Looking at the Ball

[The LoneStar]

When your getting ready to swing, where exactly are you looking? At the center of the ball? The point where your ball will first make contact with the face of the club? TIA

[GaijinGolfer]

I put the ball on the tee with the logo up and I focus on the logo.

[Roblar]

This is not intended as 'advice' so much as and anecdote.  Also ***warning*** I am not a particularly good, experienced, or knowledgeable player!

For wedge-7 iron, I don't look at the ball -- I focus on a blade of grass (or the ground, something) that is directly beneath the center of the ball.

For 6-3iron, I focus on the leading edge (equator) of the ball or the ground immediately beneath the leading edge of the ball.

For the driver, I focus on a dimple near the top of the ball.

I don't hit my woods enough to have figured out anything specific.

Where I focus provides a minor swing adjustment for me.  If I look at the 'back of the ball' for every club, I start hitting fat with my longer irons.  If I look at the front of the ball with my wedge/short irons, I think a lot of shots. If I hit fat/thin, I adjust where I focus on my next shot with a similar club --- though I never move my focus more than an inch in any direction as an adjustment.

Again, not saying this will work for you or that you should do this (or similar), just letting you know what I do.

[Zeph]

I have a little problem with moving the focus behind the ball at the backswing, but what I want do to is look at the backside of the ball.

[motteler621]

I like to look at the center of the ball for every shot except driver and sand shots. I look at back of ball for driver because its so far forward and sand shots I look a little behind the ball at the sand, Hand eye coordination really works in the golf swing.

-Zeph, if you have any problems with flipping try looking at the center of the ball.

[Zeph]

  motteler621 said:

Originally Posted by motteler621

I like to look at the center of the ball for every shot except driver and sand shots. I look at back of ball for driver because its so far forward and sand shots I look a little behind the ball at the sand, Hand eye coordination really works in the golf swing.

-Zeph, if you have any problems with flipping try looking at the center of the ball.

I have problems with flipping, and looking behind the ball is one of the causes. I am however in the process of getting rid of the flip, so far it looks promising. It was a move I adapted when I started working on my takeaway because I was looking at the club as I took it back. It does sound silly not to look at the ball. I do of course look in the general direction, but not focused on it. Just got to give myself time to work the change into my swing. Imagine throwing darts without looking where you want to throw it.

When my swing thought is to look at the backside of the ball, I'm hitting it all the time, but still flip. I used to chunk it all over the place, which I believe is a result of many things of course, but looking behind the ball being an important one.

I started thinking about focus a long time ago, and recently started thinking about where to look on shots where you don't want the club to hit the ball first. My bunker shots improved dramatically when I focused on the spot I wanted to hit the sand. At first I thought I was doing it right, but as usual my focus moved during the backswing. When I look only at the spot through the swing, I'm hitting it well. Same goes with pitch shots where I want the bounce to hit the ground behind the ball first.

[plum]

with irons i focus on the front edge of the ball. seems to help with making better contact. with woods, i focus on the back of the ball.

[Rebel_Golfer]

Recently read Bobby Clampett's "The Impact Zone" and have been trying to "move the swing bottom forward" by focusing on an area 2-3" in front of the ball. Generally seems to be working well for me. I feel like I am making better contact from Driver down to wedge. Also, for the most part, my divots are now starting AFTER the ball.

The only place this caused an issue for me was in the sand. I found that trying to focus in FRONT of the ball was making me hit terrible bunker shots which is something I was previously pretty good at. When I tried to go back to looking an inch or so behind the ball, I found it kind of awkward because I had become accustomed to looking in front of the ball for every other shot. But, after a few practice sessions, I am now comfortable making the switch from looking in front on all other shots and behind on bunker shots.

It really was a helpful book. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to work on ball striking.

[JackLee]

I used to have a problem with looking up before impact, but I cured that by doing the following:

I focus on the turf just behind the ball where I want the leading edge of the club to come in between that turf and the ball.  If the ball is on a tee, I make the necessary adjustment to swing above the turf.  I keep focusing on that turf until I am looking over my trailing arm after impact.

[B-Con]

For iron shots, long pitches, and chips, I focus on the ground just beyond (eg, to the left for a right-handed player) the ball, maybe an inch or inch and a half so.That's where I want the club to make contact with the ground. For the putter and driver, I focus my eyes on the back (eg, right) side of the ball where the club will make contact with the face. When I align the ball, I do so with the line coming up the backside so I have something to focus my eyes on.

[golf4fun12]

as of lately, no idea why, but when I am on the tee box I struggle with eye contact with the ball. only on the tee box too. I get distracted by any little thing. tiny wind gust. a fly in the corner of my eye sight. my eyes go away from the ball for a split second and I lose focus. today it happened a few times on the tee box. I hope it is just a mental thing and get past it eventually.

to answer, I always look at the center of the ball.