Golf Tip: Using Your Dominant Eye

/ The Grateful Golfer
Loyalist Country Club (12)

Eye Dominance and Putting – Important?

As kids, he have all made a circle with our thumb and index finger to encircle a distant object. Then we opened and closed our eyes and notice that the object flips in and out of the circle. Little did we know that the movement of our circle was an indication of which eye was considered dominant. I have found that as I age, my dominant eye is becoming more and more dominant; as a result of this physical change, in need to adjust my golf game.

Before we move forward, it is important to determine which is your dominate eye. Look at something on the wall across the room. With your index finger and thumb make a circle. Place the object in the circle – be sure you can clearly see the object in the circle. Close your left eye – did the object move? Close our right eye – did the object move? Whichever eye was open with no movement is your dominant eye. I have determined that I am left-eye dominate.

As a left-eye dominant player who plays right, my alignment must take into account how my eye’s view my golf shots. My primary rule is that my dominate eye must be over or slightly behind the ball during all strokes.

Here is what I mean:

When putting, I putt best when my ball in line with my dominant eye; this means my ball is slightly ahead of center in my stance. I find that if my ball slides back to the middle or behind center, I end up pushing the ball because I am not able to square my putter head through contact. Also, I have a tendency to leave my putts short if the ball is not aligned with my left eye. By placing my dominate eye over the ball during putting, I have great success on the greens.

When chipping, my dominate eye must be slightly ahead of my ball, but not far enough back where my right eye is directly over or in front of the ball. By placing the ball slightly behind my dominate eye, my weight distribution fits my stroke, I do not pull the ball to the left of my intended line and I make crisp contact on instead of hitting it thin or fat.

My dominate eye has the greatest effect on my driver. I must have my dominate eye in line with the ball during my set up. In my case, the ball appears to be back in my stance more, but in fact, it is not. Having the ball on either side of my dominate eye will cause a push or pull. The biggest error I constantly work on is not having the ball too far forward in my stance (forward of my dominate eye); the result of my poor alignment causes me to hit the ball left.

Understanding the effects of eye dominance is important to your golf game. It took many trial and error trips to the range and putting green before I figured out how my eyes were causing fundamental challenges in my swing. Had I known about eye dominance earlier, it would have reduced my range tips and frustration on the links.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

10 thoughts on “Golf Tip: Using Your Dominant Eye”

  1. Pingback: Knowing Which Is Your Dominant Eye | The Grateful Golfer

  2. Pingback: Chipping With One Eye | The Grateful Golfer

  3. Hi, I’m left eye dominant and right handed too. I’ve changed my stance recently when putting. I’ve always been a good putter rarely three putting, not bad for a 25 handicapper. But over the last 2 rounds I’ve tried a slightly closed stance (Bobby Locke style). I’ve been pouring in some really long puts since. Last week I took 34 puts and this week 31. And believe me it has nothing to do with my ball being closer to the hole because my approach shots have been truly awful. I’m now wondering if I should have a slightly closed stance for all my shots because my usual miss is to the right. Any thoughts?

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    • Peter

      Great to hear you putting is coming along and your confidence is growing. Having the flat stick working is definitely a stroke saver. You question is a good one. Of course it is difficult to determine having never seen you stroke, but if you think it might help, then hit the range. Try a few things, experiment, and remember that you are trying to improve so manage your expectations. You could also take a lesson if you want, but experimenting on the range is a good place to start. Thanks for dropping by.

      Cheers
      Jim

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  5. Me too Jim, I putted like a tw@t a few years ago with a very standard putting set up; ball in middle of stance, head centred etc. Then I looked at my stats and realised that actually, while I consider myself a good putter, my stats said otherwise. Psychologically I was in a good place, I never thought I’d miss, however actually my scoring wasn’t as good as it should. I then began putting with the ball practically on the front foot and voila, my putting stats improved massively: about 2-3 shots a round! Now, I have moved it back slightly and got even more consistency.

    Until i read your post, I didn’t realise why. But my dominant eye is my right eye and being left handed, moving it forward in my stance meant i was focussing on the ball with my dominant eye…kind of makes sense, so thanks!

    Ross

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