Who would ever suspect that wearing glasses could be a problem for your golf swing? It can be, if you wear bifocals or trifocals.
At the address position it is helpful if your eyes are directed toward the ball. For those who wear bifocals or trifocals, their tendency is to bend their neck so they can see the ball in focus through the upper lens of their glasses.
However, when you bend the neck you cause a problem with the backswing. Notice in Photo 1 how swinging the club around me has turned of my torso which positions my left shoulder under my chin.
In Photo 2, I have bent my neck, as a player would do when they look through the upper lens of their glasses. This bending has lowered my chin. Now when the swing of my club turns my torso the left shoulder runs into my chin. When this happens the shoulder pushes me out of position.
Players respond to this collision in three ways: 1) they stop their turn which then shortens their backswing and reduces the clubhead speed they can attain (Photo 3), 2) they allow their shoulder to push their chin to the right which changes the plane of their swing, which changes the swings direction and path (Photo 2), or 3) they both shorten and change the plane of their swing.
If you wear bifocals, make some full swings and see if this applies to you. If it does, the solution is simple. See your optometrist and get a pair of “golf glasses”. These are single vision lenses that will have the same magnification as the top lens of your bifocals. While you are at it, consider having the lenses tinted with the treatment that makes them darker in bright sunlight. A brown/orange tint can add contrast and help you see the hills and valleys on the greens, which can help you better read your putts. To further protect your eyes consider having the lens treated to filter ultraviolet light.
Bottom Line: Your bifocal glasses can keep you from seeing a better game. Consider single vision lenses tinted and filtered.
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Swing to the Target,
Ed
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This is really good information! Definitely going to invest in a pair of "golf glasses" as you suggest.
Thanks.