Parrallax an set up

[danieldrieberg]

I have always had trouble setting up with square hips shoulder feet etc. For some weeks no problems then I go through torture not feeling comfortable with a swing that shows the discomfort.

Normal routine

step in and line up
set grip
turn head to affirm
then go

its at the turn head to affirm that gets me in trouble. I'm right eye dominate--right handed too--. So at step in phase I'm fine. But when I peek to affirm there is a tendency to look with left eye rather than binocular vision. Now I'm confused.

Lately I've taken to stepping in an lining up with my left eye closed---like sighting a rifle. Then going to binocular vision, trusting the line and swinging, losing the "peeking" step. It's really hard to break the peeking habit but results are much better. Last round --9 holes-- resulted in 1 bogey, 5 pars and 3 birds. I have not had to hit a 3/4 or less shot yet. So I'm not sure how this is going to work out. I'm a "feel" golfer when it comes to distance so I like to make that my final visual impression before i hit.

The closed eye routine has been put into my chipping and putting too.
Major difference is in the putting. First I pick out the line by standing behind the ball slightly offset favoring the right eye. Then setting the line over the ball with the closed eye routine to pick the aiming point and putter face alignment . Now with binocular vision, glance at the hole to gauge and visualize the distance. Then within 2 seconds putt. Seems to work.


anyone else battling a dominate right eye issue---If so how do you deal with the issue?

[Scott_K]

I aim from behind the ball. When I line up say a 150 yard shot, I'm picking a divot out in front and depending on how it lines up, I'll choose the left edge, center or right side of the divot. When standing over the ball, and looking down the line, I might second guess my alignment, but it's something I just ignore. I do it for the distance "feel" and part idiosyncracy. I've found that it's always better to trust my aiming spot than when I changed my shot while standing over the ball.

Seems like it's working well with your putting. I do the same thing with putting by trusting the line I chose while behind the ball and just ignoring the line I see when standing over it.

I still look, but I won't change my aiming spot. I see it similar to plumb bobbing. I see no value in plumb bobbing a putt. If anything, it would be an exercise to confirm what I already see (or confuse the heck out of me). Something I never fully understood.

[zeg]

I've been making use of my alignment sticks (the $3 driveway markers from OSH) to address this. At the range, I choose a target and very carefully align the stick to aim toward it. Then I go through my preshot routine, aim, and then check that my feet are set parallel to the stick. If not, I correct, look up and down a few times to get the feel, and take my shot. Then I repeat. During regular practice as well, I leave the stick there and ensure I am always aligned with it. That way I hope to better ingrain the feel of proper alignment. For me, it feels like I'm aiming way left/open, so I've just got to get used to that.

[danieldrieberg]

Yep. Both responses to the thread strike a cord with me. Aiming way left feeling is familiar. That's when i get in trouble when I respond to the urge. I use the same techniques as scott but again in putting and full shots I need to trust the original line. And plumb bobbing----I see no advantage. Maybe you can verify the putter shaft is straight.

[Zeph]

Never even thought about eye dominance in golf, have read on the subject in bowling though. I don't use my eyes to aim at all really, I always pick a spot in front of the ball from behind before I take my stance. When standing over the ball, I align myself to the intermediate target some inches in front of the ball. My body is aligned parallell to this line.

Use this on every single shot, from driver to the shortest putt (on short ones, the aim point is of course the cup). Once I have aligned myself, I don't think about it ever again, since I know my alignment is good. I look up at the target to visualize the shot, but never think about where I aim. After I started this, my aim has improved leaps and bounds, both on full shots and on putts.

[Ringer]

Parallax is more or less about the position of the camera when trying to view video. But there is also the problem of parallel lines coming to a point along the horizon.

Generally I find it is best to just assume you want to hit a draw or fade and forgo always trying to hit it straight. Align the face left or right of the target, then align your body double that amount. You'll do far better around the course when you stop trying to play straight shots.

[danieldrieberg]

Lots of good advice and thoughts here. I suspect many of the flaws, OTT moves,pulls pushes,etc, result from a confusion of proper alignment. Most golfers probably get their initial stance correct then through the process of peeking etc put themselves out of kilter. Also may explain why practice swings looks go good and coordinated. Since no target is chosen the alignment of hips shoulders etc is unencumbered. So then comes the stress of hitting to a target picking a target line and perhaps retargeting with the nondominate eye. A recipe for inconsistent results.

Anyway I'm going to try this theory out for the remainder of the season. My normal progression is to play well for a couple of weeks then I fall apart. Perhaps if I can keep my body alignment constant the quality of my ball striking will not take such wild swings. Same with putting. I go through streaks where the line jumps out to me and times when I would not feel comfortable lining up for a putt into a 3 foot hole.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Get yourself aligned to the shot, then stand up and turn toward the target to look at it, without moving your feet, if you want to check your target once again. Then turn back to the ball to get your body aligned, ground the club, and go.