on the target so I notice the ball, but I'm not "looking" at it.

My swing thoughts:

- Negative thinking hurts more than negative swinging.
- I let my swing balance me.
- Full extension back and through to the target. - I swing under not around my body. - My club must not twist in my swing. - Keep a soft left knee

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I look at the ball 100% of the time that it is in front of me. If I don't, I produce some really nasty shots.

I have read articles in iacas' favorite publication, Golf Digest (that was sarcasm), that suggested looking behind the ball for certain shots, in front of the ball for certain shots, etc. Even in above or below the ball if you miss a certain way...

I practice looking at the ball, and hitting the ball. Maybe these sorts of things are something for lower handicap players?

Grom stand bag
SQ 5900 - 9.5*
Burner 15* and 18*
MT 20* Hybrid
CG Gold 4-PW CG14 52.10 SM 56.14 IC 20-10a 34" Putter SDF balls (was on sale)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I found that your swing has a tendency to bottom out wherever you are looking so if you are staring at the back of the ball you might bottom out to early. Looking at the front of the ball or even in front of it produces some immediate amazing results as far as "impact zone" stuff is concerned but it was kind of a passing fad and didn't hold up in the long run for reasons I don't understand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Now if I force myself to keep looking at the ball, my weight will sometimes get stuck and I will forget to weight shift back (or my weight stays at the ball, where my eyes are being forced to look).

Start with your weight back, then the ball is the only thing your thinking about...

G10 (VS Proto 65 X) or 905S (speeder X) / X Tour 3W (VS Proto S) / Adams Idea Tour Proto 18* (VS Proto S) / S59 Tour, Z-Z65 Cushin (D2) / Mizuno MP-T 51-06 , 56-10, / Miz TP Mills #6 ~or~ Cleveland BRZ #5
 
 
85,84,85,84

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I try to keep my eyes or my head facing the ball on the backswing. But once I get to the top of the backswing I tend to lose focus of the ball until the follow through. Sometimes on the downswing I try to follow the ball and turn my head which leads to strong push shots.

I tend to hit solid when I force myself to keep looking at the ball through impact, but sometimes I forget to do that if I'm concentrating on my backswing position or weight transfer in the downswing.

2011 Goals:
* Improve club-head speed to 90 mph with the driver
* Ensure increased speed does not compromise accuracy
* Prevent overextending on the back-swing (left-arm is bending too much at the top)
* Relax arms initially at address ( too tense)* Play more full rounds (failed from 2010)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


The eyes are primarily connected to the conscious mind which is too slow and clumsy to wield proper influence during a golf swing.

What matters is how accurate and nuanced your subconscious mind senses the body, ie feel.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


My eyes trail the club going back, which is causing problems for me. It allows the head to move forward easier and I'll have to cast the club, often hitting it fat. I do not want to look behind the ball. If anything I'd rather look ahead of the ball.

Ogio Grom | Callaway X Hot Pro | Callaway X-Utility 3i | Mizuno MX-700 23º | Titleist Vokey SM 52.08, 58.12 | Mizuno MX-700 15º | Titleist 910 D2 9,5º | Scotty Cameron Newport 2 | Titleist Pro V1x and Taylormade Penta | Leupold GX-1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
I keep my eye on the ball if at all possible. I do this to really focus on hitting the inside quarter of the ball. Otherwise, I tend to swing outside in. Plus I like to watch the club contact the ground and see where my divot is.

Bryan A
"Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I look at the ball only, but in reality, I see the ball, the ground, my club, leaves and everything else as one big picture.

Very well said.

"The Zen philosopher Basho once wrote, 'A flute with no holes is not a flute. And a doughnut with no hole is a danish."

909 D3 Diamana Blueboard 63g
909 F2 3 Wood
MP-57's 4-pwIdea Pro 2 and 3 iron hybridsTour-W 52 deg wedge Tour-W 56 deg wedge2 Ball center shaft putterProV1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


In my mind golf is primarily about hand/eye coordination. I find I tend to make better contact when I always have the ball in my field of vision throughout the swing. I have a tendency to turn my head away from the ball when I reach the top of my backswing. This is a result of my shoulder turn pulling my neck and head in the same direction. I also might tuck my chin into my left shoulder in the backswing and that pushes my head away too. So I try to initiate my backswing by raising my chin so it isn't pushed back by the left shoulder so much. Obviously you can't maintain strict eye contact with the ball throughout the swing but as long as it's in my field of vision somewhere I stand a much better chance of my brain successfully doing the hand eye thingy and delivering the club head squarely to the ball.

Nike Vapor Speed driver 12* stock regular shaft
Nike Machspeed 4W 17*, 7W 21* stock stiff shafts
Ping i10 irons 4-9, PW, UW, SW, LW AWT stiff flex
Titleist SC Kombi 35"; Srixon Z Star XV tour yellow

Clicgear 3.0; Sun Mountain Four 5

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I noticed a few weeks ago the I don't even look at the ball during my backswing; i generally will look at the ball at address and my eyes move back along the target line as I make the backswing and during the downswing I don't see it because it will be gone.

the instruction i use teaches that it is important to look at the back of the ball or ground right behind it at the top of the backswing but it's not necessary until then. then watch that spot as long as possible until impact while not peeking up.

