Where do you look on the golf ball while making a stroke?

[putterboy75]

I'm curious to learn where others look on the ball while putting and for full swing shots?

The reason I ask is I've recently become aware that my focal point can be hugely impactful (in a good way) in making better contact. I started looking at the outside of the ball (specifically a dot mark I make and then line up on the outside when addressing the ball) when I hit longer lag putts this season and it has done wonders for me. I traditionally have a slightly inside to out putting stroke but by looking at this part of the ball it seems to be less so when analyzed on the SAM.

 

I haven't experimented much with changing my focal point on full shots, but imagine there is some secrets out there too like this one for putting.

 

Any insight?

[Santiago Golf]

if i see the ball at impact on any shot, its almost an accident

 

I could post a video or two at some point of me putting or hitting a full shot, but i let me head rotate through the swing like David Duval or Annika

 

 

you can see here with Luke Donald, he is starting to look down his target line when his putter head reaches the ball

 

Dr. Sasho Mackenzie has shown in his research that every player gets better at putting when looking at their target instead looking at the ball when putting

[b.mattay]

I hardly see the ball. I “zone out” and everything goes blurry. 

[Mike_C]

This is actually an overlooked aspect of putting.  I used to have a "wondering eye" when putting, which can lead to disaster.   I started using this technique and it does really help me.

 

 

The Quiet Eye Approach to Putting

[bvmagic]

Full swing I look at the back of the ball where the club would make contact at.  For putting I saw a segment from Ben Crenshaw saying he would look at the toe of the putter and watch it cross over that same spot during the stroke.  

[getitdaily]

Front of the ball putting. Slightly in front of the ball non-putting.

 

When my eyes move to the back of the ball then I start to control the clubface rather than letting it flow.

Edited November 14, 2024 by getitdaily

[GoldenAges]

4 hours ago, Santiago Golf said:

if i see the ball at impact on any shot, its almost an accident

 

I could post a video or two at some point of me putting or hitting a full shot, but i let me head rotate through the swing like David Duval or Annika

 

 

you can see here with Luke Donald, he is starting to look down his target line when his putter head reaches the ball

 

Dr. Sasho Mackenzie has shown in his research that every player gets better at putting when looking at their target instead looking at the ball when putting

Nice!!

 

I try to find a spot 1-2 feet in front of my ball on the right line and will look at that spot as I make my stroke. I also sometimes look at my club going back and through if I'm having issues with my stroke. Usually fixes it straight away.

[Ghostwedge]

3 hours ago, b.mattay said:

I hardly see the ball. I “zone out” and everything goes blurry. 

This...^^^

Years ago Loren Roberts aka "the Boss of the Moss" was asked this question.

Paraphrasing he said "nothing, everything goes fuzzy." 

I do the same, rarely 3 putt.

[iacas]

23 hours ago, Santiago Golf said:

Dr. Sasho Mackenzie has shown in his research that every player gets better at putting when looking at their target instead looking at the ball when putting

 

I've seen the same thing you're talking about and I am pretty sure he did not say every player gets better at putting.

[Pepperturbo]

I don't believe there's a secret, it's natural skill and personal preference. 

 

Mine is the same with all my clubs, visualize the shot/putt, look at the back side of the ball and hit it with club or putter at my target.  I know that's too simple for those that like to make things complicated, but to me, good golf is about keeping it simple.

 

"Dr. Sasho Mackenzie has shown in his research that every player gets better at putting when looking at their target instead looking at the ball when putting."   

 

There's some truth to that, but that depends on whether the person has natural hand-eye coordination; something nobody talks about in golf.  Having been a 45m open sight handgun (.45) shooter in my earlier life (still put 8 in 2" circle at 22m the other day) I never look at my weapon, always the target.  

Edited November 14, 2024 by Pepperturbo