Golf

Modifications and Suggestions for Training and Competition

B1, 2 & 3. Golfers who cannot see the ball require adaptations to addressing the ball, lining up to aim the shot, striking the ball during the swing, knowing the distance to the green, and knowing where the hole is while putting. For simplicity's sake, we will use a right-handed golfer as an example here. The addressing problem comes in insuring that the club face is set so it strikes the ball at a perfect right angle. If the club face is left open (rotated clockwise) right) the ball will slice away to the right and if too closed (rotated too far counterclockwise) the ball will hook to the left. Right handers address the ball properly without vision, by taking the proper left hand grip on the club, leaning down and placing the club head squarely behind the ball with the right hand, then standing up keeping the left hand grip steady. The club is then set to be swung properly.

Lining up to hit the ball in the proper direction can be done by having a coach or caddie lay a club on the ground that is aimed at the direction of the desired placement, then having golfers line up their toes along the club shaft.

Predicting distance is done as it is with a beginning golfer who can afford a caddie, which is have a caddie or coach who is familiar with the course predict the distance.

The choice of club for proper distance is something that must be established with much practice.

Putting can be assisted by using the end of the flagstick to "bang" around in the cup, to give the golfer a sound target. If the ball is extremely close to the hole, the golfer can place the left hand in the hole and tap the ball in with the putter held in the right hand.

Resources
Adaptive Techniques for the Visually Impaired Golfer

International Blind Golf Association

Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association

National Alliance for Accessible Golf

U.S. Blind Golf Association

The United States Association of Blind Athletes, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is a non-profit organization that provides training for blind and visually impaired athletes for competition in nine sports. USABA members range from blind children developing sports skills to elite athletes who train for competitions such as the Paralympic Games, which continually draws more than 4,000 disabled athletes.