What do you do? Do you stare at the ball at address?

[Dstob]

When I'm playing I find if I stare at the ball I become "ball bound". During my full swing, chipping and putting I address the ball then keep looking down just having the ball in my peripheral vision and swing focusing on my swing mechanics. I find this lets me swing freely and smoothly because I don't try to kill the ball. I asked my instructor about it and he said he does the same thing. I rarely hit fat or thin shots. What do you do?

[David in FL]

Stare at it?  No.  Look directly at it?  Yes.

I'm not sure what you mean by "looking down, but only keeping the ball in your peripheral vision".  Are you not looking at the ball when you're looking down?

[Dstob]

Stare at it?  No.  Look directly at it?  Yes.

I'm not sure what you mean by "looking down, but only keeping the ball in your peripheral vision".  Are you not looking at the ball when you're looking down?

Yes I'm looking at the ball but i'm not focused on the ball. If I focus directly on the back of the ball solely I find I try to hit the ball instead of swing they the ball. Maybe it's just me......

[LeftyTrevor]

I focus on the grass just in front and outside of the ball. It helps me mentally attack from the inside out and contact the ball first.

[MS256]

Yes I'm looking at the ball but i'm not focused on the ball. If I focus directly on the back of the ball solely I find I try to hit the ball instead of swing they the ball. Maybe it's just me......

It's not just you. I've most often heard people describe it as "soft focus" where the ball is in the middle of the picture but not a focal point of emphasis.

[Golfnut721]

I typically look at the ball but don't stare if that makes sense. In my mind i am seeing all the things that can go wrong with the shot so i try to just notice the ball.

[Patch]

I look at a spot just in front of the ball, and a little bit out side my aim line. How ever I don't consciously keep that spot in my mind during my swing. What I see in my mind before impact is the ball heading towards my intended target.

[Lihu]

This is a great thread, because I think it's the cause of my 16% super thins yesterday during a practice round. I did my practice swing to calibrate where it bottoms out, then moved to the ball like I always do. On my bad shots, I recall not looking at anything in particular. On my good shots, I think I was looking at a specific dimple on the ball. Going to have to be more conscious of it this evening during my practice round.

[ctcampbell]

I find if I'm hitting a little fat that looking in front of the ball a couple of inches helps to make sure I'm hitting with a negative AoA. Otherwise I don't really focus intently on the ball I just look at it.

[Zeph]

I focus on a spot in front of the ball. A couple of inches.

[Strandly]

I don't look at any spot in particular other than straight ahead.

[nick1998bunker]

Usually I look at the ball. If I am toeing it as I am now I may look on the outside sand vica versa for heeled shots

[Hammer 4]

I focus on a spot in front of the ball. A couple of inches.

Ditto...I seem to make better contact when I do this.

[AmazingWhacker]

Interesting question . .something I haven't thought about for a while.  A few years ago, I was trying to look a few inches in front of the ball.

These days I guess I'm not trying to do anything in this regard . .but what happens is I am looking right at the ball during address but "picturing" the target in my mind.  And this is really odd . .I do see the ball during the beginning of my takeaway but not after that . .even though I am still "looking at it".

[ghalfaire]

I do try to "look" at the ball (not stare) until contact. I just let my right shoulder bring my head around on the follow through.  I don't  think about it at all however and when playing well it just happens.  Usually when I "look up" too soon it is because I am letting my tempo get too fast and I pull my head up by swinging too hard.   For me the solution to that is to think "stay connected" and/or reduce my grip pressure.  But I never ever think "stare at the ball' as your head has to be free to move during the follow through or you'll end up making weak arm swings.

[Archie Bunker]

Pros spend more time looking at the target than at the ball. This helps with "visualization".  Amatuers spend more time looking at ball, rather than the target.

[mvmac]

When I'm playing I find if I stare at the ball I become "ball bound". During my full swing, chipping and putting I address the ball then keep looking down just having the ball in my peripheral vision and swing focusing on my swing mechanics. I find this lets me swing freely and smoothly because I don't try to kill the ball. I asked my instructor about it and he said he does the same thing. I rarely hit fat or thin shots. What do you do?

I think it's important to see the ball out of your central vision. I definitely see or look at the ball but I don't "focus" on it.

More on that here,

Pros spend more time looking at the target than at the ball. This helps with "visualization".  Amatuers spend more time looking at ball, rather than the target.

At address? I disagree. Just watch what the pros do.

[Archie Bunker]

In this video, Tiger Woods looks like he spends equal time looking at the target and the ball. Overall, it is a proven fact that most professional golfers look at the target for a greater time than they look at the ball. Once you know where the ball is, it's not going anywhere. So you need to focus on the target, which is much further away. One video of Tiger Woods does not change what most of the professionals do.