What part of the ball do you focus on?

[mdouet]

What part of the ball should I be focusing on for different types of shots (here are my guesses):

Driver/Woods? Back of the ball

Hybrids? Center of the ball

Irons? Center of the ball

Wedges? Front of the ball

Chipping? Front of the ball

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

I do it like this instead:

Driver/Woods? Back of the ball

Hybrids? Back of the ball

Irons? Back of the ball

Full Wedges? Back of the ball

Lobs/Sand shots/Flop shots/Knock-downs? Front of the ball

Chipping/Putting? Top (center) of the ball

For all full swings, I look at the back of the ball, because it promotes keeping my head behind the ball, and also promotes a spine tilt away from the target which in turn promotes an in-to-out swing.

For specialty wedge shots where I'm playing the ball with my weight forward and the ball off my back foot to come steeply down into the ball, I look a the front of the ball.

For chipping (defining chipping as a bump-and-run type of chip, as opposed to the specialty wedge shots I mentioned above) and putting, I focus straight down at the top of the ball.

-Andrew

[mruseless]

I try not to focus on the ball at all. I focus on routine, rhythm, and smoothness. My worst shots happen when I get too "ball focused". But that's just me.

[supr4]

After alignment my sole focus is on the club head/face.

[mdouet]

So if you guys don't look at the ball, where are you looking when you swing?

[Surefire]

So if you guys don't look at the ball, where are you looking when you swing?

I look at the ball while setting up, as soon as I start my swing I'm not consciously looking at anything.

I probably am looking at the ball, but not by choice. I guess my mind is so concentrated on other things during the swing that not much conscious attention is given to my vision. In fact this is definately true because if I closed my eyes it would feel weird!

[jlin453]

The only time I'm focusing on the ball that much is when I'm putting, and that's when I'm looking at one particular dimple. For me, this helps me keep still and not think about too much during my putting stroke.

[TommyD69]

I look at the front of the ball all the time...

[Grogger31]

I try not to focus on any part of the ball at all. I find when I do I'm more likely to hit fat or thin. I know it sounds strange, but I try to imagine the ball isn't there ... then again, maybe that's why I'm only a 16 handicap.

Seriously, when I tee my ball up, I purposely put it so that no logo or writing is visible. This helps me to NOT focus on any part of the ball.

[AlCzervik]

i keep my eye on one specific dimple

[mdouet]

I'm surprised that some people don't focus on the ball at all. I tend to mishit the ball if I don't focus on it. This could also be causing me to become too ball bound and not focused on making a good full swing through the ball. I just don't think I would feel comfortable not looking at the ball though.

[play4him]

It has been interesting to read what others do. I have always been real specific at focusing on a certain spot on the back of the ball. I've always wanted to make sure I made solid contact. It's worked for me for over thirty years, as I have shot in the 60's & 70's throughout that span.

[Grogger31]

It has been interesting to read what others do. I have always been real specific at focusing on a certain spot on the back of the ball. I've always wanted to make sure I made solid contact. It's worked for me for over thirty years, as I have shot in the 60's & 70's throughout that span.

Heck, if I can get down to a 2 hdcp by focusing on the back of the ball, count me in!

[mdouet]

The 2 handicapper wins, I'm going to try focusing on the back of the ball for all of my shots to see if I get better ball striking.

[tm22721]

I used to manipulate the clubhead to compensate for bad swing mechanics but gave up after two years because it resulted in too much inconsistency.

Now I am trying to build and rely upon good swing mechanics to get the clubhead back to the ball.

[Mr.Wedge]

After reading this thread I went out and checked what I do because I never really think about it. I have the ball in my vision but do not focus on any part of it, using my eyes primarily to maintain head level to the ground. Once I start transition, I don't really see anything.

[mruseless]

So if you guys don't look at the ball, where are you looking when you swing?

Well, I look at the ball, but only the general area. I don't focus in on a particular part of the ball.

[whip_it_out]

I actually don't know what I look at over the ball, I get constantly told that things land on top of the ball in my setup( grass, butterfly, etc.) and I don't do anything about them. Well, I don't see them. I spend a lot of my time looking at the target, when I'm not, I am thinking about what the target looks like, where I want the ball to land, or a swing thought.