Have you ever wondered why some folks can just walk up to the ball and hit, while others have to stand back and take a while to line up? Yes, part of it is skill and experience, but part of it is also genetics!
Which eye are you using? If you are right-handed, chances are it is your right eye (and vice versa for left-handed folks). This is called eye dominance, and it comes into play when you are lining up your golf shots.
The typical right-handed and right-eyed golfer sets up with the left side closer to the target. While just a slight head turn is necessary to see the target with the left eye, the right eye is farther away, and the nose is in the way as well. The golfer has to turn the head quite far or even stand up to see the target with the right eye. With all this extra movement, it is easy to lose your line. The most common result is a ball that goes to the right of the target.
The solution – you guessed it – is to step back, square up to your target, find your line, and then pick a spot about two to three feet in front of your ball (close enough so you can see it with your right eye with no more than a slight turn of the head when you are setting up) to line up your shot. Some even prefer to pick a spot behind the ball to help them line up the swing.
Unless of course you’re one of the lucky few “ambi-eyed” or opposite eye-dominant people who can rely on the eye closer to the target to find their line, and find it just as easy to go straight to their set-up stance.