How Do You Aim?

[onthehunt526]

5 minutes ago, Bonvivant said:

I am 95% a distant target player. I think my alignment is fairly good, but shot variance is the killer. On putts, I usually pick out a spot that is "pin high" with the hole from where I am viewing, and aim there. The only time I use something intermediate is when I have a tricky double breaker or a mostly straight putt with a hard break at only one spot. When I have these situations, I still set up my aim relative to that break point. Once I align and take my stance, I rarely have my target in my FOV.

I used to be a fairly proficient bowler (298 high game 783 high series 202 average), and I always used the dots that are only 6 feet away from the foul line as opposed to the arrows. I didn't necessarily pick a dot, usually it was a board number (bowling lanes have 42 boards and I picked a board between number 12-20 right to left depending on conditions). I find it funny that in bowling I always had a mark as opposed to a target (with the exception of some spare shots), whereas golf I seem to do the exact opposite.

The marker dots between the foul line and the arrows? That have a dot every two boards? What the hell did you leave in the 12th for 298?

[Bonvivant]

7 minutes ago, onthehunt526 said:

The marker dots between the foul line and the arrows? That have a dot every two boards? What the hell did you leave in the 12th for 298?

Correct on the dots. I found that it was easier to hit an exact mark, sometimes as small as a half a board, compared to the arrows. The golf conversation is really relavent with this, as it seems people pick spots that are as close as a foot and as far as the pin/target or potentially even farther (building off in the distance off course property). What is even more strange for my aiming, is that in pool (billiards), I typically make my stroke looking at the cue ball as opposed to the object ball, which is definitely atypically for most proficient players.

I came through the nose and left a 6/10 (righty).

Edited March 19, 2020 by Bonvivant

[Shindig]

I voted intermediate, but tell me if I need to change.

Putts I aim over something where I want the ball to roll over it about a foot out.

All other shots, I stand behind the ball for where I want it to go, hold up the club shaft in the line I want the ball to start, and look for something on the ground to use as a marker to line up (that + the ball as a line parallel).  Then I have to shift my feet in the rare circumstances where I'm trying to produce a curved shot. 

[Rippy_72]

I have tried intermediate, target, and combo.  Sounds weird but I like to see in my mind how the ball is going to go and area on the green that I want to be.  It is like shooting Clays compared instead to shooting precision rifle.  Different part of the brain.

[70sSanO]

On 3/18/2020 at 4:37 AM, boogielicious said:

It also reminds me of the technique called "Quiet Eye". With Quiet Eye you first look where you want the ball to go. Then only looking at your ball, you hit it. The idea is your brain already knows where the target is and now only ball is important.

This also reminds me of mountain biking... I don't want to hit the tree, but if I look at the tree, I'll hit it.  Lol!

As far as the topic.  I've done both, but in recent times it is distance.

Picking a spot, trying to remember that exact spot (tuft or blade of grass), or believing it, from a setup perspective sometimes got me second guessing the line.  Once I start to second guess anything it's over.

But this thread has gotten me thinking about coming up with a way to accept (convince me) that is the correct line.

John

[boogielicious]

2 minutes ago, 70sSanO said:

This also reminds me of mountain biking... I don't want to hit the tree, but if I look at the tree, I'll hit it.

I used to race. We would teach newbies this! Look where you want to go, don't look at the obstacle.

[Piz]

I pick out something, on the ground in front of the ball, and use that to align my feet when I address the ball.  I take a rehearsal swing to see if the club is following the path I envision.  Then I either make a small adjustment or swing away.  Whenever possible I chose a line while waiting my turn...including tee shots.

[DuckhookDenny]

i use an intermediate target to START the ball on  a certain line with the intention itll curve to the distant target.

However

What tends to confuse my mind is, i align with the intermediate target but my mind wants to focus in on the distant target, the flag etc, which is NOT the starting line target just in front of me.

Im not sure how to get out of this to stop being drawn over towards the flag

[Nail]

I pick a spot between me and where i want the ball to start about 12 inches in front of the ball and align everything to that. 

[Grizvok]

I've never used an intermediate target. I've always just looked at where I want to hit it and attempted to hit to that spot. Definitely something for me to try.

[burr]

With driver, I pick a spot 8 or 10 ft out and generally align with slight left-center fairway.  Putting, I seem to forget to pick the spot to putt to and take a distance left or right of cup (like half a cup).  This is not working for me and I cannot seem to change my routine but that's my goal for this season.  My favorite shots, irons to the green, I thought that I could set up, pay attention to alignment and be inline.  Well, this past week, my partner informed me that I was consistently lined up left, enough to be 10 ft left of the green.  and it felt right lined up when I adjusted but flew straight at it.   

Edited March 21, 2020 by burr

[cooke119]

Distant target on drives.

[woodzie264]

On 3/18/2020 at 9:54 AM, David in FL said:

Since “poorly” wasn’t an option, I chose distant only.

Turns out, they’re one and the same.  😑

Yep - same here. I’ll have to give this a try