A System to Check Alignment at Address

Sat, 08/20/2016 - 04:39 -- Don Trahan

Bad alignment quickly spoils good golf swings. No one is immune to this, even PGA Pros have this same problem. Many people ruin their good golf swing by not using proper alignment, the swing gets blamed for them missing their target when in actuality it was their poor/negligent attempt at alignment that ruined their golf shot.

Do not fall victim to this phenomenon. Check your alignment and never assume that it was your swing that caused a bad golf shot. Today's lesson provides you a system to use to check your alignment at address. Use this tip to play better golf, shoot lower scores, and eliminate frustration!

Comments

Dave Everitt's picture

Submitted by Dave Everitt on

I am always puzzled by the total lack of care and routine that some people I play with use when setting up. A lot of these people have had lessons but apparently alignment hasn't been part of this instruction.

I play right handed and always get as far left as possible on the tee, so that it's easier to hit a draw. I try to hold my tongue when I see someone constantly setting up for failure but once in a while enough is enough!

I have a right handed friend who was plagued with hitting duck hooks with his driver. He sort of got around the golf course by hitting longer duck hooks with a 3 wood. The solution was so simple. His problem was that he was setting up as far right as possible on the tee and aiming his shoulders left in the classic setup for a fade. He had a tendency to set up with a closed clubface so most of his shots where pulls due left and short, or occasionally due right. After moving to the left side of the tee his alignment improved and the driver was back in his bag.

There are some very clever alignment stencils available for marking balls. They are well worth checking out because they really can help with putting and tee shots. The new unbreakable tees with their larger ball holders work better for aligning the ball to an interim target if your hands are a bit shaky.
The most important thing for me when setting up on the left side of the tee is to find a very distinct interim target even if it is a few feet back of the tee. I take a lot of care lining up the ball to this interim target about 9 inches target side of the teed ball and double checking the target line from behind the ball. Why wouldn't you take the same care lining up a tee shot as you would a putt? I may take more time than most setting up a tee shot but doing it correctly means that I can confidently walk into the shot and hit it, with no practice swings, waggles, or freezing up over the ball

joechristie's picture

Submitted by joechristie on

Setup and alignment 94 % of problems start, 94! And only one comment. I guess everyone is doing it right, NOT!

It may be better to setup with feet square, then flare them then knees outward as last item before you swing. What do you think?