When i first saw the title of your video i got excited, thinking it was going to address right eye dominance when putting. I am very right eye dominant and when i stand over a putt I tend to aim way right of my target. I have a hard time making an adjustment because, dependant on slope, it isn’t always the same amount of varience. I would be interested in what has worked for the majority of your students with a similar problem. Thanks in advance.
Jim, in 20 years of teaching golf not one person has mentioned this. We all have a dominant eye when putting and/or swinging. Off the top of my head I am thinking of using the alignment stick threaded through your belt loops like I did in the tip I posted on RG. With the stick on the hips you can check your alignment on straight putts first. You may be mis-aligned on regular putts. If you are it will effect the other putts too. So make sure you are aligned square or a little open. with the lower body. Shoulders should be square (you could even have someone check this for you). Then hit sloped putts with it and see how off you align. It may be a simple as you having to remember how much you compensate on various putts and their slope.
I never really think about it and I am totally right eye dominant. I am thinking of the right hand making a throwing motion. Hopefully, you have seen my putting video. If you have you should be focused on your target and make the motion towards the target. If you do you should be able to get the ball pretty close regardless of being perfectly aligned or not. Make sure you try my putting technique and check your alignment too.
It’s wonderful to know that I am one of a kind. lol
One more bit of information and question. I currently use a belly putter and wonder if that changes anything about your philosophy on the underhand throwing of the ball feel of the putting stroke? Thanks again.
I have not really used on for any period of time. From just grabbing one in trying it in the pro shop I think you can still do the right hand throwing motion with this putter. If you are not doing a grip where the palm is to the target think of what is facing the target (fingers, thumb, side of hand etc.) and focus on that moving to the target. The whole idea is to take your mind off of the putter head and get you thinking of the target.
OK Guru, your esp again hit the spot. I am Left Eye dominate. I always thought I was right eye dominate! My short game sufferes the most. I hit behind the ball on pitches and chips and blade the ball in sand shots. Do you have any suggestions???
If you are hitting behind the ball you have too much weight on your back foot at impact. Turn your lower body and allow the weight to shift off this foot with pitches.
Blading your sand shots is from you trying to hit the ball or scoop it out of the bunker. In doing so your arms are buckling causing the club to come off the ground.
Dear Guru, I thought my miss hits was because of me being left eye dominate. In the backswing, it seems i loose sight of the ball, as you described in the your Tip. I really work on your teaching of how to preform the different shots and cures. I wanted to know if the eye thing was causing the miss hits and any suggestions for my short game besides the one you gave on the Tip above. Thank you in advance. Have Fun. 😀
Dennis, If you are losing sight of the ball you are lifting up as you go back. You should be tilted enough to still see the ball. So make sure you tilt more but no so much that you clearly see your feet. If you see them from your peripheral that’s fine but I don’t want you clearly seeing them.
More tips on the short game can be found be going to red nav bar at the top of the page. Search Full Swing > pick any topic. All the tips are under each section. This is why I designed the site this way so you could find tips for each section easily.
Hi Paul;
I’m left eye dominant as a left handed golfer. I have the same question for putting rather than the swing. Do you use your dominant eye to read putts or both equally? When I read a putt I actually read it a little from the side of the ball if there’s a break in either direction rather than straight behind it to see the break. If I think the putt will break left to right, I look for the line from a slight angle from the right & vice versa for a putt breaking right to left. Is this how you do it or do you read from straight behind the ball?
I am not even thinking dominant eye when putting. I’m sure I do read loo through this eye because it is my dominant eye. I am doing what I naturally do. There is no magical way to read greens. It is experience, understanding as well as calculating and guessing. If you can see the break doing it this way and you are a good putter then keep doing it. If you do it this way and keep getting the beak wrong then I would be looking from behind it.
Another excellent lesson ,Paul :I always play with a large Australian leather hat,so the “brim of the hat “tip is useful to me .However,I never look at the ball “per se” ,I think you already said in another video that no one should be “ball bound “,the ball just happens to be there ,on the path of your swing .
