DON'T LOOK At The Ball - The Key To GREAT BALL Striking

It may seem counter intuitive but looking and focusing on the golf ball could be the worst thing for your game. In this video I explore the idea of where to look and discuss how a change in focus could take your ball striking to the next level.
Don't look at the ball is a technique I have used with students for years, with some incredible results, and it could be the key to your ball striking.
#golfball #golftips #golfswing
00:27 The Fault
01:15 Learn From Jack Nicklaus
02:49 The Natural Move
04:00 Swoosh Drill
07:00 Towel Drill
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[@DAukeman]

This is it. Ive watched dozens of videos from many different coaches, this is the one that clicks. Took it to the range today, my only swing thought was extend after the ball. It applies through the bag, and I have never hit my clubs so well. Thank you for the amazing video.

[@golfnutnz9274]

It feels like you keep disclosing nuggets of golden secrets from the coaching world and this one, for me, is simply the best yet… and I’ve been following you down here in NZ for years! Well done Chris and thank you again 👏👏

[@toddwmac]

Great video! Follow through focus was, without any question, the best tip I received. Inconsistency had me rarely braking 100, but within a season, follow through focus got me regularly looking at 80. Activities like kicking a ball, tossing darts, fly fisihing, throwing a ball, hitting moving ball, all have follow through and balance built in. I wish someone would had told me the importance of that in golf years ago. This video provides some great insights and training tips. Thank you!!

[@SimplifySC]

I'm a casual golfer at best and have been for 40 years. This might be the single most insightful piece of instruction I have seen in that timespan. I watched that video and the light bulb came on. I have been doing this wrong and trying to be fully extended at the ball for 40 years! Went to the front yard and hit some wedges last night to try and focus on where the swing should "end". The difference was dramatic. Solid contact, more power and much better accuracy. Wow Chris! Thank you friend.

[@GMan56M]

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum (few years of hacking around on my own, finally taking lessons!), and I completely agree with you. This was so helpful and I can't wait to go try it out later. I've been so focused on trying to swing down at the ball and wonder why I keep hitting so fat or thin every time!

[@Mike_Hughes_]

Chris, l’ve been following you for a while now. I appreciate the depth in which you explain the components of the golf swing and the drills involved to help us get there. Understanding that focusing on the golf ball leads to early extension and realizing that most of us “self taught” players have been told to “keep your eye on the ball,” this is where it gets a little confusing for me. When at address, during the takeaway, at the top and through the transition, in order to get to that follow through position, should I be looking/focusing at something ahead of the ball to achieve better contact?

[@TWFM8215]

Chris just simplify everything so us amateurs know exactly what he’s talking about. One of the great coaches on KZbin without question.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks so much 🙌🙌🙌

[@barrycole5930]

Pretty mind blowing idea here. As a footballer and boxer your analogies hit home there and makes a ton of sense. Thanks!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Barry 🙏🏻

[@Parrott65]

Wow…I never really looked at it like that, Chris. Nicklaus (and now you) have given me a perspective to focus on at the range. I don’t focus on the ball currently, but I focus on the feel of shallowing the club and my wrist set at impact. If I focus more on the follow through, that actually may make a huge difference for me. Thank you!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Russ, a lot we can learn from the great man

[@bigk9598]

Thanks Chris, took this to the range and was able to launch my 5 iron properly for the first time ever. Found that the same thing with the driver but focusing on the same position but later in the follow through was absolutely sending it😀

[@katos84770]

This video has transformed my swing....I always had a problem with consistent release...sometimes yes sometimes no...but the towel drill has changed that..my ball striking is much more consistent....shows on my launch monitor data..Thanks for the great video!!!

[@mikerodrick2430]

Absolutely true. Looking at the ball, for high handicappers takes focus from the swing. Speaking from personal experience.

[@dogloverjb6873]

your now the only golf instructor I watch on YT.... thanks for all you do

[@TedInoue]

Brilliant! I used this today and was out driving my partners using my 4W. My only issue is follow-through. I often have cut-off follow-throughs using this method as my body wants to stop at the 3:30 position where my arms are pointing. In your example, my swing wants to stop at the towel.

