The Ball Isn't the Target

[The4HourGolfPro]

I had a bit of a revelation yesterday at the driving range. I'm sure most players go through this when their swing becomes second nature, and they begin focusing on actually hitting a target more, and less on just trying to not duff the ball. But it made me realize:

A lot of beginning players think that the ball is the target.

The ball is not the only thing we're trying to aim for. And I think that this intense focus on just hitting the ball is a reason why people might have inconsistent ball striking and/or poor accuracy.

Really aiming for a specific target, especially at the driving range helped my iron game immensely.

Captain Obvious to the rescue.. but even though I would've brushed off this tip before with a "duh..," I really started putting it to practice when I realized it myself.

I'd like to hear anyone else's comments or experiences with this idea.

[rwfastrax]

At the range I go to...there's a specific tee that has a newer, nice mat and there's a "green" with a pin about 165 yds out directly in front of this tee. I use it as my "target" for every shot I hit. If it's a wedge, I want to see the ball come down in front of the green/pin. If I'm hitting 4i, 3H, 3W or driver... I want to see the ball fly directly over it. Works pretty well for me.

[Sticky]

I think that's the whole, "hitting through it not at it".  sort of letting the ball get in the way of the swing

[Goonsidious]

I just focus on making sure my swing is smooth and in line.. its amazing how "like butter" a hit is when you don't aim to just crush the ball. I love it. I'm definitely a better golfer because of it..no longer afraid of going to the range as well.

[The Mad Hatter]

This may sound crazy to some of you but its been working for me. I am brand new to golf this year and play from the blue tees. Here's what I do... When I set my ball on the tee, I place the wording on the ball directly in line with the pin. Then when looking at the tee the wording is straight in line with it. Then when I go to address the ball with the club I use the taylormade script to make sure I am aligned up straight. Also, I don't try to kill the ball. I have found for me anyways that if I try to hulk smash the ball I just dump the driver I to the ground it top the ball. I don't know if this is the correct way of doing things or not, but my drives got straight. The last round of nine I played I only missed the fairway once and it was not by much. Putting is another issue all together for me.

[Adam Young]

really depends on what player you are at the time. As with everything there is balance. As a juniro golfer, I was very much a swinger of the club, hitting through the ball and picking it. But for me to make the next level, I needed a little more hit. I worked on an analogy of a nail through a golf ball angles slightly downwards, and tried to hammer it into the ground( only 10 degrees of so) to get the feeling of compression/squeezing the ball. After a while of doing this, I found that balance between making a swing and picking it, and getting a nice downward strike on the ball.

I agree, a lot of guys are pure hitters, trying to much down on it. A lot of good players do this too, as they find it can produce a lower, more penetrating flight. But to suggest that everyone tries to swing thorugh the ball is too much of a generalisation. Find the balance between the two.

Oh, and that feeling of like swinging through nothing - it's not what a professional feels when they strike a ball properly. Sure, there is no vibration when the sweet spot is hit, but to hit the sweetspot with the correct attack angle and loft will feel much heavier at impact than what most people deem a good shot. The excessively 'swinging through air' feeling you are getting is when the loft/angle of attack ratio is not optimum (but you have hit the sweet spot). you are basically losing potential distance.

[Goonsidious]

Ahh..thanks for the post. I'll have to see if I can get that true feeling.

[Limpinswinger]

My irons all have stainless steel, "stiff," True Temper shafts in them.  They give me great feedback.  When I hit the ball clean and my timing and tempo come together at impact, I feel a buttery flex in the shaft.  When I don't, they feel like stiff, stainless steel shafts that leave a little shock in the hands at impact.