You pick it up on the way through when swinging .
I use the” AIM POINT “technique whatever shot I play ,be it chipping ,putting ,pitching ,full shot :I look at a point 4 to 6 inches in front of the ball ,target Wise ,and I never “look at ” the ball .This way I accelerate in the ball and I’m sure I move my body forwards .
Glad you liked it. Different people look at different things. If you are moving your head in the backswing to load the weight and not losing your spine angle when you hit the ball I am okay with what you are doing. Not sure looking ahead of the ball is making you swing any better though.
Wow I am left eye dominant and was not aware of the effect it has on my back swing! I am now very aware of the head not moving back to the correct position and I really have to exaggerate it to get back. It also accounts for the difficulty I have in touching my left leg as the incorrect move back works against a crisp hip turn as it causes me to move the left leg sideways instead of back! I have found another way to work on this problem by simply using your helicopter move with my driver across my shoulders it takes me back to where I am looking at the ball with my left eye when fully coiled.
Glad you found this is an issue with your swing. People who are left eye dominant really have some work to do to move their head. I feel weird but if you keep doing it the feeling goes away after a while. My helicopter drill certainly gets the head moving because as I have said to create circular rotation you need and axis to move around. So doing this drill will get the head moving automatically. Adding the ball gets it stuck over top of the ball. If you can do the drill and visually see how the ball should look once you hit the top then apply this very feeling and visual to your actual swing. I will do a tip on this. I think it’s important.
This may very well be why he did that. I would suspect it was from years of Jack Grout holding his head still. I really don’t like this because it tilts you towards the target in the backswing. We all know Jack used his legs to start the downswing. In doing so he got his body moving first which flattened the plane from severely steep going back to close to on plane in the downswing. Unfortunately, most amateurs do not use their lower body to start the downswing. With no lower body and just arms whacking at it is causes the club to swing severely over the top. I like people to move their head going back even if they are left eye dominant. This loads the weight into the back leg like you would do in any other sport naturally. Due to the ball being stationary in golf you have to tell and train yourself to move it. Once you do it is much easier to get the legs moving in the downswing. In other words, move your head in the backswing.
Yes this tip is really important! I already see and feel a big difference
when I feel like I am looking at the ball with my left eye I am getting 10
yards more by sighting a line to the back of the ball with an exaggerated
right tilt of my head. I was born left handed and my poor parents actually
tied my left hand down to force me to use the right hand as they believed
we all live in a right handed world! I had trouble hitting when I went out
for baseball and did not make the team. I did better with boxing as my left
jab was very strong. Wow this tip is extraordinary really has me thinking.
Thanks. This is very important. I had a guy once who could do the move of the head when I worked with him. When he came back for the next lesson his head was tilted the wrong way again. This went on for 15 lessons. I finally have him do a left handed swing (it never dawned on my he may be left handed because he was about an 8hdcp). Sure enough he was and did the move perfectly left handed. Unfortunately, he did no want to switch so I assumes he is still doing it wrong to this day. Oh well. I have another guy right now who fixed it who was a lefty. He worked on it every day for 5 weeks to break the habit. So if you want to fix it just start doing it but do it constantly and consistently until you master it. You can do it.
Hi Paul, I’m a new member and love the web site. Last night I watch your video on the follow through with the knees touching and rolled up on the back toe. I am 63 years old and have had two back surgeries. Therefore I have a difficult time with a complete turn and touching the knees completely in the follow through. Also I have some difficulty in getting a good shoulder turn in the backswing. Would you have any suggestion for me on turning? By the way I’m a left handed golfer and I’m right eye dominate….thanks for this tip.
You are going to have to try to do the best you can. I want the legs touching so you can repeat exactly the same position every day, every shot, forever. If you cannot get all the way around you will have to check it more than others because those able to touch can just feel them touching. Also, realize that not coming around may cause you to push it a little.
