The Golfers Mind
"The inner game has always been the last frontier in golf. Why? Because the source of all excellence is within, and because that's usually the last place we look for it."
Timothy Gallwey
The Inner Game of Golf
Aim & Alignment Series
The Golfers Mind
Importance Of Precision Targeting
Targets
All the targets which you pick from now on will be precise. What we mean by this is that aiming at a tree as a line to your target is not good enough when you can aim at a leaf. It is about picking a precise target that is the smallest possible thing that you can see without eye strain. If you are putting and you can pick out a single blade of grass in the front of the hole which you imagine the ball rolling over, then that is the target, and image which you hold in your mind. If you are driving then a point in the fairway must be found, a patch of grass which is a slightly different colour, another ball, which is exactly where you want your ball to go, and is the smallest thing you can see without eye strain.
Now that we have established a precise target we must have a reliable system for setting up the “machine” (your body) properly in order to give it (you) the best possible chance of sending the ball to your chosen target with wonderful precision.
We go back now to the “ball to target Line” which as discussed in earlier articles, is an imaginary straight line that runs from the centre of your golf ball to the precise target chosen. To establish this we stand behind the golf ball getting the ball between us and the chosen target. Hold a golf club up and close your weaker eye. Using your dominant eye, line the club shaft up with the ball and your chosen precise target. You now have a perfectly straight line between the ball and target by using your club. (You may need to hold the shaft fractionally to the side of the ball or it may be obscured by the club.) Still holding the club on this line pick a spot 6 – 8 inches in front of the ball, on that precise line. This is called the intermediate target.
Again it is important to be precise so pick the smallest possible thing such as a blade of grass. An intermediate target which is too big can allow multiple points of alignment across it. Half an inch out at the ball can be many yards out at target. Imagine a set of train tracks running perfectly parallel. But if we move one rail an inch out of alignment and angling fractionally away from the other, then eventually the train derails and if you continue, eventually the two rails are miles apart.
Now that we have this precise point on the ground in front of our ball, which corresponds
to our exact precise target, it is possible to step into our ball at address and
by “placing” or “seeing” or “imagining” a straight line on the ground from the centre
of your ball to the intermediate target we have a precise verifiable line from which
we can perfectly align both our machine (body) and the club-
Key terms to remember here are Ball to target Line and Intermediate Target and that it is by using this intermediate target that we are able to accurately establish and use a precise ball to target line when addressing the ball.
Next – Article 5 In Series – Learn And Focus
Author Mark Wright -
Copyright Mark Wright 2009
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