Golf Information


Take Your Eyes Off that Ball!


O.k., so you love golf. I know, I know. Me too.

There you are, exhilarated just by being on the course again, away from the worries of real life. Man, this is great.

But come on, underneath all that titillation is - way too often -- the pang of frustration. Why? You know the routine. You get all set up and quickly run through the 20-item checklist in your brain. This time, everything's just right, perfect. And then, wack, off the ball goes, to Slice City or to Hooksville. Or perhaps a dribble or a pop fly.

Dang! Isn't there a way to end this misery? Well, no, there isn't, not entirely.

But I do have a suggestion that may help sometimes, and that is to take your eye OFF the ball. That's right. Let go.

Here's the idea. First, make every backswing as slow as you can. And keep it low to the ground as long as you can, especially with your driver and woods -- whether off the tee or on the turf.

Now, as you start that backswing -- as straight back as you can - and keeping it low -- shift your focus from the ball to the lower edge of your clubface or to the clubface itself. As you bring the club back those first eight to twelve inches, either watch just the club edge or face or quickly dart back and forth between the club and the ball, keeping the lower edge of the clubface perpendicular to the intended line of flight of the ball.

This helps to keep the clubface perpendicular to the line of flight during those first few inches -- and tends to help to bring the club face in perpendicular during the forward swing, resulting in straighter, truer flight and better distance.

Why is this? Well, some people are natural athletes with great "body sense." Eye-hand co-ordination is second nature to them. But to the rest of us 26 million or so golfers in the United States, athletic co-ordinated movement doesn't come so naturally. So we cheat a little, using the eyes to help the body movement to stay in alignment. And that little help can make a big difference.

This technique can work equally well with the driver, other woods, irons, and (especially) the putter. That's right, slow up that backswing with the putter too, and watch that club as it goes back. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

So keep your exhilaration -- and your titillation -- but lessen your frustration by taking your eye off the ball. (Oh, by the way, eventually it is a good idea to get your eyes back on that ball. But you knew that, right?)

Ned Jacobs is an attorney in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Director of the Phonics Institute. He can be reached at edwardjacobs@yahoo.com, and at 7 Church Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; 340-773-3322; fax 340-773-2566.


MORE RESOURCES:

GolfDigest.com

PGA Tour's reconfigured FedExCup takes another shot
USA Today - 5 hours ago
Golf is more difficult because it's so individual. In racing a pit-crewmember can make a mistake, and a driver pays for it. In golf it's just the golfer. ...
This Week in Golf - January 8th through January 11th Sports Network
Golf-Scott sets higher goals for game's biggest events Reuters.uk
US golf banks on Tiger to get it out of woods The Times
The Canadian Press - Golf Vacation Insider
all 219 news articles


Carbriwalk buys Mobile golf vacation firm
Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago
The Fairways, founded in 1990 in Mobile, sells golf vacations in North America. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The company will be rebranded ...


Providence Business News

Rancho Cordova Mini Golf Course Slays Monster
News10.net, CA - 7 hours ago
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - A chain of indoor miniature golf courses has won its battle to continue using the name "monster." Monster Mini Golf of Rancho Cordova ...
Monster Cable settles with mini-golf company Providence Business News
Monster Cable Tosses Lawyers, Settles Suit In Person WebProNews
all 5 news articles


Troon Golf to manage La Quinta Golf & Country Club in Spain
WorldGolf.com, AZ - 16 hours ago
Troon Golf, the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage La Quinta Golf ...
Picket outside La Quinta golf club The Desert Sun
all 2 news articles


Cuba's golf revolution
Independent, UK - 4 hours ago
Leonard Doyle reports from Havana Marlene Negrene stood on the first tee of Havana's golf club, driver in hand and looking forward to a pleasurable nine ...


Golfonline

Callaway Golf Inks Deal With Stuart Appleby
TheStreet.com - Jan 5, 2009
Callaway Golf (ELY Quote - Cramer on ELY - Stock Picks) said Monday it signed eight-time PGA Tour winner Stuart Appleby of Australia to a multiyear contract ...
uPlay Acquired By Callaway Golf socalTech.com
Callaway Buys uPlay, Signs New Pro San Diego Business Journal
Callaway buys golf accessory maker North County Times
Golfonline - Consumer Electronics Net
all 32 news articles


Lake Las Vegas named Top 50 Resort Golf Facility by Golf World
WorldGolf.com, AZ - 16 hours ago
Lake Las Vegas has been honored as a "Top 50 Resort Golf Facility for 2009" by Golf World Magazine for Reflection Bay Golf Club and The Falls Golf Club. ...
"From potatoes to putters" Bend Bulletin
all 2 news articles


WorldGolf.com

In Myrtle Beach to play golf? Head south to Pawleys Island
WorldGolf.com, AZ - 18 hours ago
WorldGolf.com reader Elliot DeBear shares his thoughts on a recent Myrtle Beach golf vacation that included tee times at Pawleys Plantation, ...
Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head? Who's got the prettiest golf on the ... TravelGolf.com
all 4 news articles


New regional air service to Hagerstown, Lancaster
Baltimore Sun, United States - 7 hours ago
Maybe this will provide the boost that the Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort needs. The struggling Western Maryland resort is about an hour's drive from ...
Cape Air to link Lancaster, Hagerstown to BWI USA Today
Cape Air to run flights between BWI, Hagerstown Daily Record (subscription)
all 25 news articles


Oneindia

'Sonic boom' golf club may 'damage hearing'
Register, UK - 6 hours ago
By Austin Modine • Get more from this author Golf isn't exactly known as a sport of deafening noises, but a provocative (albeit suspiciously anecdotal) ...
High Tech Titanium Golf Clubs May Lead to Hearing Loss Gizmodo
Playing golf can 'damage hearing' BBC News
Golfers Beware! New Golf Clubs May Damage Your Ears Inventorspot
RedOrbit - Norwich Evening News
all 50 news articles

Golf - Google News

home | site map
© 2007