In My Bag:
Driver: ERC Fusion 10* stiff
3W: Big Bertha Fusion 13* stiff
5W: Big Bertha 2004 15* firm
7W: Big Bertha 2004 21* firm3H: IHS 20* med firm4H: IHS 23* med firm5I-PW: IHS reg steelAW: Mercedes Catalyst Hybrid 52* SW: Mercedes Catalyst Hybrid 56*LW: Mercedes Catalyst Hybrid 60*LW: FX 64*

Link to comment
Share on other sites


With driver/woods, I get the best result looking right at the back of the ball. For chips, usually the front of the ball works best. No data for irons since I've never hit a clean one

There is a very strong correlation between good shots and having a visual memory of looking at the ball as I hit it. During the swing I don't usually consciously think about much besides the swing, but afterwards I either remember watching it or I don't. If not, it's quite likely to be a bad result...

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Very well said.

I agree, that was a great explanation. I used to notice that some swing tendencies of mine (reverse pivot, incomplete backswing) were related to my desire to keep my eye on the ball with some faulty setup aspects present. Because I'm tall with large deltoids and had an upright posture, there was a point when the ball became obscured if I tried to get a full shoulder turn. This led to reverse pivoting and a truncated backswing with all sorts of problems. If you play the ball where it should be (ball more forward), and have the right posture with a good bend from the lower back (ball more out), you should still be able to see the ball in your visual fiend...though with around a 110° shoulder turn, it moves to the periphery of your left eye without straining your neck turn. You still see it, but you have to keep your mind's eye elsewhere.

[ Equipment ]
R11 9° (Lowered to 8.5°) UST Proforce VTS 7x tipped 1" | 906F2 15° and 18° | 585H 21° | Mizuno MP-67 +1 length TT DG X100 | Vokey 52° Oil Can, Cleveland CG10 2-dot 56° and 60° | TM Rossa Corza Ghost 35.5" | Srixon Z Star XV | Size 14 Footjoy Green Joys | Tour Striker Pro 5, 7, 56 | Swingwing

Link to comment
Share on other sites


always the ball, never the swing path. i have looked at swing path practicing but it is too much distraction for me changing vision from swing path back to ball.

was that a real dog?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I do follow my club on the backswing. I watch the path of the club head to prevent my draws and hooks.

I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. I hit my driver and irons well, so why change.

I do this when I putt also.

Titleist 910 D2 9.5 Driver
Titleist 910 F15 & 21 degree fairway wood
Titleist 910 hybrid 24 degree
Mizuno Mp33 5 - PW
52/1056/1160/5

"Yonex ADX Blade putter, odyssey two ball blade putter, both  33"

ProV-1

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I tried to do as you as an experiment, turn the head to watch the position going back, and it had the tendency to make me reverse pivot. I have to fight the tendency to dip the head forward on the backswing all the time so I don't need something to make it worse.

My Clubs
Nicklaus Progressive XC Irons: 3H,4H, 5-GW
Ray Cook SW & Gyro 1 Putter
Taylor Made Burner Driver 10.5
Taylor Made V-Steel 3 & 5 MetalsMy Home Course: Indian RiverMy Blog: Rant-o-Rama-Ding-Dong

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I tried to do as you as an experiment, turn the head to watch the position going back, and it had the tendency to make me reverse pivot. I have to fight the tendency to dip the head forward on the backswing all the time so I don't need something to make it worse.

I can definitely see how moving your head would cause a reverse pivot; that said - i don't move my head - I move my eyes.

I tried looking right at the ball for the entire back swing at the range recently but it threw me off and didn't let me complete my back swing as properly as I wanted to and it didn't let me go after the ball. I noticed that my eyes do move back to the ball right before impact. I have to play a round this weekend so i don't want to mess around with my swing too much- I used to look directly at the ball and would like to get back to that so it will be something that I will be working on through the winter after it gets way too cold to play. All the responses have been interesting - keep them coming.
Taylormade R9 TP 9.5*w/ Diamana Kai'li 70 S (SST PURE)
Callaway FT 3 Wood
Adams Pro Black Hybrid 20* w/ Voodoo NV8 S
MP-68 3-PW irons w/ KBS Tour X-flex (softstepped 1x)
Cleveland CG-12 52.10Cleveland CG-15 DSG 56.08 Vokey Limited Edition 60-V w/ KBS black nickel S-FlexCircle T Beached Center Shaft...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 5252 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Day 76 - Pretty sore today, so I opted for putting over my Stack session. Primary focus was on starting line, as my putting has been pretty poor this year. 
    • Been a bit of delay in updates but I needed to come back east as my mom's health has taken a serious turn for the worse. In a 3 day span we learned she had a tumor to she has stage 4 cancer and stopped eating and drinking for the most part. She has had a rough 3 months but certainly didn't think we'd be at the point of setting up hospice for her. My mom was never into any sports really other than following the Red Sox because my dad was a big fan. She always cared about what we were involved in including asking about how golf went.  I have kept up with my 5 minutes of daily practice and will go to the gym here in NH tomorrow morning. Despite the somber nature of this trip my family has commented more than a few times about my weight loss so it's important to me to keep it up. I know my mom always wanted us happy in whatever we did so I'll continue with my fitness journey keeping that in mind. 
    • Day 109- Putting drills on a putting green for 20 minutes. 
    • Day 252: did a stack session. Did some slow rehearsal swings during breaks. 
    • Day 82: 3/18/24 Tried a Stack session but could not certify my warmup. Finished with indoor chips and putting. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...