 Use your clubs as alignment aids when you practice. Lay one club on the ground parallel to the target line. Lay another from toe to toe to indicate the direction of your stance. Now, lay another club perpendicular to the target line . extending from the ball back toward your feet. This will indicate the ball position. Examine your alignment and ball position. |
 Hold a club across your shoulders and check alignment toward the target. Repeat for the hips and thighs. In a square stance the shoulders, hips and thighs should be aligned parallel to the target! |
Purpose
- To develop a way to
spot check alignment problems. Make sure your shoulders are properly
aligned. Your shoulders are the most important element because your swing
path will follow the alignment of your shoulders at impact. Subtle
compensations can creep into your swing if you are not properly aligned.
Without help even the best golfers can have trouble recognizing this. You
must constantly check your alignment to be consistent. Poor alignment is a
major problem for golfers who slice. Align the clubface squarely then
align your body.
Check the position of the ball by using alignment clubs also. Most golfers think they play the ball further back than they really do. - To start your practice sessions properly aligned. Don.t assume you are lined up correctly. Remember practice makes permanent, so make sure you are starting off positioned correctly. Learn the square stance first. Later, as the need arises, you can experiment with other stances.
- To double check your target line. If you don.t accurately know your target line, you cannot easily tell if you are making swing path errors. Before each shot approach the ball from behind and pick your target line. Then when taking your stance align yourself toward your target. Better players align themselves much more consistently than poor players. Hitting balls without aiming at a target is an invitation for swing problems. Make sure you have a target for every practice shot you hit. Tape, clubs on the ground, or .practice partners. are all good ways to check aim and alignment. This will help you to learn to identify the difference between a poor shot and an error in alignment.
Do.s and Don.ts
Don.t leave the club between
your feet longer than needed to check proper ball position. Many good
players leave one club on the ground parallel to the target line whenever
they hit practice balls. Checking your alignment is a good way to begin
every practice session. During a game the rules do not allow you to lay a
club on the club to help with alignment.
Check your alignment as part
of your preshot routine. Your preshot routine should be done the same way
every time. It.s purpose is to make getting ready for each shot automatic.