I don’t turn to 90 degrees and my driver average is 281 using my GAME GOLF unit. It is about the ratio of torque you create and how fast you uncoil it not necessarily how far you turn your shoulders back.
Hopefully, these tips help you out. I would really be concentrating on loose wrists too. You really need their whipping action to potentially make up for other power losses.
Well Paul, this is definitely me, right handed and left eye dominate. I have always turned my head to the right on the backswing and it remains that way at impact. I actually found an article online that showed this effect for some tour pros as well. My head does stay behind the ball, but remains turned to the right until well into the follow through.
Pete did a video analysis for me and said I am moving my head back, but not enough in the backswing. He also noticed my eyes looking backward at the top of the swing, but never mentioned the eye dominance factor. I have been trying for 6 months now to keep my eyes level in the backswing, but just cannot get it. I am about ready to try closing my left eye during the swing, just to see what happens.
The head move is certainly tricky for a lot of people especially those who are left eye dominant. First you need to be certain how you are going to look at the ball. I would also check your set up. The taller you are the more you will turn. To turn you need an axis between your head, body and back leg. If you are too tilted you will not turn so you will want to keep your head overtop of the ball.
Can you see your toes at the top of the backswing? If so you are too tilted. You should see the ball not your toes so make sure you check this.
Also, do the helicopter drill in a mirror. While vertical and turning you will see your head will move perfect everytime without thinking about it. So be tall and turn. If so, your head should move and you will not see your toes at the top.
Failing that over to the head move. At first it should feel like it is moving 1 foot back. This feeling goes away after you keep doing it.
I am right handed and left eye dominant, and feel that is an advantage for me, in that I have a better view of the ball at all times. It just does not seem to be an bad issue for me. I easily load on to my right instep while moving my head back about 5 inches, and of course, see the ball very well with my left eye as well as with my right eye.
If this is not an advantage, it sure seems, to me, like it is not a disadvantage for me. For me it is just a non-issue. Maybe too, with full swings I am not so fixated on the ball either. On chips and putts I more need to fixate on a dimple the back of the ball. Even there, right eye – left eye dominance is not a huge issue for me.
Now shooting a gun, I always thought maybe I’d be a little better shot if I was right eye dominant. Still, I am a pretty good shot though. I made the shooting team when I worked for the DOC.
Reading putts though, sometimes I think I am blind in both eyes. ha ha
I find it a huge advantage being right eye dominant. Left eye people are a lot harder to load and move their head so that part is no big deal for you so this is great. Focus on other stuff (especially putting).
Hi Paul. Jack Nicklaus would always initiate his back swing by rotating his head to the right. Do you feel this was an attempt to view the ball through his dominate eye or merely a means to trigger his back swing?
I think he was getting focused on the ball and clearing his chin out of the way for the backswing. I’m sure he talks about it in his books. I will have to look for it. I really don’t think people have to do this unless they are too stuck over the ball.
Paul ,A Top Pro instructor mentioned recently that there sure was the “dominant eye “,but there was also the “Radar eye “,which may be different from the “dominant eye “.
He says the “Radar eye “positions you in space :I don’t know what this means .
Neither do I understand how you find out which is your “radar eye “.
Do you know what this is about ?
Hi Paul,
Geez, another thing I have in common with Hogan, Jack and Tiger, will the comparisons never cease?
I am Right handed and Left eye dominant and have discovered that I tilt my head left and forward in the backswing. This makes it very difficult to stay behind the ball, get proper body tilt and not come over the top. I am really struggling with this. I have to shoot a rifle left handed and it works fine. Do I just keep doing the hat drill? I’ve tried closing my left eye but that’s super hard as well.
Thanks so much for any extra help you can give on this one.
Best,
Ben
It sure does make it difficult. You can do the hat drill. You can also keep the clubhead on the ground. Move your head first. Then let the clubhead move. This way you know for sure the head moved. You can use your shadow to watch it. You should also be doing it in a mirror.
