Looking at the Club on Backswing

[Todd1902]

As it says in the title.

 

For the past year now when I swing back and get to just past waist height and starting to hinge I then look back and follow the club.

I feel like my shoulders block out the view of the ball and I'm restricted in movement if i do not do this.

Has anyone ever come across this? As you can imagine this becomes a nice talking point during rounds and can be destructive. 

[Cantankerish]

I think you should look at the ball.

Unless you are working on some particular element of your swing, you really need to be looking at what you are going to hit.  All kinds of bad things happen when you do not look at the ball.

If the movement of your backswing is blocking out your view of the ball, you may have something bad causing that.

 

Post a swing video.  Let’s have a look.

[Patch]

Never seen it myself, other than some folks looking at their club on pre-swing, 1/2 take away. 

What ever works for the individual golfer is a good thing as far as I am concerned.

Myself, once I start my back swing. I am either looking at the back of the ball, or just bit in front of it, depending on the type of club I am swinging. I trust my swing to put the club head pretty close to where I am looking at impact. I see the ball disappear, and at some point after that, my head turns to see the ball flight I just created. 

[rehmwa]

I think it's really important to look back. 

It's the only way to tell if you still have the same club......or if your glove fell off during your backswing.

[billchao]

4 hours ago, Todd1902 said:

For the past year now when I swing back and get to just past waist height and starting to hinge I then look back and follow the club.

I feel like my shoulders block out the view of the ball and I'm restricted in movement if i do not do this.

I'm confused. You feel like your shoulders block the view of the ball if you don't follow the movement of the club going up? Isn't your view of the ball limited by the fact that your eyes are following a completely different object?

[downbylaw11]

if youre hitting the ball like shit, then it's bad.  if you hit the ball well, then it's ok?!

turning your head actually frees you up to get a bigger shoulder turn, so if you can turn head slightly while also still seeing the ball out of the corner of your eye, then it could be beneficial for you.  turning your head the other way during the downswing can help get your body more opened up at impact, which if something you desire, can help you achieve this position. 

[Vinsk]

Sounds to me like you’re turning too level. If you’re tilted properly your left shoulder shouldn’t block your view of the ball on your backswing.