[@kevinsalinas3510]

The single most profitable irons video I’ve ever watched. Thank you. Kevin

[@npxmnpxm]

Great stuff, thanks. Would I need to modify the first drill to use it for the driver swing?

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

I’d be working this drill with an iron I think, but the same swing concepts can be applied to driver

[@npxmnpxm]

@@ChrisRyanGolf Makes sense, thanks!

[@brdgolf1f814]

Great swing thought. Really well done. Do you have something like this for fairway woods and driver?

[@skcapture]

Thanks a great way to look at the impact point. I often find that due to the speed of swing/club I have to adjust my focus point to allow for the speed of swing.

[@bryang949]

makes perfect sense from a kinetics point of view - thank you!!!

[@ericehrnsberger8298]

Thanks Chris, this was an excellent description. When you start your back swing, I was always told to look at the back of the ball. Where should I be looking in back swing? That little white creature is so hard to not focus on lol

[@Waltham12345]

Chris- this might be the most impactful tip I’ve ever received. Thank you for the great content and great videos!

[@donaldschmidt2990]

This video is fantastic! The constant obsession with staring at the ball produces a player with their head stuck down, cramped with no release. Not good at all! That straight line extension past the ball is the key. Get to that spot and everything else is right. Love ❤ the drills as well. Great vudeo.

[@LoveMTBmaesteg]

Thanks Chris, great tip.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Wayne 🙏🏻

[@jonathanclarke8927]

This video is so far on point, it’s unreal. You sir, are the modern Peter Cowan. ❤ Focus drill is fantastic.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@grt-rt4dh]

Another good drill. So far it works great for me on the range, and I will bring it to the course this weekend. Thank you.

[@andylockett5003]

One of the best tips I've heard - will think of Jack Nicklaus and the follow through this Saturday - cheers Chris

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Andy 🙏🏻

[@bstrac77]

Nice video! This is definitely one of the keys to great ball striking. When I'm having an off round it's mostly because my follow-through is garbage. One question I do have for you Chris. If you are not looking at the golf ball, where is your focus during the backswing? I know you are thinking follow-through, but it's near impossible to focus on that follow-through spot as you take your backswing. Are you still keeping your head on the ball, or do you allow it to, for example, look at your rear foot?

[@MrAyrit]

Wow, very well explained with the soccer and punching reference. I can’t believe I haven’t heard this before.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

It can really help, hope it does for you too

[@donkee9]

Funny I’ve recently starting working on proper takeaway and that follow through position in my pre shot routine. I’m hitting some really good powerful iron shots.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Awesome, sounds like it’s working

[@gaithonyokabikenya8633]

Hi Chris , am a golf beginner from Kenya, and tell you what your coaching videos are great, they have really really helped me.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@davidpollard3921]

This is one of the best drills ever for me. A huge thank you !!!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks David

[@PC-pd7hl]

Thanks for the great lessons. Please tell us if the towel is placed inside/outside or on the target line. Without a side view it is so hard to tell.

[@orlandotragic7577]

Brilliant lesson Chris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍🏻👍🏻

[@mitchellbonomi9309]

You're absolutely right, I remember back in my 20's my best shots were when I was focused on follow through..I'm 62 an have forgot that..

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Time to make up for the last 40 years 😁

[@jeffmaclean1134]

F’ing brilliant!!! Just such an eye opening way of explaining how to understand the golf swing….thank you 😊

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Jeff

[@rayrapp8929]

Nice drill Chris, would it be useful when using the 'follow through' drill to feel that you are swinging more in-to-out i.e. to 1 O'clock?

[@mattartiste7214]

hello chris your tutorials are precise, simple, frighteningly effective for all levels of play, pitching, chipings, long irons, woods and drivers.... when I lose my swing I go back to your channel and with qlq exercises my swing comes back in place, bravo I am a fan 🏌‍♀👌

[@awchiu]

Hi Chris, you videos are amazing! But what I'm interested in this video are your golf pants! Can you tell me what they are?

[@SuperMarioVending]

Can’t wait to try this at the range!