JASON DAY HAS BEEN PICKED OUT BY THE VARIOUS COMMENTATORS AS HAVING A VERY FINE GOLF SWING.
HIS HEAD IS SHOWN IN A VERYTIGHT CIRCLE AND HE IS PRAISED FOR HIS LACK OF HEAD MOVEMENT.
WHAT WOULD BE THE REASONING BEHIND THE THAT PHILOSOPY VERSUS YOURS?
Watch the trees in behind his head. You will see with an iron he may move and inch or more going back then watch as he comes down. It is moving 5-6″ back. So if the head is going back int he dowswing why not move it back going back. Plus, you create the first axis in your swing between the head, body and right leg.
I just watch it again. Check out his follow through. You can see he has a slight reverse C into the follow through too. I bet his back hurts. If not, I will in the near future.
PAUL
I FOUND A 5/2004 GOLF DIGEST ARTICLE WRITTEN BY D. LEADBETTER WHICH SAYS THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A REVERSE PIVOT OR GETTING BEHIND THE BALL, PRACTICE HITTING BALLS WITH YOUR RIGHT EYE CLOSED. RIGHT EYE DOMINANT GOLFERS NEED TO USE THE LEFT TO LOOK AT THE BALL DURING THE BACKSWING
THIS TIP BY HIM IS FOR RIGHT EYE DOMINANT PLAYERS. IT SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR ADVICE.
ANY THOUGHTS?
THANK YOU
The golfers that I have taught that have a tough time getting their head moving are usually left eye dominant. This makes them have to look through their nose when into the backswing, so they do not see the golf ball easily. Everytime I do this eye test, we see the samer results; forward eye dominance. Its been a long time since that article and would have to see it again.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
38 Responses to “Which Is Your Dominant Eye”
August 12, 2012
jimmarlowWhen i first saw the title of your video i got excited, thinking it was going to address right eye dominance when putting. I am very right eye dominant and when i stand over a putt I tend to aim way right of my target. I have a hard time making an adjustment because, dependant on slope, it isn’t always the same amount of varience. I would be interested in what has worked for the majority of your students with a similar problem. Thanks in advance.
August 13, 2012
Paul WilsonJim, in 20 years of teaching golf not one person has mentioned this. We all have a dominant eye when putting and/or swinging. Off the top of my head I am thinking of using the alignment stick threaded through your belt loops like I did in the tip I posted on RG. With the stick on the hips you can check your alignment on straight putts first. You may be mis-aligned on regular putts. If you are it will effect the other putts too. So make sure you are aligned square or a little open. with the lower body. Shoulders should be square (you could even have someone check this for you). Then hit sloped putts with it and see how off you align. It may be a simple as you having to remember how much you compensate on various putts and their slope.
I never really think about it and I am totally right eye dominant. I am thinking of the right hand making a throwing motion. Hopefully, you have seen my putting video. If you have you should be focused on your target and make the motion towards the target. If you do you should be able to get the ball pretty close regardless of being perfectly aligned or not. Make sure you try my putting technique and check your alignment too.
The Secret to Great Putting: https://ignitiongolf.com/putting-stroke
August 13, 2012
jimmarlowIt’s wonderful to know that I am one of a kind. lol
One more bit of information and question. I currently use a belly putter and wonder if that changes anything about your philosophy on the underhand throwing of the ball feel of the putting stroke? Thanks again.
August 14, 2012
Paul WilsonJim,
I have not really used on for any period of time. From just grabbing one in trying it in the pro shop I think you can still do the right hand throwing motion with this putter. If you are not doing a grip where the palm is to the target think of what is facing the target (fingers, thumb, side of hand etc.) and focus on that moving to the target. The whole idea is to take your mind off of the putter head and get you thinking of the target.
