[foltdan]

When I played indoors the other day, I noticed that I was watching my clubhead go back instead of keeping my eye on the ball. Ok - I know how to keep my head down - in theory at least - I don't always do it, but how do you keep your eyes from following the clubhead and keep them on the ball? I don't want to develop another bad habit. Has anyone else had a problem with this?

[cmruloah]

D-I've never had this problem but i've had a buddy that did. He said he developed the problem of following the clubhead with his eyes b/c of practice swinging. He would take a practice swing in slow motion and look back to check the status of the clubhead in his backswing, you know, whether or not the face was square or not. I guess this translated into his swing on the golf course.

I've heard that it's not a great idea to look at your clubhead positioning whilst practicing a swing, and i wonder if your problem is common?

[Zmniubqr]

Hi, I know it's a natural temptation to follow the clubhead with your eyes particularly if you are trying to work on your swing or taking lessons. I find a tip I read from Padraig Harrington useful. At address focus on a spot a few millimetres behind the ball rather than the ball itself. I find it helps me concentrate on the ball and less on the takeaway.

[standaman]

I haven't done it much through the years while hitting the ball, but it's a major problem for me when putting. A MAJOR PROBLEM. Makes me miss short putts. Lots of them. I now focus my eyes on the front of the golf ball when over a putt, and that has helped immensely.

Why is this Random and Off Topic?

Kevin

[orerviche]

Several people have told me to focus on the front of the ball. I try to remember this but ocassionaly forget and it shows.

[trubreTab]

I have a major problem doing this while putting also. I have to really concentrate to overcome it.

[gkruCRi1]

I guess I am bit different than most. For almost all my swings, I focused on a spot in front of the ball. Doing this for full swings helps me take my divot after the ball is hit. For putts, that same spot is the spot I want to roll the ball over because it is part of my aim line. Essentially my eyes are telling my swing where to swing/stroke the club head.

Now sometimes, when practicing full swings I will look for the "blurr" of the club, in back of the ball, moving through to impact. Doing this shows me if I am letting that out to in, slice swing, start to creep into my down swing.

Watching the club go back from the address position, when the shot/putt counts is not a good thing.

[Nakforappealp]

i recently started putting where you look at the hole the entire time and not at the ball at all. find it really good for learning to trust your backswing when putting and also for getting way closer to the hole on long putts

[Poothevokprot]

Like with Exox, it's most often a problem with putting. I don't follow the clubhead back, never have. But I've fought my whole golfing life with not following the clubhead on the follow through... it's the single worst fault I have, especially on chips. As my shoulders turn back on the downswing, my head wants desperately to go right along with them. I have to set my focus solely on not moving my head, especially when I'm chipping and putting, or it is guaranteed to happen. What I do is make sure that I focus on looking at the ball until I can see the ground where the ball was after it is gone. When I keep my focus, I usually make good contact. When I don't I can dip it, skull it, toe it, shank it - just about anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

[wsbizwsa]

Front of the ball here as well.

Fourputt, you know the advice on putting is to keep your head still and listen for the ball to drop. (Like mine ever does.)

[arindiruppya]

I haven't experienced this yet Diane, hopefully enough time will pass before I make it back on the course that I'll forget about this thread. LOL

[Shark&Nike]

Front of the ball here as well.
Fourputt, you know the advice on putting is to keep your head still and listen for the ball to drop. (Like mine ever does.)

I have had several friends ask me to teach them how to hit fairway bunker shots (my only decent skill) and one of the things I stress is for them to focus on the front of the ball. It helps keep them from hitting it fat coming out of the bunker.

[foltdan]

I haven't experienced this yet Diane, hopefully enough time will pass before I make it back on the course that I'll forget about this thread. LOL

MO - You should never read threads unless you have experience with the topic.

[arindiruppya]

MO - You should never read threads unless you have experience with the topic.

Read them or post in them?

[foltdan]

Read them or post in them?

Reading or posting - it's in your head now.

[arindiruppya]

Reading or posting - it's in your head now.

Hopefully there won't be room for this one with all the other swing thoughts I have going on.

[textarchive]

I know what to say to you next time we go golfing MO! hehehe

[Shark&Nike]

I know what to say to you next time we go golfing MO! hehehe

I always ask if they breath in or out on their downswing. Very effective.

[Poothevokprot]

Front of the ball here as well.

Fourputt, you know the advice on putting is to keep your head still and listen for the ball to drop. (Like mine ever does.)

I can't hear it drop from 50 feet away....


I DO try to use that method for shorter putts, but my focus is still on the grass under the ball. As long as I see that before I move even my eyes, I know that I've held still through impact. And it is fun to see the ball disappear into the hole.

[rozneesitcn]

I turn my head and focus on the ground about 1/2" behind the ball.