Golf-FAQ.com

why would we need to look in front of the golf ball

by Prof. Grady Emmerich Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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However, many golfers find that watching the front of the ball helps them to swing all the way through impact – rather than giving up on the swing as soon as they reach the back of the ball. You want to swing all the way through and into the finish, so looking at the front of the ball might place you in the right mindset to do just that.

If you're continually hitting the ground before the ball, focus your eyes on the front edge (target side) of the ball during the swing. It may not seem like much—the diameter of the golf ball is just 1.68 inches—but shifting your sight line forward even this small amount nudges your center of gravity toward the target.Jul 9, 2019

Full Answer

What does front of the ball mean in golf?

The front of the ball here refers to the half that is facing the target, or the half that is furthest away from your clubface. This is in contrast to looking at the ball in a general sense, or to look at the general area of where the ball lies. The swing key promotes intense focus on the ball rather than an unfocused gaze at the ball.

Should you look at the ball when playing golf?

For the beginning golfer, it would be easy to think that just looking at the ball in general would be good enough. That might work for some players, but others will find their attention wandering when then just try to look at the ball as a whole.

Why is the golf ball position under the logo?

This is why the golf ball position for all stock shots off the ground is under the logo of our shirt or the left ear. Having a constant golf ball position allows for clean contact every time.

Should you look at the front or back of the ball?

You want to swing all the way through and into the finish, so looking at the front of the ball might place you in the right mindset to do just that. Also, when you are playing iron shots, watching the front of the ball may help you to hit down through impact properly.

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How important is visualization in golf?

The science of visualization for golf The subconscious mind (which controls athletic movement) doesn't know the difference between a real and imagined action. So, when you visualize a physical action, you're actually stimulating the same muscles that you would use to perform the real action.

How do you keep your eye on the ball in golf?

0:455:17Keeping Eyes on the Golf Ball | Golf with Aimee - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMove your head around and it's really difficult to get back to the golf ball. So you can lose power.MoreMove your head around and it's really difficult to get back to the golf ball. So you can lose power. And accuracy. So ideally we want the eyes on the golf ball.

Where should your gaze be during the swing?

1:154:51The CORRECT Neck Position For Kettlebell Swings - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn your floor or whatever doesn't matter what it is and then at the bottom you keep your eyes onMoreIn your floor or whatever doesn't matter what it is and then at the bottom you keep your eyes on that same point you stand up your eyes are on the point at the bottom your eyes are on the same point.

Where do you look when putting?

4:445:37Golf Putting Tips - Eye Position When Putting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is an old drill it's been around for years but it works really well. I'm gonna get set up lookMoreThis is an old drill it's been around for years but it works really well. I'm gonna get set up look down my line I'm gonna take the ball. And just put it right over my lead eye.

Do you look at the golf ball?

0:127:15Where Should Your Eyes Focus In The Golf Swing? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen I hit a shot so some people you know try to look at the back of the ball some people try toMoreWhen I hit a shot so some people you know try to look at the back of the ball some people try to look at the top of the ball. I think what this really stems from is. Being a little bit uncomfortable.

Do you look at golf ball when swinging?

At address, try looking at the very back edge of the ball and hold your eyes there throughout the swing. If you are trying to hit a specific kind of ball flight, such as a fade or a draw, you may want to look slightly to the inside or outside of the back of the ball as your ideal contact point.

Should you forward press with irons?

0:384:25️‍♂️[GOLF SWING] - Should You Forward Press to Start Your Swing?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst negative is it can distort your setup a little bit now a very subtle forward press is fine asMoreFirst negative is it can distort your setup a little bit now a very subtle forward press is fine as we just saw there with nicholas.

How do you hit in front of a golf ball?

3:288:46SIMPLE GOLF TIPS - HIT THE BALL THEN THE TURF - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply i'm going to stay centered going back but on my way down i'm going to rotate i'm going to pushMoreApply i'm going to stay centered going back but on my way down i'm going to rotate i'm going to push weight into this front leg as i twist my hips and my shoulders. And you will see that my strike.

