THE PARALLAX ERROR & THE DOMINANT EYE
WHAT IS A PARALLAX ERROR
It is the change of angular position of two observations of a single object relative to each other as seen by an observer, caused by the motion of the observer. Simply put, it is the apparent shift of an object against a fixed background that is caused by a change in the observer's position. (Wikipedia)
99% of putters with some form of alignment aid have parallax error. The most identifiable putter in this category is the Odyssey 2Ball¢ç.
Here are the facts.
1. The diameter of the two disks on the top of the putter are 5mm smaller than that of a golf ball. (that can't help)
2. The two disks sit 15mm lower than the ball, not on the same plane.
If your eyes aren't in a direct line vertically over the ball and the 2 disks sit at right angles to that imaginary vertical line in all directions, a parallax error has occurred.
What does this mean?
It means that your alignment could be off up to 3degrees. Over a five foot putt this could be a much as 2 inches. That makes putting challenging doesn't it.
A SURE THING AND NOT A LOTTERY
With a toptech putter you are on a sure thing.
- No parallax error because the alignment device and the ball are on the same plane.
- No parallax error because the alignment device has the same curvature as the ball.
- With the same curvature your eyes don't have to be directly over the ball because the visual cortex is getting the exact same image from the ball and the alignment device.
Dominant eye in vision
Ocular dominance, sometimes called eye dominance or eyedness, is the tendency to prefer visual input from one eye to the other.
It is somewhat analogous to the laterality of right or left handedness, however the side of the dominant eye and the dominant hand do not always match. In normal binocular vision there is an effect of parallax, and therefore the dominant eye is the one that is primarily relied on for precise positional information. This may be especially important in sports which require aim, such as archery, darts, golf, snooker or shooting sports..
HOW TO FIND, AND USE, YOUR DOMINANT EYE
By Dr. T.J. Tomasi
GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teacher
Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/instruction/article/0,28136,1565286,00.html#ixzz0xwwOjhOu
What it means
Golfers who are right-eye dominant tend to see the hole to the right of its true location. The reason is that they set up with their right eye too far inside the ball and the target line.
Initially, they push their putts to the right. Then they adjust their stroke accordingly (outside to in) and then pull their putts to the left on a regular basis. (The opposite is true for those who are left-eye dominant if the left eye is out of position.)
You can read your putt's break and hit a perfect stroke, but still end up missing it because your eyes deceived you. Learn which of your eyes is dominant to account for this optical illusion.
About 70 percent of the population is right-eye dominant, which puts the trailing eye (that's the one farthest from the hole) in the driver's seat when putting.
If this eye is not positioned properly, your view of the hole becomes distorted, lessening your chances of holing out. Not sure which eye is your dominant one?
Take the following test.
1. Take a cardboard tube and fix it over the ball so that both eyes can see it in the center of the tube.
2. Close your left eye. If the ball remains in the center of the tube, you're right-eye dominant. If the ball jumps out of the tube and out of your line of sight, you're left-eye dominant.
To set up correctly, follow this routine
- Read your putt from behind the ball (left), crouching down so that your eyes are at the same height they'll be during the actual putt. This way, you don't confuse your brain and your initial read when you set up over the putt. The taller you stand, the farther away the hole appears.
- Walk into the ball, aim the clubface and then take your stance, making sure to place your dominant eye directly over the ball and your target line. Your body should be parallel or square, to the putt's starting line. Use the tube when practicing to check your eye position.
- Once your eyes are over the target line, swivel your head to take one last look at the hole and then stroke.
HOW DOES EYE DOMINANCE WORK WITH THE TOPTECH SYSTEM?
When standing over the ball just concentrate on the ::
- Front line of the box if you are left eye dominant.
- The rear line of the box if you are right eye dominant