[@michaelshanker4760]

This is the best idea I've ever heard... Immediately I know this is exactly my issue... holy crap. You just cut 10 strokes off my game. I don't even have to try it to know this is going to work for me.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Michael glad it has helped 🙏🏻

[@lupo9868]

Perfect explained 👍

[@cmm4579]

What brand of golf pants are those? They look comfortable and stylish. Thanks

[@mytong5338]

This was the lightbulb moment for me. Thank you, Chris. I can see my ball speed went up by 20mph.

[@thedreamer2766]

Excellent drill 👍👍👍

[@rteach1]

Brilliant. Love how you are using more and more external focus. Scientific studies have shown that this is the best way to learn motor skills. I am curious as to whether you may have studied this research, and if so, whom you might have gotten ideas from. Thank you.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

I agree that it’s a great way to learn, not studied it but just think years of experience has led me towards this type of teaching

[@doubleu2]

4:13 is one of the bigger "A-HA!" moments I've had trying to figure out my swing!

[@paulandsueroberts4121]

Good drill Chris.

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

great video! lovely visualisations there

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Nik

[@bmc6066]

I like the alignment stick drill. Where do you line up your club to the ball at the beginning of a swing? I find if I line up at the heel, then on my swing I hit more centered. Found this by using the powder on the club face.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

I’d say that’s fine, Luke Donald has always done the same, as long as you hit the centre it’s fine imo

[@motty147]

Hi Chris, should you focus your eyes on where you want to extend fully and of so when do you do this?

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Yes I’d say that would be useful in practice and with the drill. On the course I’d probably be looking towards the ball but focusing on the extended point post impact

[@melcooper4029]

Good drill. But where do I set up in relation to the towel??

[@chrissimpson6594]

Look at the video at 7:33. You set yourself up in the ideal follow through position so you are just hitting the towel. Hope that helps.

[@pilgrimgolfer9705]

Excellent analogy

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks

[@cscoetzee]

Some good ideas here. However the fully extended position of your left arm in the follow-through and the visible daylight between it and your left side, seems to contradict the immediate folding of the left arm and keeping it close to the left side as advised in your recent video about achieving more, effortless speed.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Hey Stefan, this video was more focused on impact with the other focusing on the post impact folding of the arm, so actually compliment each other really well. The best golfers tend to have this really structured impact position, extension through the ball, but then have the arms folding as per the most recent vid, good thoughts to have for most 🙏🏻

[@smudgie62]

Just watched the video, and I'm now confused, after years of looking at the ball as I swing, and now you say don't look at the ball, what should I be looking at when I swing the club ?? but as far as I can tell it was more don't think about the ball when you swing, so should I look at the ball or not ??

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Hey Michael, during play I’d be looking in the general area of the ball but actually thinking and focusing a little on the follow through that I talked about in the vidoe, so trying to move through to that point

[@HtooPyae12]

How about Driver and fairway wood ? Please make videos sir!

[@davidbarnard1409]

Great video , thanks Chris. Nicklaus had very little shaft lean at impact. Partly because of his massive lateral hip shift. I am a huge Nicklaus fan and have watched golf my way several times. Trust me when I say this , your swing is more fundamentally correct than Nicklaus'. The only difference is he was born with a boat load of talent that even really good golfers wish they had

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Yep, fair to say he was one pretty talented golfer

[@djapricarisd7119]

Great explanation!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks

[@royclose946]

Well done Chris 👏

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Roy

[@rohitpratap4174]

Is it better to try to get to P7 with arms extended and clubhead not ahead of hands as in reality with the speed of a full swing the club has started to outrace the hands earlier than if we just did the short swings.. ie overexaggerate the feel needed to achieve the correct straight line release timing ?

[@arnauddesaintvaulry6664]

Brilliant!!! Thancks

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@danielmosias6280]

Excellent video Chris. We all know what you want for Christmas. A pair of socks 😃

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

My ankles are my best feature, have to show them off 😁

[@danielmosias6280]

@@ChrisRyanGolf 🤣🤣🤣. I just hope Mrs Ryan was watching and took the hint 😃

[@kennethmacdonald8561]

Yes, but what are u looking at on downswing?