August 13, 2012
DennisStephensOK Guru, your esp again hit the spot. I am Left Eye dominate. I always thought I was right eye dominate! My short game sufferes the most. I hit behind the ball on pitches and chips and blade the ball in sand shots. Do you have any suggestions???
August 14, 2012
Paul WilsonIf you are hitting behind the ball you have too much weight on your back foot at impact. Turn your lower body and allow the weight to shift off this foot with pitches.
How to Pitch: https://ignitiongolf.com/pitch-ball
When chipping you need to set up with at least 70% of your weight on the left foot.
How to Chip: https://ignitiongolf.com/chipping-how
Blading your sand shots is from you trying to hit the ball or scoop it out of the bunker. In doing so your arms are buckling causing the club to come off the ground.
Bunker Technique: https://ignitiongolf.com/bunker-shots
Body and Club Alignment: https://ignitiongolf.com/bunker-setup
August 14, 2012
DennisStephensDear Guru, I thought my miss hits was because of me being left eye dominate. In the backswing, it seems i loose sight of the ball, as you described in the your Tip. I really work on your teaching of how to preform the different shots and cures. I wanted to know if the eye thing was causing the miss hits and any suggestions for my short game besides the one you gave on the Tip above. Thank you in advance. Have Fun. 😀
August 15, 2012
Paul WilsonDennis, If you are losing sight of the ball you are lifting up as you go back. You should be tilted enough to still see the ball. So make sure you tilt more but no so much that you clearly see your feet. If you see them from your peripheral that’s fine but I don’t want you clearly seeing them.
More tips on the short game can be found be going to red nav bar at the top of the page. Search Full Swing > pick any topic. All the tips are under each section. This is why I designed the site this way so you could find tips for each section easily.
August 2, 2014
MichaelRodrickHi Paul;
I’m left eye dominant as a left handed golfer. I have the same question for putting rather than the swing. Do you use your dominant eye to read putts or both equally? When I read a putt I actually read it a little from the side of the ball if there’s a break in either direction rather than straight behind it to see the break. If I think the putt will break left to right, I look for the line from a slight angle from the right & vice versa for a putt breaking right to left. Is this how you do it or do you read from straight behind the ball?
August 4, 2014
Paul WilsonMicheal,
I am not even thinking dominant eye when putting. I’m sure I do read loo through this eye because it is my dominant eye. I am doing what I naturally do. There is no magical way to read greens. It is experience, understanding as well as calculating and guessing. If you can see the break doing it this way and you are a good putter then keep doing it. If you do it this way and keep getting the beak wrong then I would be looking from behind it.
August 2, 2014
RaymondCHASTELAnother excellent lesson ,Paul :I always play with a large Australian leather hat,so the “brim of the hat “tip is useful to me .However,I never look at the ball “per se” ,I think you already said in another video that no one should be “ball bound “,the ball just happens to be there ,on the path of your swing .
You pick it up on the way through when swinging .
I use the” AIM POINT “technique whatever shot I play ,be it chipping ,putting ,pitching ,full shot :I look at a point 4 to 6 inches in front of the ball ,target Wise ,and I never “look at ” the ball .This way I accelerate in the ball and I’m sure I move my body forwards .
August 4, 2014
Paul WilsonRayond,
Glad you liked it. Different people look at different things. If you are moving your head in the backswing to load the weight and not losing your spine angle when you hit the ball I am okay with what you are doing. Not sure looking ahead of the ball is making you swing any better though.
August 2, 2014
GeraldJoyceHey Paul,
Wow I am left eye dominant and was not aware of the effect it has on my back swing! I am now very aware of the head not moving back to the correct position and I really have to exaggerate it to get back. It also accounts for the difficulty I have in touching my left leg as the incorrect move back works against a crisp hip turn as it causes me to move the left leg sideways instead of back! I have found another way to work on this problem by simply using your helicopter move with my driver across my shoulders it takes me back to where I am looking at the ball with my left eye when fully coiled.
Great input had no idea of the problem.
