Quiet Eye

Expert golfers use a technique called the Quiet Eye. They line up the putt using quick, alternating fixations between the ball and the hole. Then right before and during the stroke, they hold a steady gaze on the back of the ball for around 2 to 3 seconds. After putting the ball, the golfer continues to hold his eyes steady for a further half a second.

To assess the benefits of the Quiet Eye technique, researchers recently measured the putting performance of a group of golfers before and after learning the procedure. The golfers realized an immediate improvement in their putting accuracy; they sank 6% more of their putts and reduced their average number of putts by two per round.

The Quiet Eye technique is effective because it allows the golfer to notice only the necessary visual information required to make the shot. It also benefits novice golfers by improving their learning speed and helping them to maintain performance under pressure.

Well, I admit–I’m not a golfer. In fact, I’ve never played. However, I can see multiple uses for this Quiet Eye technique.

The Bible says that a discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth (Pro 17:24 NIV). In other words, keep your eye on the ball.

So many times we find ourselves in the same situation over and over again. We putt all around an important decision, never quite nailing the shot. Perhaps if we would use this Quiet Eye technique and focus on what is really important, we’d be able to sink the putt and decrease the number of bad attempts to get through the situation. By using this technique regularly, we could get out of messes more quickly and operate better when under pressure.

Golf training isn’t just for athletes; it can work for us too. The Bible says that everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1 Chron 9:25 NIV).