Leone’s Lessons: Have you ever heard any of these phrases? Keep
your eye on the ball, keep your head down or keep your arm
straight. These are a few of the swing myths that golfers tend to
exaggerate. I’d like to set the record straight on each one.
Have you ever heard any of these phrases? Keep your eye on the ball, keep your head down or keep your arm straight. These are a few of the swing myths that golfers tend to exaggerate. I’d like to set the record straight on each one.
Keep your eye on the ball:
Focusing on the ball throughout your swing is important, but I’ve found that golfers tend to overdo it. They focus on the impact too long, which prevents them from releasing their body on the follow-through. I’ve had the opportunity to coach a few blind golfers, and I was amazed how well they hit the ball. If a blind golfer with this handicap can hit the ball without eye sight, why is it so important to watch the ball? I once asked a blind student how they were able to return the club to the ball without topping it. Their response was they focused on the width in their arms and maintaining their spine angle throughout the swing.
Keep your head down:
The problem with keeping your head down at address is that you tend to hunch the shoulders and bury the chin. This prevents the arms and shoulders from swinging freely and makes it difficult to maintain a consistent spine angle.
Keep your left arm straight:
If you’re trying to keep the left arm straight and stiff, the upper body will tense up, preventing the shoulders from turning. If the shoulders aren’t able to turn, the arms will break down. You need to keep the arms extended but not locked.
I hope I’ve set the record straight on these overused phrases. In summary, focusing on the ball is important, but don’t overdo it. By maintaining width in the arms without locking permits the shoulders to turn freely, allowing the spine to remain on a consistent tilt.
