Using 3D Data to Stabilize Your Gaze and Your Golf Swing

In this game, timing is everything, but so is data. As a kinematic guy, I don’t care much for the nonsense of abstract “center of mass” models that don’t have a fixed location. I care about where your joints are in time and space.

If you want to play better golf, you have to make the game simpler. While the ball is stationary, if your head is translating all over the place, that ball might as well be moving in four dimensions.

To fix this, we look at 3D spinal posture, specifically a concept I use constantly: the 1:1 ratio of address (P1) forward bend to top of the swing (P4) side bend.

The Geometry of a Stable Head

When you stand over a golf ball, you create a forward bend. Let’s say that the bend is 42 degrees. As you rotate to the top of your backswing (a position we call P4), that forward bend has to transform into side bend. If you want to keep your head perfectly centered, your side bend at the top should match your initial forward bend exactly.

Why the 1:1 Ratio Matters

When you maintain this 1:1 ratio, your head stays in a “box.” From a physiological standpoint, this is about your foveal vision — your central gaze, which is most precise.

• Vision: If your head drifts, you start looking at the ball through the bottom of your eyes or your “bifocals.”
• Balance: We have crystals and fluid in our ears that govern balance (the vestibular ocular response). Think of your head like a jug of water. If you’re jiggling that jug around while trying to swing, your brain struggles to maintain equilibrium.

By staying centered, you aren’t just hitting a better position. You’re allowing your brain to process a stationary target more effectively.

Case Study: PGA Tour Champions Player Tom Pernice Jr.

I recently had a call with PGA Tour Champions player Tom Pernice Jr. when he was out on the range in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was sending me videos of his latest moves.

Working with a veteran like Tom is a masterclass in breaking “default settings.” Tom is 66 years old, and he’ll still shut the range down working next to guys twenty years his junior.

The Challenge

Historically, Tom was notorious for his right knee kicking in and his pelvis thrusting toward the ball, which caused his head to move back and his torso to crunch down. In the past, his chest would be pointed way too far toward the ground at the top — what I’d call a lack of extension.

Historically, Tom was notorious for his right knee kicking in and his pelvis thrusting toward the ball, which caused his head to move back and his torso to crunch down. In the past, his chest would be pointed way too far toward the ground at the top — what I’d call a lack of extension.

The 3D Intervention

Using 3D data from the Onform app, we tracked his extension and sway.

• The Goal: Get him to move out of that deep forward bend and side bend laterally to increase rotation.
• The Result: On a recent Saturday in Newport Beach, we saw his pelvis thrust toward the target line by only .9 inches, while his upper torso stayed remarkably stable.

I had him working in “negative” extension numbers just to break his old motor programs. When he woke up the next morning and saw the 3D data and the video markup — seeing his trail shoulder replace his lead shoulder on a steady line — he told me, “That was awesome.” He went out that day and put the ball on a string.

Kinematics: The ‘Truth Serum’ for Golfers

The beauty of 3D data is that it doesn’t care about your “feel.” I’ve had students tell me they don’t feel a change, and I can point to the screen and say, “Well, the data says you just added nine degrees of extension.” 

Whether I’m in a high-tech studio using GEARs Golf or recording through Onform on my iPad on the range, the goal is functional accuracy. We know that the best players in the world — the Dustin Johnsons and Scotty Schefflers — can “fall out of bed” and find the ground because they control their low point. They don’t shift to the trail side excessively. They stay centered.

If you can match your p4 side bend to your p1 forward bend numbers, you keep your eyes on the prize, your fluid in your ears level, and your clubhead on a predictable path. It’s not about making the swing more complex — it’s about using data to make it undeniably simple.

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