Alignment Question

[Sneds]

This may seem like an incredibly basic question, but I am wondering how everybody gets aligned to hit a straight shot.

I usually aim for a spot a few inches in front of the ball, but I never really know if my body is actually parallel to where I want to hit it. Thoughts? x

 

[Spinn77]

I grip my club just away from the ball, then move the clubface behind the ball aiming where I want to send it, then place/widen my feet and check im all square from there.

Then i watch it fly right and puzzle over the point of it all, ha

 

[RGDave]

I never really know if my body is actually parallel to where I want to hit it. Thoughts? x

Well, unless someone checks for you, you won't (know that is).

When I'm out and about on my own, I often come off my pre-shot and lay a club along the line of my feet, then step away and see how I was doing.

Sometimes I'm right, sometimes not. Trial and error.

 

[Region3]

As well as the club along the foot line, you can also check your shoulders.

Get into position to hit the ball, then without moving your body, hold the club shaft against your body by putting each hand on its opposite shoulder. The club will point where your shoulders are aiming.

With both checks, remember you don't want to be pointing straight at your target, but on a line parallel to it.

 

[Matt_B]

I stand behind the ball and draw with my eyes a line from the pin to the ball, noting the various marks along the path. It's easier to line up the shot with a mark (maybe a dandelion leaf or dark patch of grass) that's a few feet in front of the ball rather than looking all the way down to the pin.

Then align the clubhead, feet, shoulders and finally grip. A couple wrist adjustments to make sure I'm comfortable then go for it.

Of course you make necessary adjustments to allow for wind, slope etc but as long as I can get the ball relatively close down the line I'm happy. Doesn't always work though!

 

[viscount17]

I wonder about this too.
I went out with a mate recently. He stood behind me as I drove. I kept hitting fairly straight right of where I thought I was aiming. He said I was hitting along the line of my feet.

that gives me lot's of options for bad shots but it's clubface aimed left/feet right that bring out the worst.

 

[bobmac]

Very few people aim "by the book" ie toes, hips and shoulders all pointing parallel to the target line.
Even on tour, lots of the top pros aim with their toes pointing straight and their shouders pointing way left.
The important thing is to be consistant. If you don't aim it "by the book" but hit it where you want it to go, why change?
Lots of people use the method described above, aiming at a small mark on the ground.
I also use my left shoulder as a guide.
I address the ball and turn my head to look at the target.
In the corner of my eye I see my shoulder. If I'm aiming too far right, the flag appears behind my shoulder, too far left and there's a huge gap between the flag and my shoulder.
I think it's whatever method works best for you.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Actually I use one of my tour sticks (see tour stick thread) by looping it through the front two belt holders on my trousers and get it lined up with the one on the ground. You look a bit of an idiot but it really works