Best JayJay
August 4, 2014
Paul WilsonJay Jay,
Glad you found this is an issue with your swing. People who are left eye dominant really have some work to do to move their head. I feel weird but if you keep doing it the feeling goes away after a while. My helicopter drill certainly gets the head moving because as I have said to create circular rotation you need and axis to move around. So doing this drill will get the head moving automatically. Adding the ball gets it stuck over top of the ball. If you can do the drill and visually see how the ball should look once you hit the top then apply this very feeling and visual to your actual swing. I will do a tip on this. I think it’s important.
August 2, 2014
JuleHerbertI heard many years ago that Jack Nicklaus was left-eyed, and that this was the reason he cocked his head to the left as a key in taking the club back.
Any truth to that? And would doing so help with the issues you raised?
August 4, 2014
Paul WilsonJule,
This may very well be why he did that. I would suspect it was from years of Jack Grout holding his head still. I really don’t like this because it tilts you towards the target in the backswing. We all know Jack used his legs to start the downswing. In doing so he got his body moving first which flattened the plane from severely steep going back to close to on plane in the downswing. Unfortunately, most amateurs do not use their lower body to start the downswing. With no lower body and just arms whacking at it is causes the club to swing severely over the top. I like people to move their head going back even if they are left eye dominant. This loads the weight into the back leg like you would do in any other sport naturally. Due to the ball being stationary in golf you have to tell and train yourself to move it. Once you do it is much easier to get the legs moving in the downswing. In other words, move your head in the backswing.
August 4, 2014
GeraldJoyceHey Paul,
Yes this tip is really important! I already see and feel a big difference
when I feel like I am looking at the ball with my left eye I am getting 10
yards more by sighting a line to the back of the ball with an exaggerated
right tilt of my head. I was born left handed and my poor parents actually
tied my left hand down to force me to use the right hand as they believed
we all live in a right handed world! I had trouble hitting when I went out
for baseball and did not make the team. I did better with boxing as my left
jab was very strong. Wow this tip is extraordinary really has me thinking.
Keep up the good work!
Best Jay Jay
August 6, 2014
Paul WilsonJay Jay,
Thanks. This is very important. I had a guy once who could do the move of the head when I worked with him. When he came back for the next lesson his head was tilted the wrong way again. This went on for 15 lessons. I finally have him do a left handed swing (it never dawned on my he may be left handed because he was about an 8hdcp). Sure enough he was and did the move perfectly left handed. Unfortunately, he did no want to switch so I assumes he is still doing it wrong to this day. Oh well. I have another guy right now who fixed it who was a lefty. He worked on it every day for 5 weeks to break the habit. So if you want to fix it just start doing it but do it constantly and consistently until you master it. You can do it.
August 27, 2014
StephenBooneHi Paul, I’m a new member and love the web site. Last night I watch your video on the follow through with the knees touching and rolled up on the back toe. I am 63 years old and have had two back surgeries. Therefore I have a difficult time with a complete turn and touching the knees completely in the follow through. Also I have some difficulty in getting a good shoulder turn in the backswing. Would you have any suggestion for me on turning? By the way I’m a left handed golfer and I’m right eye dominate….thanks for this tip.
thanks Steve Boone
[email protected]
August 27, 2014
Paul WilsonStephen,
You are going to have to try to do the best you can. I want the legs touching so you can repeat exactly the same position every day, every shot, forever. If you cannot get all the way around you will have to check it more than others because those able to touch can just feel them touching. Also, realize that not coming around may cause you to push it a little.
Watch:
Limited Hip Turn? Power Is No Problem: https://ignitiongolf.com/limited-hip-turn/
Here are a couple of tips on shoulder turn:
Limited Shoulder Turn? Power Is No Problem: https://ignitiongolf.com/limited-shoulder-turn/
Increase Shoulder Turn (seam on shirt): https://ignitiongolf.com/increase-your-shoulder-turn/
I don’t turn to 90 degrees and my driver average is 281 using my GAME GOLF unit. It is about the ratio of torque you create and how fast you uncoil it not necessarily how far you turn your shoulders back.