How close should your hands be to your body in a golf swing?

The hands-to-body distance varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is to have the hands a palm's width from the body for short and middle irons (4 to 6 inches) and a palm's length—from the bottom of the wrist to the tip of your middle finger—for long irons and woods.

Should you look at ball or hole when putting?

Don't make yourself look at the hole on every putt. Start by looking at the hole on your practice strokes, and then eventually on short putts. If you feel like you don't want to look at the hole on certain putts, that's ok. Look at the ball instead.

Should you look at the ball or putter when putting?

It is easier to execute a free flowing stroke when looking at the hole rather than with your eyes down. The idea is that you should look at the hole, not the ball, from the moment you set your putter down until you complete your putting stroke.

Do any pro golfers look at the hole when putting?

Or practice putting by looking at the hole or at an intermediate target, rather than looking at the golf ball. Colin Montgomerie and Jordan Spieth, among others, have even done this during tournament play.

What is the importance of your hands during a golf swing?

If you think about it, this makes sense – your hands are your only connection to the golf club, so it stands to reason that their positioning is going to play a big role in where the ball goes.

Why do amateur golfers backspin?

Backspin not only helps you stop the ball quickly when it lands, but it also helps the ball climb into the air and fall softly onto the green.

Where do you put a divot in golf?

As a point of reference, you can stick a tee in the turf near the ball (but outside of the path of your club). If your divot starts just after where the tee is located, you are doing a good job of getting your hands in front and hitting down.

What happens if you don't trust your downswing?

If you don’t trust your downswing and believe that you are going to make good contact, you’ll slow the club down and probably not get in front by the time you reach the ball. Once the swing starts, there is no turning back – just commit to it and swing all the way through to a full finish.

What is the difference between amateur golfers and professional golfers?

Generally speaking, pros are better across the board at the various skills needed to play golf. And that makes sense, of course – they are the best players in the world! But one area where they tend to be significantly better than the average golfer is getting their hands in front and creating a downward hit. In fact, an experienced golf teacher can check the position of a player’s hands at impact and quickly assess that player’s ability.

What is a bad setup position?

Also, make sure your left wrist (for a right-handed golfer) is in a relatively flat, firm position. If it is cupped at address, you’ll be more likely ...

Can you hit down through the ball?

It’s basically impossible to hit down through the ball if your hands are behind the ball when you make contact. If your hands are behind the ball at impact, the club is probably making its way back up away from the ground – meaning you are hitting up, not down. This is extremely common in the amateur game.

What is the fix to a good golf swing?

Most amateur golfers are concerned with body positions in their golf swing - they think that [somehow] being able to put various body parts in certain positions and alignments is the 'fix' to having a good golf swing.

What is the difference between a high handicap golfer and a low handicap golfer?

There is a wonderful difference between doing what high handicap golfers do of looking at the ball as their target - and what low handicap, scratch and plus golfers do of looking in the direction of the ball but picturing in their mind's eye (visualizing) their actual target where they want the ball to go.

Does a tour professional have a golf ball as his target?

No tour professional has his golf ball as his target. If he did he would be hitting 'at' his golf ball...and he would not be a tour player, but instead he would be a mid to high handicap golfer and doing something else to make a living. Quote.

Can a handicap golfer change his swing?

A handicap golfer's flawed golf swing can change drastically for the better in just one swing when you don't make the ball the target ... because the ball should never be the golfer's target. Change your target intention to drastically (and naturally) change your golf swing...

Why is it important to focus on a specific area of the ball?

Another benefit to focusing on a specific area of the ball is that it promotes staying down on the swing through impact. This is in contrast to seeing your upper body start to rise as you approach the moment of impact, a process also known as standing up.

What is the front half of the golf ball?

