As an aside in snooker it is common practice to be taught to look at the object ball and not the cue ball. In fact looking at the cue ball is often described as a fault as its said to be like playing with your eyes closed. I find this an interesting fact as the striking of the cue ball in snooker is just as if not more a precise task than the golf putt.
This is the equivalent of much of the golfing "hoary old chestnuts" that still prevent us from playing golf as well as we might.
No good focusing on what we are not involved with. We, in your example - and I play a lot of snooker - must focus on the ball being struck by the cue. Imprecise contact with the cue ball, despite focussing on the object ball, will damn the shot to eternity.
A golfer, as should a snooker player, must focus on what he is hitting rather then what he is hitting at.
Sure, make your alignments and set out your objectives and ways of acheiving them - then focus on what you need to do to get the job done. That is hitting the golf/snooker ball correctly and accurately.
If the preparation you did before striking the golf/snooker ball was thorough then the outcome, when focussing on the primary objective - the golfball/cue ball - should be a forgone conclusion.
This is the equivalent of much of the golfing "hoary old chestnuts" that still prevent us from playing golf as well as we might.
No good focusing on what we are not involved with. We, in your example - and I play a lot of snooker - must focus on the ball being struck by the cue. Imprecise contact with the cue ball, despite focussing on the object ball, will damn the shot to eternity.
I must admit i'm surprised you'd say that. Personally i find snooker much easier looking at the object ball. Also don't the top snooker players all do the same?
To continue the topic do you think it is possible to get too ball conscious, at the detriment of the whole movement? Indeed how important is it actually looking at the ball at all? For example if you trace the plane line correctly and are aware and maintain the correct pressures in the hands do you need to be focused on the ball for correct striking?
As far as speed control goes i'm sure this must be easier when looking at your target. The golfer feels how hard they are gonna hit it in their practice swings then we put our head downs and do our best to remember. This can never be as accurate in speed control terms as the alternative.
I'm not saying i agree with this, as i look at the golf ball when i putt. Just throwing some ideas in the air.
I must admit i'm surprised you'd say that. Personally i find snooker much easier looking at the object ball. Also don't the top snooker players all do the same?
Not easy to screw the cue ball to order whilst looking at something else. Precision of impact is paramount considering the surface area of the cue tip and its contact point with the ball.
Does a sniper look over his gun sights and at his overall target when shooting, or does he focus entirely on the sights on his weapon having lined up the target?
Originally Posted by danny_shank
To continue the topic do you think it is possible to get too ball conscious, at the detriment of the whole movement? Indeed how important is it actually looking at the ball at all? For example if you trace the plane line correctly and are aware and maintain the correct pressures in the hands do you need to be focused on the ball for correct striking?
Maybe, but not for us average guys. Hogan, Sorenstam, Duvall and others have said that they have no conscious knowledge of actually seeing their ball at impact when asked which part of it they were focussed on. However, their swings are much more precise and repeatable than ours and perhaps they could get away without looking at the ball - but I suspect, infact, that they see more of it than they own up to.
Originally Posted by danny_shank
As far as speed control goes i'm sure this must be easier when looking at your target. The golfer feels how hard they are gonna hit it in their practice swings then we put our head downs and do our best to remember. This can never be as accurate in speed control terms as the alternative.
Having rehearsed your speed control and lined up your putt it is a question then of purety of impact that dictates the success of the outcome; and looking at something other than the ball - the putterhead, even, which many guys do - can only prejudice the outcome.
Originally Posted by danny_shank
I'm not saying i agree with this, as i look at the golf ball when i putt. Just throwing some ideas in the air.
Hybrid Mode