Watch:
Coiling: https://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing
Hopefully, these tips help you out. I would really be concentrating on loose wrists too. You really need their whipping action to potentially make up for other power losses.
April 6, 2015
RobertGibsonLucky me. I’m right handed, play right handed and Left Eye Dominant.
Thanks for the “Tip”.
Your comments give me direction to work with this issue
April 7, 2015
Paul WilsonRobert,
Very good. Tons are left eye which is tough for them to change.
August 29, 2015
WilliamPotterWell Paul, this is definitely me, right handed and left eye dominate. I have always turned my head to the right on the backswing and it remains that way at impact. I actually found an article online that showed this effect for some tour pros as well. My head does stay behind the ball, but remains turned to the right until well into the follow through.
Pete did a video analysis for me and said I am moving my head back, but not enough in the backswing. He also noticed my eyes looking backward at the top of the swing, but never mentioned the eye dominance factor. I have been trying for 6 months now to keep my eyes level in the backswing, but just cannot get it. I am about ready to try closing my left eye during the swing, just to see what happens.
Bill
August 30, 2015
Paul WilsonBill,
The head move is certainly tricky for a lot of people especially those who are left eye dominant. First you need to be certain how you are going to look at the ball. I would also check your set up. The taller you are the more you will turn. To turn you need an axis between your head, body and back leg. If you are too tilted you will not turn so you will want to keep your head overtop of the ball.
Can you see your toes at the top of the backswing? If so you are too tilted. You should see the ball not your toes so make sure you check this.
Also, do the helicopter drill in a mirror. While vertical and turning you will see your head will move perfect everytime without thinking about it. So be tall and turn. If so, your head should move and you will not see your toes at the top.
Failing that over to the head move. At first it should feel like it is moving 1 foot back. This feeling goes away after you keep doing it.
Watch:
Stop Fat Shots When Working On Moving Your Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/fat-shots-moving-your-head/
December 26, 2015
BrianGeissingerI am right handed and left eye dominant, and feel that is an advantage for me, in that I have a better view of the ball at all times. It just does not seem to be an bad issue for me. I easily load on to my right instep while moving my head back about 5 inches, and of course, see the ball very well with my left eye as well as with my right eye.
If this is not an advantage, it sure seems, to me, like it is not a disadvantage for me. For me it is just a non-issue. Maybe too, with full swings I am not so fixated on the ball either. On chips and putts I more need to fixate on a dimple the back of the ball. Even there, right eye – left eye dominance is not a huge issue for me.
Now shooting a gun, I always thought maybe I’d be a little better shot if I was right eye dominant. Still, I am a pretty good shot though. I made the shooting team when I worked for the DOC.
Reading putts though, sometimes I think I am blind in both eyes. ha ha
December 27, 2015
Paul WilsonBrian,
I find it a huge advantage being right eye dominant. Left eye people are a lot harder to load and move their head so that part is no big deal for you so this is great. Focus on other stuff (especially putting).
December 26, 2015
RonCalabreseHi Paul. Jack Nicklaus would always initiate his back swing by rotating his head to the right. Do you feel this was an attempt to view the ball through his dominate eye or merely a means to trigger his back swing?
Thanks, Ron
December 27, 2015
Paul WilsonRon,
I think he was getting focused on the ball and clearing his chin out of the way for the backswing. I’m sure he talks about it in his books. I will have to look for it. I really don’t think people have to do this unless they are too stuck over the ball.
December 26, 2015
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,A Top Pro instructor mentioned recently that there sure was the “dominant eye “,but there was also the “Radar eye “,which may be different from the “dominant eye “.
He says the “Radar eye “positions you in space :I don’t know what this means .
Neither do I understand how you find out which is your “radar eye “.
