Don't forget to focus on the ball

[Smilesy]

I've been working pretty hard on my game in the off season (we’re just coming out of winter in South Eastern Australia), hitting the gym and doing a load of exercises in my shed involving an impact with the aim of reducing my excessive lateral movement and improving my kinetic links.

Anyway I've started doing a couple of range sessions a week now that the weather is better and have been hitting it terribly which was really depressing after working really hard. It took me a few sessions but in the end I worked out what was going wrong, I wasn't focused on the ball at all. I was looking the general direction of the ball, but I wasn't focused on it. Since I've worked that out my ball striking has improved massively to the point that I'm now hitting as well as I ever have, and I'm feeling good about the off season work.

I just thought I’d post my personal lesson as it may help others out there, don’t get over focused on other things, in the end you need to hit the ball.

[Pourputt]

Good point. I often find myself thinking about so many things that I forget to focus on the ball... It's all very well having a perfect swing (not that I do), but chunking it after forgetting one of the most important rules in sport! -keep your eye on the ball!

[jbest]

Good point - I always put the logo of the ball up and focus on being able to read that before I take away - helps immensely.

[iacas]

I don't even really look at the golf ball much at all. I call it a "fuzzy focus." I'm looking down, but I'm definitely not focused on the golf ball.

Works for me, that's all I can say. I'm sure focusing works for others.

[birlyshirly]

[...]

I just thought I’d post my personal lesson as it may help others out there, don’t get over focused on other things, in the end you need to hit the ball.

In my experience, you need to do both - but one at a time. If you want to change how you swing, then you've got to focus on the change. I do as much of that as I can indoors, or hitting reduced yardage balls into a net in my back garden. But when that change is getting comfortable, I need to get out and hit real balls out of real lies. Then I'll focus more on the ball and the quality of the strike.

[Smilesy]

In my experience, you need to do both - but one at a time. If you want to change how you swing, then you've got to focus on the change. I do as much of that as I can indoors, or hitting reduced yardage balls into a net in my back garden. But when that change is getting comfortable, I need to get out and hit real balls out of real lies. Then I'll focus more on the ball and the quality of the strike.

I totally agree with you on that, I think it is really helpful having a net to hit balls into when you are making a swing change, that way you really aren't too results focused. When you hit the range though and you do start to get a bit more results focused I think that is when you need to start focusing on the ball again.

[Strandly]

Yeah I don't look very closely at the ball either, I think all that would do is turn me into an 'aimer' and mess with my already shakey swing.

[MEfree]

I don't even really look at the golf ball much at all. I call it a "fuzzy focus." I'm looking down, but I'm definitely not focused on the golf ball.

Works for me, that's all I can say. I'm sure focusing works for others.

I think I used to focus more on the ball in the past, but am more like Erik now and have been playing some of my best golf in a long time.

I have been working on keeping my head steady, and have had a few times either during practice or casual rounds where I was looking at my shadow instead of the ball and hit really nice shots.

By having a soft or fuzzy focus, I think I am making a swing where the ball gets in the way as opposed to trying to hit the ball.  YMMV

[Roblar]

I like to focus on a blade of grass about half an inch to an inch in front of the ball.  ...at least, that's what I try to do. I catch myself 'ball-watching' a lot  with the driver.

[Hardballs]

I've started focusing on a dimple near the front of a ball, and once I'm locked in I take an easy backswing and whilst all the time thinking,,,"do not move my head!"

[boogielicious]

Bobby Clampett in his book, Impact Zone , has the reader focus on a point 4" in front of the ball.  This is to promote weight shift and getting the low point of the swing in front of the ball.  I have tried it, and it works but I only use it for drills.  When I am playing well, it is more fuzzy focus on the ground/ball with more thoughts on the target.

The OP has it working for him, which is great. Stick with what works.

[saevel25]

I don't even really look at the golf ball much at all. I call it a "fuzzy focus." I'm looking down, but I'm definitely not focused on the golf ball.

Works for me, that's all I can say. I'm sure focusing works for others.

For me i got to look at the ball or just ahead. It really helps keep my head stiller in the golf swing when i do, especially for the wedges. I can get away with not doing it for the driver.