The front of the ball here refers to the half that is facing the target, or the half that is furthest away from your clubface.

What is the swing key in golf?

More importantly, by leading your eyes towards the front half of the ball, this swing key promotes hitting down on that ball, or in other words, striking the ball first before the club penetrates the ground and creates a divot.

How does hitting down on the ball work?

Why it works. Hitting down on the ball – or trapping the ball – is a key concept of a successful iron or wedge golf shot. By training your eyes forward you are in effect moving your swing arc forward. This results in the bottom of the swing arc occurring past the moment of impact – not before – and in the process a successful trapping ...

Why do you need a swing key?

The swing key promotes intense focus on the ball rather than an unfocused gaze at the ball. In doing so, it helps to clear the mind of any unnecessary distractions and for the golfer to focus on the task at hand.

How to ensure your hands are ahead of the ball?

Here is how players can ensure their hands are ahead of the ball at impact. Ball Position. When hitting a shot with any club, one way to help ensure the hands return at impact ahead of the ball is to use the correct ball position.

When swinging through the ball, should players feel as though the hands return to the same position?

When swinging through the ball, players should feel as though the hands return to the same position; opposite the left thigh. If this position is achieved, the strike will improve and the angle of attack should be appropriate to the particular club's swing arc. Why the Hands Should Be in Front of the Ball at Impact.

How to improve lag in golf?

To work on improving on your lag ability, try the following drill -. On the practice range, take one of your short irons out of the bag. With just your left hand, make a few practice swings.

What should your hand position be at impact?

A player's hand position at impact should change slightly depending on what type of club they are using. With the wedges, irons and hybrid clubs, the hands should be at varying degrees ahead of the ball at impact to encourage a descending blow and correct swing arc. With the fairway woods and especially the driver, the hands need to be level with, ...

How to get aggressive in golf swing?

One of the best ways to instill an aggressive mindset in your golf swing is to focus on carrying your hands past the ball at impact. Getting your hands to pass the ball at the bottom of the swing requires an aggressive move with both your arms and your lower body rotation.

What is impact position?

A good impact position includes a number of different elements, such as hips that have turned open to the target and eyes that are focused down on the ball. Another component of a great impact position is getting your hands in front of the golf ball. This is a point that many amateur players struggle with, yet it is critically important to ...

What happens when your hands drag behind?

When your hands drag behind, you will be 'flipping' the club head at the ball at the bottom of the swing, making it difficult to reach a square position at impact. Also, you will be using the majority of your club head speed prior to impact, meaning your shots will never live up to their full distance potential.

Why do you look at the ball during a golf swing?

Deciding to look at a specific part of the ball during your swing is a focused thought, and one that will help you leave nerves and distractions behind. In other words, this is a great way to focus your mind on a simple task, rather than the complex task of navigating your ball around a golf course.

Why do you look at the front of the ball when playing irons?

Also, when you are playing iron shots, watching the front of the ball may help you to hit down through impact properly.

Why do you look ahead when hitting a golf club?

Maybe if you are hitting it badly with a bad strike, look ahead because that's where the club should be bottoming out. Then when you go to the practice range, work on those different areas hitting those different quadrants then when you go on the golf course stay focused to the same bit.

What happens if you walk the golf course?

If you walk the course, most of your time is simply spent walking – and you should feel free to let your mind wander during that time. Or, if you drive a cart, you’ll ride up to your ball and then probably have to wait for the group in front of you to play their shots.

What does watching the back of the ball do?

Hopefully, watching the back of the ball will help you to clear your mind and make a free, relaxed swing time after time. The front of the ball. You might be a little bit surprised to read this one as an option, since you aren’t trying to make contact with the front of the ball when you swing through impact.

What color golf ball should I use?

If you are like most other golfers, you use a white golf ball with black lettering.

Why is it important to watch a specific part of the ball during a swing?