[@mikecleary8307]

Once more another brilliant video. 👏

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Mike 🙏🏻

[@angeloparker1356]

I struggle with keeping my wrist angles through impact with the ball. It seems as if I set up with straight wrists then my that’s where my wrist should be straight. Am I missing something?

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Probably not Angelo it’s just incredibly hard and probably the one thing that golfers struggle with. Just make sure the drills you do a good, like this one and always try to build up to full speed whilst maintaining the form

[@martinmck505]

I’m right there with you Angelo. I actually found that my set up grip was inappropriate with this drill and release point in mind when I did the drill initially. I now set the club in my grip with my proper wrist position (flat vs. non-cupped) and do my rotational practice drill/swing and eventual release with this “new grip” to me. I remember this wrist position while I am rotating through using the drill and It has made a world of difference in my ball impacting and a very consistent low point in my swing and has taken strokes off my game. Huge Thanks to Chris!

[@redwave3520]

I would add a couple more things. CLEAR YOUR HIPS and FOCUS ON THE TARGET!! That is what I do in my swing. I clear my hips as soon as I can in the down swing and then find the target. The ball is irrelevant. I find that I hit the ball when I am looking at the target!! It works!!!

[@wilhuizinga2694]

Great drills

[@akaProctor]

Whoa! Very interesting

[@georgiamay4045]

I heard JN say one time that he considered the point after the ball, when both arms are stretched straight, the release point.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Yeah similar analogy I think, I love that as a thought too, really helps

[@sharkstreyef9330]

tried this, everything going right, am i missing something? how close the face for impact? the best way?

[@Speaklogic2me]

Does this hold true when using driver??

[@JM-bt1uy]

Great video!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks

[@rogernewton7831]

Good one Chris 👍

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks Roger

[@jonathanscheetz7590]

What brand are your alignment sticks?

[@simmo5071]

Any hardware store will work.

[@charlesalan5999]

Full extension after you hit the ball! Simple!

[@mahendersinghnegi2013]

interesting

[@Ben59910]

Is it okay if I practice this by releasing at the target instead? Or is that too late?

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Yes if that works for you, as long as it’s after the ball it should have the same affect

[@Ben59910]

@@ChrisRyanGolf I find I play better when I feel like im holding the wrist set all the way through

[@guitar1950]

Absolutely golden!!!!

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Thanks

[@DrMetalpin]

Is this about not “looking” at the ball or not “thinking” about the ball? I see them as being a completely different concept.

[@timothyslaughter476]

If you've spend a lifetime trying to place the clubhead on the ball and not actually making a golf swing through the ball, do not expect this tip to be easy to incorporate. However it is a great tip but you need to build a process to reprogram your brain and it takes practice. I never quite believe players who say they tried a tip, hit a bucket and it was a miracle. Golf doesn't work that way and we all know it.

[@marcf.4787]

Better make sure you release club or there will be elbow issues.

[@daniellanzrath5729]

Where i can buy this trousers? :)

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Lyle & Scott ✅

[@Set42]

How can I hit the ball consistently and not hit the dirt so much 😭😭

[@rorygillmore6555]

Decent lesson on keeping it simple but I had to laugh when he says keep your arm and club in a straight line on the follow through.. and the line is drawn into the video and very clearly not straight. Lol

[@xilioss8575]

a 10 minute video on why you shouldnt look at the golfball xD just tell us where to look and its a 5 second video

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

I mean yeah, but if that’s your approach then I can also tell you how to become the best player that’s ever lived in 5 seconds…. Get the ball in the hole in no more than 3 shots on every hole …… but sometimes context, understanding and explanations have some value

[@leonleon6254]

Why do you make videos for teaching, while your hand movements are wrong when you start the down swing in all the videos you've made.

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Hey Leon, because I don’t believe that my golf swing has any influence on my ability to coach and help golfers 👍

[@tigerwuuds5341]

That's just destroyed my thought process 😕 so I've been unloading my swing at the wrong time WOW unbelievable but a great video

[@ChrisRyanGolf]

Well at least you now have the fix 😁

[@onlythaclonessir2525]

and dont do me or ukrain versus russia !!! until you go pale !!!