Closing eyes at impact

[bunkerputt]

Do good players watch impact or close their eyes?  I found I close mine after I got hit in the face by what felt like a shotgun of dirt and sand after hitting an iron.  Eyes were fine and I wasn't wearing glasses, so I must have blinked.  Face still hurts.  Instant exfoliation.

[David in FL]

Not sure I understand the question.....

Are you talking for every shot, or just bunker, muck, water, etc......?

Regardless, mine stay open.  I have enough trouble hitting that silly little ball while I'm looking at it.  Couldn't imagine what whould happen if I closed my eyes!

[Audaxi]

It depends on who you define as "good" and whether or not you mean they ALWAYS have their eyes open or not. I know that I personally will sometimes have my eyes open, and sometimes closed, but normally I leave them open unless I'm hitting from sandy turf. That being said, I rarely will actually see the ball being hit, as I watch for a divot to let me know when to look for the ball.

[dak4n6]

This is discussed in tennis a lot where 'seeing' the ball is critical. Whether we keep our eyes open or take a quick blink, impact is way too quick to actually see it. When I review a shot in my head, I can never actually recall it. The important thing for me is to watch the ball with a steady head all the way up to impact.

[Golfingdad]

I have no idea.  When I consciously try to "keep my eye on the ball" until after I've hit it I seem to make more solid contact, but I can't honestly say that I am witnessing the contact.

[shortstop20]

I have no idea.

[Stretch]

I've never thought about it. Until now. This is worse than: "Do you breathe in or out on your backswing." Screw you, man.

[rehmwa]

On another driving thread an instructional vid talked about addressing the club at the center of the swing arc and not the ball (for driving).  I've tried lately to also point my eyes on that same point (regardless if it's a drive - ball forwarded of that point, or a low iron/wedge - ball back of that point).  And I go a little out of focus and just keep my head still during the swing.  The benefit was huge in cleaner and straighter hits immediately and through the rest of the practice.  Now it's all about the swing, not the ball.  The club will find the ball and that takes care of itself if it lives on the swing arc.

I'm hoping the gains stick.  More range and play time to confirm needed.

YMMV

[GaijinGolfer]

I try to keep mine open.  I feel that it helps me to not come up out of my posture if I try to see the clubhead impact the ball.  Like someone else said, its almost impossible to actually watch the club hit the ball because it happens so fast but I feel that TRYING helps.

For me, its much the same as putting where I try to see where the ball was.  The only difference is when Im hitting driver or FW where I look just behind the ball because I feel that when you play the ball forward, it creates a tendency to open your shoulders and hit a big slice.

[jshots]

It's not a thought I've ever had before, but I'm sure that next time I play it will be all that I can think about.

Thanks a lot.

[skillzwhogolfs]

I keep mine open, all but that one swing the other day when i had a little chunky 3 wood and mud went right in my eye, then I was forced to close them lol

[Jeffrey71]

I keep mine open. It helps me to see the impact and keep me from jerking my head up too quickly. Sometimes I'll practice keeping my head looking down until about 3- 5 seconds after I hit.