I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I’m on the range or before im going to hit the ball while on the course, I like to slow down a little bit and focus on my movements. Looks good and feels good...
however when It comes to hitting the ball I feel like I just toss all of it out the window! Gets a bit more sloppy
Where I look changes based on the day and the flavor of shot I want to hit.
On a stock shot I pick a blade of grass on my desired swing path past the ball (on a swing path that Is inside out).
If I want a lower shot, my spot is another inch or two forward. High shot, I pick a blade of grass right behind the ball and I am just sweeping through that spot.
there are days where my spot might be back inside of ball, front of ball, inch or two in front of ball…that’s pretty rare. When I do look at the ball, I don’t actually see the ball, but a dimple that is the spot I am slashing through.
For me, I find that when I hit a few balls before the Round starts, I see a pattern, make an aiming point adjustment and that becomes my path for the day.
The funny thing is when I re-read Hogan's book he talks about a weight shift to his right side, but in reality he loaded on his left side VERY early in his backswing. Nicklaus lifted his left heel which gave the appearance that he was loaded on his trail side, but upon watching old videos of his swing, he actually loaded onto his lead side as his swing progressed to the top. I tend to believe many, many, many folks saw his left heel lift and believed they needed to shift ALL their weight to the right side at the top....but that wasn't what Jack was actually doing, or Ben for that matter.
I suggest checking your weight % distribution as you take the club back. Due to my old swing (weight shift to the right upon takeaway) I find my weight % meanders to the right. It's very subtle and can go unnoticed, but if I pay attention I can feel increased weight pressure on the inside of my right heel. Then I find myself reverse pivoting. Anytime I hit a hook I pretty much know my weight distribution was incorrect, or so it seems.
Maybe time for @Tom to do a KFC vid on this 😉
Ah yes.... The difference between hitting AT the ball vs. swinging THROUGH it and just sending it.
Great and helpful stuff here, folks!
Can totally relate here. Like Danny, I don't even look at the ball - it's not going anywhere. I also found looking at a spot about two inches in front of the ball down the target line and an inch above it helps to promote compression and getting the club path swinging out - since it should not be down the target line. But if I am not relaxed or the right shoulder wants to have too much to say, I actually focus looking at a spot in front of my right foot and having my hands travel in. Sounds crazy, but it works for me. As Tom lays two sticks down for the backswing and downswing, sometimes my focus on hand path makes the difference. It also forces me to keep hands ahead and not want to throw the club head at the ball. I'm not looking anywhere near the ball but if everything is in the right plane, the club face magically returns to where it started.
oh yes, I keep saying that little balls creates A LOT of gravity. However, I've recently come up with a work around. It's because during a practice swing yo have no anticipation of striking the ball and you're just concerned with swinging well and coming into contact with the ground. I'd have great practice swings, go to hit the ball and, the next swing I'd slam the club into the ground 6" behind the ball on really bad ones. I realized that, during the practice swing, I was actually focusing on a spot on the target side of where the ball would be in my practice set up. Then, on my swing, my focus moved back several inches to the back of the ball and my target moved back with my focus moving back.
So, because our contact with the ground needs to be just in front of the ball, I started focusing on a spot, any spot, just in front of the ball during the entire swing, I'll set up to the ball but, just before takeaway, I'll find my spot and never look at that blasted ball again! The ball all but disappears and essentially, you turn your strike into a practice swing! It worked for me, I stopped trying to hit the ball and focused on where the clubhead is meant to come into contact with the ground. I started swinging through the ball immediately! I never knew that feeling before. It is awesome!!! give it a try, I'd love to know if it works for anyone else.
Danny
Same here. I have this one thing I’ve been working on my takeaway forever and I’ll get it just right on a practice swing. Put a ball in front of me and I look at the video and it’s like I never even rehearsed it. (Brain lock)