Alignment Spot Always Left Of Target

having mentioned that there is an optical illusion involved i was hoping Surge would suggest that once you have found your spot on the target line and set up parallel left to that, then it would be best to not look towards the target again, its the looking towards the target and then making adjustments based on that optical illusion that causes the mis-alignment isnt it?

I'm also in the never take a look at the target while addressing the ball camp.

Went to the course today to do some welding on a mower and decided to play a quick nine when I got done. I'm afraid I used up the luck I would have rather saved for tomorrow. Shot a 31 (par 35) with two birdies and an eagle.

Wasted some luck when I only had a two inch birdie putt on a par 3. Wasted some more luck when I hit an 85 yard sand wedge in the hole on a par 5 for an eagle after a bad tee shot but a good 3 wood second shot.

The other birdie was just a ho hum 10 foot putt on the par 4 island green.

is generally alignment as has been said. I echo the feelings of "re-alignment syndrome" whether on or off the green. But, my question is ... especially when putting, I like the mental image of holding the hole / target spot in mind for 5 counts, and then back to the ball. Of course the alignment is different and I wiggle/adjust - usually off the intended line.

Played Hartfelt National earlier in the week, and alignment on these pro courses is soo critical. Our team hit the green 17/18 times, but our on green position was so poor that we had a lot of impossible putts. Since our distance was not bad, the only question must have been alignment. And course management. : )

Thanks all and have fun out there,
Jon

I do take second and third looks, but never adjust myself as a result of looking. I have learned to trust my initial set up and alignment, mainly as a result of Surges high emphasis on the need for proper alignment and the repeated watching of his Ultimate Alignment Video.

I am thankful that I hit most fairways or light rough from the tee and rarely loose a shot due to blocked lies in the trees or bushes wide of the rough. Of course as I've mentioned in the past, being a short hitter averaging 175yd drives, makes the off line equation a little more tolerable than the off line 250-280yd drives. At any rate I am happy to keep the ball in play the majority of the time, and am generally confident of hitting the green from 125 and in.

What I am not confident of is my putting the past couple of years and the high number of 3-putts I am experiencing. Eliminating the majority of 3-putts would put me in the low to mid 80's most times with the occasional high 70's.

I've been looking at putting training aids and am thinking about getting The Putting Stick. I am wondering if any of our Surgites have any knowledge or history with it. It made it into the top 10 at it's PGA Merchandise Show debut and has been classified by some as the best putting training aid available. I'm sure some is of course sales hype but much of the pitch seems valid. At any rate, here's a link to look at, for any who might have an interest. If you have time, I'd appreciate some of your feedback. Thanks.

http://www.tpkgolf.com/product-pages/accessories/putting-stick.html

Video presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rru-qrv8-B4

I see that DJ is listed as playing this week at the Byron Nelson and I'll be over there on Thursday to cheer him on and enjoy the show. I hope the thunderstorms stay away. Warm rain I'm okay with.

Here is a new twist on alignment I saw the other day playing with a couple from out of town.the gal would stand behind the ball pick out her target then would take the club with the face just behind and the right side of the ball then leaving the club on the ground would turn ninety degrees then would set her toe line. Played nine holes with them and would stand behind her just to seen how this worked out.she was pretty much right on every time.

This has always been a part of my process in alignment. I started using it well before coming to PPGS and simply incorporated it into the making of my H under Surges alignment teachings. I have recently been working with it similarly in my putting alignment, in hopes of getting rid of far too many 3-putts.

As you say, it is simply using ones club head to extend out their aiming line and making that point a fulcrum point while pivoting it into a square face and themselves into a parallel left position. One key, as has been discussed here several times in the past, do not make any re-adjustments based on your long range vision to the target. Most of us had to or have to, train our brains/eyes to know what parallel left actually looks like when looking at our targets. There is also the after shot check which is a great help in learning proper alignment. Simply lay the club along your toe line and see where it actually points. This can also help when you have time, due to slow play or solo practice rounds to train our brains/eyes what parallel left actually looks like when looking towards the target.

Is DJ still playing golf?