Which bit of the ball do you focus on when striking irons?

[timd77]

What’s got me thinking about this is something that was on the ‘chasing scratch’ podcast. They had a coach on there, and one of his drills is along the lines on picturing a nail running through the ball and you’ve got to hit the nail head and hammer it through the ball. Imagine the nail aiming out to the right, let your instincts take over, and you’ll hit a nice draw. Aim the nail left and do the same, you’ll hit a nice fade, etc etc. The lads on the podcast tried it mid round and were saying they’ve never hit a ball so well.

I always look at the front or even just ahead of the ball because I’m tried to hit ball then turf, and in my head, if I was looking at the back of the ball (which I’ve had to to imagine hitting this nail), I’d end up thinning it or even missing the ball.

However, just tried it at the range (typically right at the end, I’d forgotten about it for the rest of the session), and I absolutely flushed 4-5 shots, lovely little draw. I was a bit gobsmaked to be honest.

So I’m just wondering where everyone else looks.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

At the absolute back of the ball, drilling in with my left eye, dominant one. I'm prone to coming up on the ball and thinning it and this was a tip from a pro to help. I don't always do it as well as I should but my best ball strikes are definitely when I'm looking at the back of the ball intently.

 

[Orikoru]

I have absolutely no idea? Never thought about it. My answer would be, just the ball, generally.

 

[Robin Hood]

I’ve never thought about it; however I’ll try it next time.

 

[Neilds]

I’m in the ‘no idea’ camp.

 

[RichA]

Probably the top but mostly just focusing on the general area of the ball, knowing that I'll collect it.
If I focus too hard on the ball I swing in a way that feels like I'm decelerating as or before the clubhead strikes it. So my mental focus is mostly on the mechanics of the stroke itself and accelerating through strike.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

On the ball, every other answer is bordering on opening the demon box.
Great 'friendly' bounce game question though, goes with 'do you know that your putting backstroke is slower than your follow through'.

 

[Whereditgo]

What’s got me thinking about this is something that was on the ‘chasing scratch’ podcast. They had a coach on there, and one of his drills is along the lines on picturing a nail running through the ball and you’ve got to hit the nail head and hammer it through the ball. Imagine the nail aiming out to the right, let your instincts take over, and you’ll hit a nice draw. Aim the nail left and do the same, you’ll hit a nice fade, etc etc. The lads on the podcast tried it mid round and were saying they’ve never hit a ball so well.

I always look at the front or even just ahead of the ball because I’m tried to hit ball then turf, and in my head, if I was looking at the back of the ball (which I’ve had to to imagine hitting this nail), I’d end up thinning it or even missing the ball.

However, just tried it at the range (typically right at the end, I’d forgotten about it for the rest of the session), and I absolutely flushed 4-5 shots, lovely little draw. I was a bit gobsmaked to be honest.

So I’m just wondering where everyone else looks.

Adam Young - I think he mainly uses the 'hammer the nail drill' to help with excessive swing path issues.

 

[timd77]

Adam Young - I think he mainly uses the 'hammer the nail drill' to help with excessive swing path issues.

That’s the fella.

It was literally as it went for them on the podcast. Oh, I’ll give that thing a try, bang bang bang bang, flushed. I never draw the ball. I have an over the top, steep swing, generally a low cut type shot (looking at the front/ahead of the ball probably doesn’t help this). Probably a complete one off but it’s definitely got me thinking.

Interesting responses so far. I would’ve bet money on most people looking at the top or front/ahead of the ball.

 

[Springveldt]

Since my tendency is to chunk it I try to focus on the front edge of the ball.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Since my tendency is to chunk it I try to focus on the front edge of the ball.

If we could merge our swings, we would hit it perfectly every time . My thin, your chunk......we will take your swing speed though

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Since my tendency is to chunk it I try to focus on the front edge of the ball.

Thats what my coach told me to do when I was chunking the ground behind he ball. It definetly worked.

 

[Whereditgo]

Since my tendency is to chunk it I try to focus on the front edge of the ball.

Just bought one of these for that very same reason.

 

[Golfmmad]

I look at the back of the ball on the backswing and front of ball on the follow through.
I have a tendency to lift my head too soon and often results in a poor strike.
After getting this tip from a mate at the club my ball striking has dramatically improved.
This of course is if I remember to do it!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Thats what my coach told me to do when I was chunking the ground behind he ball. It definetly worked.

Only because he focused you to 'watch the ball' or if we are really going back in time 'keep your head still'

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I went with somewhere else based on what I do with my tee shots sounds more complex than it is. I put a small black dot on every ball I use, if I’m using the driver I’ll tee it with the dot on the back of the ball near the bottom
so I can just about see it and I just focus on hitting that, it gives me that sweeping upward motion with my driver.

If I’m playing a par 3 then it’s flipped that dot goes low side front of the ball to hit down and through.

If I want to hit a cut or draw it slightly changes to inside or outside edge of the ball to encourage my path to follow it. It almost sounds like paralysis by analysis but it’s actually not it’s really simple something I got into the habit of as a junior when one of the county coaches taught us it and it’s stuck with me ever since. So much so I don’t even have to think about it, it’s just habit based on shot and club choice.

It’s a bit like what Doon said it’s basically keep your head still, but it’s a small visual that stops any need for swing thoughts and narrows my focus

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Only because he focused you to 'watch the ball' or if we are really going back in time 'keep your head still'

No, it was to focus on the front of the ball.

 

[Neilds]

I look at the back of the ball on the backswing and front of ball on the follow through.
I have a tendency to lift my head too soon and often results in a poor strike.
After getting this tip from a mate at the club my ball striking has dramatically improved.
This of course is if I remember to do it!

Surely in the follow through you have hit the ball, how can you:
a. See the front of the ball when it is flying down the fairway?
b. Keep your head down and see the ball when it is flying down the fairway?

I think you are explaining what you do incorrectly.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Surely in the follow through you have hit the ball, how can you:
a. See the front of the ball when it is flying down the fairway?
b. Keep your head down and see the ball when it is flying down the fairway?

I think you are explaining what you do incorrectly.

Glad you asked that as I scratching my head trying to work that out or figure out how long his swing takes if he’s got time to change where his focus is during it!

 

[Imurg]

Personally speaking...if I'm thinking about which part of the ball I'm focusing on then I've got at least 1 too many swing thought going on in my head and the results could be..let's say interesting....
Most people have waaay too many things going on in their heads at address....clear your mind and just swing...
It's most liberating