I haven't talked about alignment in quite some time so I thought today would be a good day to re-visit the topic. Because 90-95% of all swing problems arise from poor alignment, it's important that you understand how to avoid it!
Cathy Obrien and her husband have been improving their scores after switching to the PPGS, but she feels as though she's got a bad mental habit when it comes to her alignment. But, is it a bad mental habit or just the pure difficulty of obtaining perfect alignment on a consistent basis?
Alignment can play tricks on you because it creates an optical illusion when you walk in to the ball. So, today I'm going to share how I walk in to the ball. Many Surgites will tell you that The Ultimate Alignment Video is the true answer to becoming an alignment machine! I've heard over and over again that it's the best video I've ever produced. I might just have to agree with them!
You can get your own copy of The Ultimate Alignment Video here.
My husband and I watch all of your videos and we have improved from high 90s to high 80s. Of course we would like to continue to improve! We enjoy your videos and your program. The hardest thing is the alignment to the target and we keep trying! It's a bad mental habit that is difficult to correct.
Cathy
Alignment is all about knowing you're parallel left (or right) of your aiming line. Once you have that confidence, you'll improve dramatically. There's a really simple way for you to gain the knowledge you need and it's all available to you in The Ultimate Alignment Video. Do yourself a favor and get your copy today!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Alignment
I've been a surgite for 5 years and love your dailys. Just watched your daily on alignment. I found what helped me was once I found the spot in front of the ball to line up I would not look at the target again but just hit the ball. I've already stood behind the ball to line up, I know the distance and have the right club so why look at the target again. Its helped me.
Gerry from cold and snowy St. Paul, Alberta Canada
Alignment
Gerry,
I agree with you 100%. I've been using that technique for over 2 years now and it does work. I started out with a long stick, about 10', which I pointed at the target. Then, I used a 4' stick, which I put parallel to the first one, and used it to line up my toes. As a result, I was automatically parallel left of the target line. It has now become second nature to me and I rarely use the sticks any more. I'm convinced that looking at the target once I have found the line will cause me to misalign. I concentrate solely on the roughly 3' box in front of me. My direction and accuracy have greatly improved.
Kevin
Alignment
Gerry and Kevin: Add my voice to your choir! I've been working hard on alignment for the past 3 years and no longer have a need to look at the target once I've stood behind the ball and go thru the "alignment process" you describe. However, I still find that sometimes I let my shoulders get out of alignment and the result is a miss-hit. Seems like no matter how careful we are, the alignment issue will always be there. I think we can minimize the problem by developing a good routine and use it on EVERY shot. Take care and hit 'em straight! R2
Target
Yep. Almost all people are subconsciously going to turn toward what they are focused on, whether they intend to or not.
Aligning square to a golf ball and the visualized line through the ball and through an intermediate target is no harder that walking up to a wall and facing it square.
The minute you decide to look down that wall to something in the distance at the other end the shoulders will open.
Now of course it's possible to refocus on the line in front of you and realign but many people don't do that, and in fact are still focused on the target in the distance where they just looked.
Focusing doesn't necessarily have to be looking either. It can simply be what I call *Target conscious*. Much like hearing a sound in one direction without looking can change focus to that direction being target conscious can also cause focus in that direction.
Being target conscious doesn't always guarantee a bad shot just as bad alignment doesn't always guarantee a bad shot but it's a factor that might as well be eliminated.
The place I see it show up the most is on the putting green. Time after time I see players aligned very well until they become conscious of the hole and then it falls apart. Sure they make some putts but they are rarely among the best and most consistent putters. (And then they wonder why).
vertical swing
Have been following your swing for a few years now and love it. Just a quick question, can you be to vertical . Keep up the great work.
Keep on golfing
Thommo
too vertical
When I first started learning the PPG swing, I was standing too close to the ball, lifting the club straight up, & swinging with my arms only. Too vertical I believe. Once I found the right distance from the ball, & started to make a 70* turn, Things got much better. I'm loving it to