Do you know what this is about ?
December 27, 2015
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I’ve never heard this and know nothing about it. Just trying to coil a term I guess. Sounds too complicated. Keep it simple.
May 10, 2016
BenjaminBerryHi Paul,
Geez, another thing I have in common with Hogan, Jack and Tiger, will the comparisons never cease?
I am Right handed and Left eye dominant and have discovered that I tilt my head left and forward in the backswing. This makes it very difficult to stay behind the ball, get proper body tilt and not come over the top. I am really struggling with this. I have to shoot a rifle left handed and it works fine. Do I just keep doing the hat drill? I’ve tried closing my left eye but that’s super hard as well.
Thanks so much for any extra help you can give on this one.
Best,
Ben
May 11, 2016
Paul WilsonBen,
It sure does make it difficult. You can do the hat drill. You can also keep the clubhead on the ground. Move your head first. Then let the clubhead move. This way you know for sure the head moved. You can use your shadow to watch it. You should also be doing it in a mirror.
Move Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/move-head-back/
Drill: Watch Your Head Move in the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/head-move-mirror/
Might want to watch this too:
Stop Fat Shots When Working On Moving Your Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/fat-shots-moving-your-head/
May 11, 2016
BenjaminBerryThanks Paul, I’ll work on these.
August 26, 2018
PETERHUMPHREYJASON DAY HAS BEEN PICKED OUT BY THE VARIOUS COMMENTATORS AS HAVING A VERY FINE GOLF SWING.
HIS HEAD IS SHOWN IN A VERYTIGHT CIRCLE AND HE IS PRAISED FOR HIS LACK OF HEAD MOVEMENT.
WHAT WOULD BE THE REASONING BEHIND THE THAT PHILOSOPY VERSUS YOURS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO
PETER HUMPHREY
August 26, 2018
Paul WilsonPeter,
Glad you like the tips.
Tour average had movement going back is 3.6″. Some move a little less. Some move mover. Tiger at his best move 5″.
Here is Days swing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpi2dM4hg9Q
Watch the trees in behind his head. You will see with an iron he may move and inch or more going back then watch as he comes down. It is moving 5-6″ back. So if the head is going back int he dowswing why not move it back going back. Plus, you create the first axis in your swing between the head, body and right leg.
Move Head: https://ignitiongolf.com/move-head-back
Dominant Eye: https://ignitiongolf.com/dominant-eye/
How Human Nature Affects The Head Position: https://ignitiongolf.com/human-nature-head-position/
Drill: Watch Your Head Move in the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/head-move-mirror/
Where Should Your Head Be Throughout the Swing?: https://ignitiongolf.com/head-position-setup/
Maybe this is why he is inconsistent. Seems to get hot and cold a lot.
August 26, 2018
Paul WilsonPeter,
I just watch it again. Check out his follow through. You can see he has a slight reverse C into the follow through too. I bet his back hurts. If not, I will in the near future.
April 16, 2020
PETERHUMPHREYPAUL
I FOUND A 5/2004 GOLF DIGEST ARTICLE WRITTEN BY D. LEADBETTER WHICH SAYS THE FOLLOWING: IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A REVERSE PIVOT OR GETTING BEHIND THE BALL, PRACTICE HITTING BALLS WITH YOUR RIGHT EYE CLOSED. RIGHT EYE DOMINANT GOLFERS NEED TO USE THE LEFT TO LOOK AT THE BALL DURING THE BACKSWING
THIS TIP BY HIM IS FOR RIGHT EYE DOMINANT PLAYERS. IT SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR ADVICE.
ANY THOUGHTS?
THANK YOU
April 18, 2020
Paul WilsonThe golfers that I have taught that have a tough time getting their head moving are usually left eye dominant. This makes them have to look through their nose when into the backswing, so they do not see the golf ball easily. Everytime I do this eye test, we see the samer results; forward eye dominance. Its been a long time since that article and would have to see it again.