Part of the benefit of learning to watch a specific part of the ball during your swing is the fact that you should be able to make better contact on a consistent basis. However, that is only part of what you are trying to accomplish by controlling your eyes.

Sketchy Putts

As we wrote about in a recent article that was based off a 2012 study, low-skilled putters tend to shift their focus around rapidly while they stand over their putts, keying-in on a number of different spots on and around the golf ball.

Fat Shots

As reported in a 2005 issue of GOLF Magazine, sometimes a change in perspective is all it takes to fix a fault…

Slices

Hitting a slice? You’re likely swinging too far out-to-in with an open clubface. To fix it, try swinging more in-to-out by aiming for a spot on the inside the golf ball and hitting that.

Hooks

And finally, the opposite of that is true, too. If you’re swinging too far from in-to-out with a closed clubface, resulting in some nasty hooks, look at a spot on the outside of the golf ball and try hitting that.

What is the left heel on a golf swing?

In order to achieve a good blend of distance and accuracy, the left heel is, roughly, your desired ball position. (Keep in mind this is a simplified explanation of how to maximize your driving distance.

What to do if you don't want to make compensation in golf?

If you don't want to make any compensation with your golf swing, you're going to need to line up a little bit right and make the same swing. Again, for maximum consistency one ball position, everything off the left ear, no matter if it's a driver or a pitching wedge.

Where is the bottom of the swing arc?

No matter what you swing, the bottom of the swing arc (and divot) is always below the left shoulder. For maximum consistency the ball should be placed off the left ear for ball-first contact with every club in the bag. For a consistent swing with the driver, use this same ball position.

airlyss

Been lurking here for a while and thought I'd share something that really helped me today, though I'm not sure if its a bandaid or a legit strategy. For the past few weeks, I've been struggling with the dreaded fat iron shot.

Roblar

I also fought (and still fight) fat shots, and I've done the same thing as you. My guess is that it is a band-aid.

MiniBlueDragon

If the idea is to check whether you're accidentally swaying during the backswing an inch seems quite far forward to me.

Zeph

The idea is to not flip, which can happen if the mind subconciously tries to hit the ball. I sometimes do this as a drill when my ballstriking is poor, but I usually look at the ball. It's a great drill that gave me immediate results, which I tried to memorize and ingrain in my normal swing.

GJBenn85

I have been fighting fat iron shots the past month or so and have identified four things causing it: 1) standing too close to the ball 2) bending my left arm on the back swing 3) poor tempo and 4) playing the ball too far forward in my stance.

SteelCitySlice

I started doing this after reading someone's post on here in the spring. It helped tremendously at first...but now for some reason I feel really uncomfortable over the ball while starring in front of it. I still can make good contact most of the time, but there is something that just doesn't feel right...no idea what changed.

LongballPro

As Roblar said earlier, it is just a band aid. There is a flaw in your swing somewhere that is causing this. Most likely standing too close to the ball or overextending the backswing

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The Importance of Getting Your Hands in Front

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There are a lot of differences between amateur golfers and the professionals you see playing on TV. Generally speaking, pros are better across the board at the various skills needed to play golf. And that makes sense, of course – they are the best players in the world! But one area where they tend to be significantly better t…
See more on golficity.com

Finding The Right Hand Position

  • There is a lot you stand to gain from getting your hands out in front of the ball at impact, but how do you make it happen? That’s where it gets tricky. If you have some troublesome fundamentals in your swing currently, you might struggle to get your hands in front at impact on a consistent basis. A bad setup position is going to doom you to fail from the beginning. At address, your hands sho…
See more on golficity.com

Practicing This Technique

  • As you might imagine, you probably aren’t going to learn how to get your hands out in front of the ball while playing on the course. This is one of those things you need to learn on the range first. There are a couple of quick tricks you can use to help yourself learn this skill as quickly as possible. If you are practicing on a natural grass driving range, you can use your divots to monit…
See more on golficity.com

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