O.k., so you love golf. I know, I know. Me too.

There you are, exhilarated just by becoming on the course once more, away from the worries of real life. Man, this is great.

But arrive on, beneath all that titillation is – way too often — the pang of aggravation. Why? You know the program. You get all set up and quickly run via the twenty-item checklist in your brain. This time, everything’s just correct, ideal. And then, wack, off the ball goes, to Slice Town or to Hooksville. Or perhaps a dribble or a pop fly.

Dang! Is not there a way to end this misery? Nicely, no, there isn’t, not completely.

But I do have a suggestion that may help sometimes, and that is to take your eye OFF the ball. That is correct. Allow go.

Here’s the idea. First, make each and every backswing as sluggish as you can. And keep it reduced to the ground as lengthy as you can, particularly with your driver and woods — whether or not off the tee or on the turf.

Now, as you begin that backswing — as straight back as you can – and keeping it reduced — shift your focus from the ball to the lower edge of your clubface or to the clubface itself. As you carry the club back these first eight to twelve inches, either watch just the club edge or face or quickly dart back and forth in between the club and the ball, keeping the lower edge of the clubface perpendicular to the meant line of flight of the ball.

This assists to keep the clubface perpendicular to the line of flight during these first few inches — and tends to help to carry the club face in perpendicular during the forward swing, resulting in straighter, truer flight and much better distance.

Why is this? Nicely, some individuals are natural athletes with great “physique feeling.” Eye-hand co-ordination is second nature to them. But to the relaxation of us 26 million or so golfers in the United States, athletic co-ordinated movement does not arrive so normally. So we cheat a small, utilizing the eyes to help the physique movement to stay in alignment. And that small help can make a large distinction.

This method can work equally well with the driver, other woods, irons, and (particularly) the putter. That is correct, sluggish up that backswing with the putter too, and watch that club as it goes back. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

So keep your exhilaration — and your titillation — but reduce your aggravation by taking your eye off the ball. (Oh, by the way, ultimately it is a good idea to get your eyes back on that ball. But you realized that, correct?)

Ned Jacobs is an attorney in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Director of the Phonics Institute. He can be reached at edwardjacobs@yahoo.com, and at 7 Church Road, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 340-773-3322 fax 340-773-2566.