It all started with a need to show that there was a scientific relationship between vision and its effect on sporting performance. During this research in which Eye dominance became the crucial link, two dominance types were established. Those who are right eye dominant right-handed and right footed (Type I) and other players with a left tendency in eye hand or foot (Type II). It also became clear that the dominant eye is the positional or aiming eye and the non-dominant eye is the one which allows Depth Perception. Knowing that this direct relationship exists deficits in sporting performance can be analysed visually and therefore corrected. How well you perceive the target through location is a strong indication of how much you trust the aiming function of your eyes. So how well do you think you aim? Your dominant eye points your brain and body to the target.

Following on from the publication of our first article ‘Eye Dominance, Awareness, Revolution’ with Golf Digest Ireland (see link to article below), we surveyed a population of 169 elite amateurs, club professionals and touring professionals both male and female to get a sense of their eye dominance. This allowed us to gather evidence to confirm our prediction’s. We predicted there are more Type II golfers at the elite level compared to Type I. However, the inverse is true about the general population, there are more Type I people than Type II. The results confirmed our predictions.

Reading Jim Hartnett’s book ‘Golf for the Other 80%‘ was what prompted me to research further into the subject and write this article as he highlights the importance of eye dominance and how it can often be overlooked in golf instruction. Hartnett emphasizes that determining your dominant eye is a simple process that can have a significant impact on how you swing the club and a player’s eye dominance dictates the size of the shoulder turn depending on neck flexibility and nose size. By understanding your eye dominance and making adjustment’s to your technique accordingly, you can improve your accuracy, consistency and most importantly enjoyment on the golf course. In his book, Jim predicted that there are more Type II golfers on Tour than Type I. His theories were put to the test in our eye dominance survey which my son Colm and I completed. Jim’s theories have been validated by our findings.

SURVEY RESULTS

Prediction: There are more Type II players on tour than Type I although there are more Type I people in the general population than Type II.

Based on the survey of 169 elite golfers, 52% were found to have Type II eye dominance, while 48% had Type I eye dominance. When considering only the female golfers in the sample, 68% had Type II eye dominance and 32% had Type I eye dominance. These findings suggest that there may be a relationship between eye dominance and golfing ability among elite players, particularly among female golfers.

To give context to our survey results on the eye dominance of elite golfers it is important to understand the eye dominance in the general population. To address this gap in the literature, my team and I conducted a survey of 600 individuals from the general population based on my findings from working as an optometrist with over 35 years of experience, to determine the prevalence of type I and type II eye dominance. Based on our preliminary findings, 65% of the participants exhibited type I eye dominance, while the remaining 35% exhibited type II eye dominance.

This survey provides a crucial foundation for future research on eye dominance in golfers and sheds light on the prevalence of eye dominance among both elite golfers and the general population. However, further research would be needed to confirm this relationship and explore any potential underlying mechanisms. (See further discussions below)

To get a sense of how golfers and coaches think about eye dominance, we reached out to several experts in the field. Here are a few quotes:

“Richard has been the bridge between optometry and golf and his work is providing a logical understanding of cause and effect which is resonating with elite players of the game.” – Geraint Griffiths, Chair of the Association of sport and schools and practitioners

“If an amateur were to look at the evolution of Golf Instruction, they should – without too much effort – be able to pin-point on a map the various breakthroughs that have shaped our current understanding of the Golf Swing. Unfortunately, such a map – dating from the origins of the game to present day – would still be lacking in the one thing necessary to tangibly change someone’s game. A Key – Eye Dominance and the Science behind what we actually see, has the potential to become that Key” – John Jamieson, PGA Professional Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

“Jim Hartnett Type 1 often think of themselves as underachievers at golf when in reality it’s often the importance of their eye dominance that affects the mechanics of the golf swing.” – Jim Hartnett, US PGA Professional

“From a coaching perspective it’s very important to know a players eye dominance and range of motion that will allow them to see the ball throughout their swing.” – David Mortimer, PGA Professional Galway Golf Club

“I find it remarkable (understanding Richard’s research on eye dominance) that through my coaching towards elite players, their alignment (mainly shoulders) are open to the target for Type 1’s. For elites, this then mainly sees the face angle to the right of the target for a right handed player to compensate for trunk being aligned to the left of it.

I have personally struggled with chipping and putting problems but understanding fixation defines the overwhelming sense of panic players face. I have worked with students recently on recollecting impact on short shots. I think this is directly related to fixation and the correct amount of time a player spends looking at the ball. Understanding eye dominance and the connection between optometry/golf may well answer a lot of unanswered questions.” – Gary Madden, PGA Professional Glenlo Golf Club

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Jim Hartnett, John Jamieson and Geraint Griffiths for their invaluable collaboration and assistance on the topic of eye dominance of elite golfers. Their expertise, guidance, and input were critical in shaping the direction of the articles and ensuring that the research was presented in a clear and concise manner. John Jamieson and Jim Hartnett, as PGA professionals, provided invaluable insights into the golfing world and offered a wealth of knowledge and experience. Geraint Griffiths, as the Chair of the Association of Sport and Schools and Practitioners, were essential in helping me to understand the complexities of the topic and the implications of the research. I am deeply grateful for their contributions and the time and effort they dedicated to this project.

In my hometown of Galway, I have to thank the following people that have been a great source of information and support in developing these concepts in our research on the eye dominance of elite golfers:

o  David Mortimer PGA Professional Galway Golf Club,

o  Gary Madden, PGA Professional Glenlo Abbey Golf Club

o  Tom Nolan, Plus handicap golfer for many years

o  Joe Lyons, International golfer

Further discussions to be had:

1.     The biomechanics of Type I and Type II elite players are important to measure in a golf lab to compare the size of their backswing and turn of their head through impact. Type I players tend to have a shorter backswing and more turn of their head through impact. Type II players, on the other hand, tend to have a longer backswing and less turn of their head through impact. By measuring the biomechanics of these players in a golf lab, we can better understand how these factors contribute to their success on the course and potentially develop training programs to help players improve their swings depending on their eye dominance.

2.     Eye dominance is an important factor for golfers. In our survey of scratch or better golfers, we found that more elite players are cross dominant. Understanding a player’s eye dominance can help coaches and players develop more effective training programs and strategies for playing the game.

3.     There seems to be a greater number of Type II lady golfers at the elite level than male elite golfers. Women tend to have less upper body strength than men, which may make it more difficult for them to generate power with a shorter backswing and less turn through impact. Further research is needed to fully understand these differences and their impact on elite female golfers.

4.     The physiological differences between Type I and Type II players should be understood from when a player takes up golf. By identifying a player’s swing style early on, coaches and players can develop training programs and strategies that are tailored to their individual needs and strengths. This can help players to develop better swing mechanics, improve their accuracy and power, and ultimately become better golfers. Understanding these differences can also help coaches to identify talented young golfers and develop them into elite players.

Link to Golf Digest Published article: https://richardhughesopticians.ie/sportsvision/