By Doctor Sherylle Calder
How often do you see someone stretching before they’re about to hit a tee shot off the first?
Stretching and flexibility forms an important part of any physical preparedness. You don’t want to be stiff when you’re standing over the ball and get ready to make that first drive.
That’s why most golfers make sure that they’re ‘warmed up’ by the time they get to that first tee.
The same should apply to your eyes. Your eyes are, after all, muscles and when muscles aren’t exercised, they become lethargic and fatigued.
Visualisation forms an important part in what type of shot you’re going to hit. As you stand there, be it on the tee for a par 4 or par 5, or a par 3, you’re visualising where you want to hit the ball.
Yet, ‘fit eyes’ are even more important when you get to the green for the ‘business’ part of the hole. Putting forms such an important part of a golfer’s round and you want to be at your best when you have a chance to cut a stroke here and there from your scorecard.
This month we highlight the importance of the warm ups for your eyes that will help you when you get on the green. As with physical exercise when it comes to muscles, consistence and repetition will make you a better player, because your eyes will be fitter.
The tip will allow you to change your focus from an object that is near (your ball) to one that’s further away (the hole. This is a skill that can be improved and it is used thousands of times as you have to constantly change your focus from the ball to the hole, and back again, as you’re lining up your putt.
You might look at your scorecard and see that you’ve dropped a few shots on the last four or five holes of a round. If that’s the case, often it’s down to the putts. With ‘fitter’ eyes prepared for the rigours of those 18 greens you can benefit from getting your eyes in the same shape as your body.
TOP TIP
Try focusing on your thumb at an arms length in front of your eyes. Focus on something specific on your thumb and then move your eyes to the hole – once the hole is clear in focus, move back to your thumb. Repeat this 10 times. Improve by changing the distance from your thumb to your target. Don’t be shy to do from 5ft, then 20ft, 20ft and 30ft.
