Alignment'¦Alignment'¦Alignment'¦Don't play golf without it, remains the topic of discussion in this 4th article discussing alignment, its importance and issues that make it difficult to get itcorrect, even when we are diligent and careful in aiming correctly. 'The setup determines the motion,' is The Surge Mantra for making good swings and hitting good golf shots. Let's cover the setup routine I call 'MAKING the H' for getting into a correct parallel left alignment.
Standing directly behind the ball, looking straight to the target, you pick out your intermediate aiming spot on the ground, around 1 foot in front of the ball. Once you have it, then you check for it's 'in line accuracy' by plumbing it with you club. Now, being 100 % sure and confident you're aiming spot is on your line, it is time to move to the address position.
Step 1: Standing behind the ball you are at 6:00 o'clock. You will now make a quarter circle to the left to reach the ball, which now puts you at 9:00 o'clock. As you turn to the ball and plant your right foot pointing an inch or so right of the ball in an approximate correct distance from the ball, you then extend your arms and sole your club behind the ball. Set the clubface square (perpendicular) to your intermediate aiming spot, which you know is also square to your target. Now, draw a line (in your mind on the ground) from the spot back to the ball and a little beyond. You have just drawn line #1, the outside right line to the H.
Step 2: Draw a line (line #2) from the bottom edge of the club straight back toward your feet. Since the clubface is perpendicular to your aiming line, this line is also perpendicular to it. This will be your ball position reference line. In the reference to the H, it is the center cross line.
Step 3: Draw line (line #3) perpendicular across the #2 center line. Since this line is perpendicular to line 2, which is also perpendicular to line 1, this makes line 1 and 3 parallel to each other. This is your toe line and thus the inside or left line to the H, which you have just completed. Once you have your line in the mind on the ground, you lift and set your left foot to toe on the line and then re-adjust your right foot to toe on the line. (Note: Remember that in the PPGS setup, both feet are flared outward 30 degrees touching the toe line.) Lastly, when the feet are planted, check and make sure you square up your knees, hips, shoulders and eyes over your toe line which is parallel left and square to your aiming line.
I call the planting of the feet the alignment 2 step. That is, once the toe line in your mind is drawn on the ground, and you lift and place, first the left foot and then the right, it's 2 steps to the toe line. Now, I use the term lift and 'PLANT' the feet: once down, the feet never move again until the shot is over and you walk out of the finish.
Why do we want the feet to stay planted? Because if they move, especially if your waggle lifts them (one or both) off the ground, there is a high probability that they will be set back down in a different place. I call this 'dancing.' I promise you, if you dance, and the feet get re-positioned you have changed your alignment. All it takes is to change each foot ½ inch and you have a 1 inch right or left alignment adjustment, taking you out of your original correct parallel left and square alignment. And, a 1 inch off alignment has the effect of fanning the aiming line out around 10 yards every 100 yards. This means a 100 yard shot hit perfectly straight from the new alignment, will fly right or left 10 yards off line. A 250 yard shot is 25 yards, minimum, off line.
Keep the waggle soft and quiet and the feet planted. Dancing during the waggle is not 'Dancing with the Stars.' It is dancing away from your target line and into the rough, trees, bunkers and water hazards.
You have to practice this 3 step alignment setup routine to get good at it. You especially want to practice the 2 step foot planting to be sure your mind and muscles learn the perfect amount of step needed by each foot to get the toe of your shoe perfectly on the line. You can practice this anywhere. I always like to be looking at a line on the floor, like in the linoleum or the seam in a carpet. You burn the line in the mind and the exact amount of step for each foot.
Lastly, you practice the 3 step routine and the 2 step foot planting until it becomes routine. It is never automatic, you always, like your swing have to think about it, but you want to get to the point where you do it without having to really talk you way through it. You want it to become an autopilot, ingrained, trained and a learned response to your mind triggering the setup routine, just like your tying your shoelaces when you put your shoes on. I know we don't practice tying our shoes once we learn the routine, but I would recommend re-visiting and re-grooving your setup routine every now and then, especially if you catch yourself getting out of alignment a little too often. You want your setup routine grooved and smooth and so that you sort of just sink into your setup. And, as far as practice goes, remember the axiom 'perfect practice makes perfect.' And you certainly want your setup and alignment to be perfect, since 'the setup determines the motion.'
The Surge!