Alignment... how crucial?

[jimbob.someroo]

It's recently become apparent that mine is also quite a way off which explains a lot of my habits.

I aim well right, and thus have to hit every shot as a pull to get it back online. This is turn means I often come over the top, which explains my usual shot being left to right. It also could be argued that because I'm always hitting pulls, I'm delofting the club which would explain why I tend to be longish with my irons.

It's something that I only became aware of a few weeks ago but I am on a bit of a mission to get it fixed as I don't think I'm going to get much lower swinging it like that.

I'm blaming my recent rubbish scores on trying to fix this fault ...



Edit: was just looking at the two swing vids I've posted and it's not as obvious in the most recent one, but in this one, I'm obviously aiming a long way right with my feet compared to target line and where the ball actually goes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLI46LZ_7NY

 

[Airlie_Andy]

I often stand over the ball and it just doesn't "feel" right. I got my brother to stand behind me on one such occasion and tell me where I was aiming. Turns ou my hips and shoulders were pointing in different directions. I put this down to standing what I thought was square to target and then addressing the ball. As the ball is forward in your stabce particularly on the longer clubs I was twisting my shoulders as I addressed the ball which was skewing my perception. I now take my address and then specifically look at where my knees are and try to square my shoulders up in relation to them. Works for me anyway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use a putting mirror and thought I was aligned properly but when my pro looked at me the other day, shoulders closed and hips and feet open. I have made a small adjustment to set up and putting better already. For longer shots I always work with an alignment stick to make sure I'm lined up. Otherwise it seems to be a waste of time.

I am conscious of my alignment on the course and try hard to make sure I am aiming properly and working on the 7P principal. Proper prior planning prevent pretty poor performance

 

[Crow]

This is where the Jack Nicklaus method of setting up to the ball comes into its own:

Stand behind your ball and look down the liine at the target, pick a mark just a head of the ball (a leaf, dark blade of grass, etc.), use this mark-to-ball line to set up square to, even imagine the line extending back through your ball and beyond if it helps.

When I remember to do this I hit a much straighter shot and usually on target, I just need to make it a habit without having to think about it. :mmm: