Alignment tips

[Taz]

Had an on course bunker lesson yesterday, all was good.
We had a bit of time left so he watched me hit some approach shots and my aim/ alignment was way out.
Probably not helped by practice on mat at ranges.
Next lesson he said we'll hit shots off the grass Infront of the bay.

Any one have any practice tips for use on range bays and more importantly something I can do on course to help.
Ta.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

At the range:

Always use 2 alignment sticks on the ground, 1 for feet and 1 for club. Set them up like railway tracks and have them parallel to each other, start every shot standing behind the ball and step into it aiming using the sticks for alignment. Maybe use that for half the bucket of balls to get used to it, then The other half bucket take them away and repeat the aiming drills imagining the sticks are still there like railway tracks. If you don’t have any sticks use 2 clubs on the ground.

On the course.

Use an Intermediate Target
• Stand behind the ball and draw an imaginary line from the target through your ball.
• Pick out a specific spot (a leaf, a different colored blade of grass, or an old divot) on that line about 2 to 3 feet in front of your ball.
• When you walk into your stance, aim the clubface directly at that intermediate spot first, then build your stance around it.

Aim the Clubface First, Then Your Feet
• Set the clubhead behind the ball so the leading edge is in line to your target line.
• Once the clubface is set, place your feet so they are parallel to the target line.
• Think of a Railway Track(just like the alignment stick drill): Your ball is on the right rail, and your feet are on the left rail. Your feet should be aiming Parallel to the target not at it.

These were taught to me when I was younger as I always had a tendency to aim myself (body)at the target instead of the club at the target and body parallel to that. It’s really easy to build into your Pre Shot routine without adding any time.

 

[Taz]

At the range:

Always use 2 alignment sticks on the ground, 1 for feet and 1 for club. Set them up like railway tracks and have them parallel to each other, start every shot standing behind the ball and step into it aiming using the sticks for alignment. Maybe use that for half the bucket of balls to get used to it, then The other half bucket take them away and repeat the aiming drills imagining the sticks are still there like railway tracks. If you don’t have any sticks use 2 clubs on the ground.

On the course.

Use an Intermediate Target
• Stand behind the ball and draw an imaginary line from the target through your ball.
• Pick out a specific spot (a leaf, a different colored blade of grass, or an old divot) on that line about 2 to 3 feet in front of your ball.
• When you walk into your stance, aim the clubface directly at that intermediate spot first, then build your stance around it.

Aim the Clubface First, Then Your Feet
• Set the clubhead behind the ball so the leading edge is in line to your target line.
• Once the clubface is set, place your feet so they are parallel to the target line.
• Think of a Railway Track(just like the alignment stick drill): Your ball is on the right rail, and your feet are on the left rail. Your feet should be aiming Parallel to the target not at it.

These were taught to me when I was younger as I always had a tendency to aim myself (body)at the target instead of the club at the target and body parallel to that. It’s really easy to build into your Pre Shot routine without adding any time.

Thanks

 

[clubchamp98]

Thanks

Great advice from Lucifer but the main problem for me is your eyesight can stop you lining up properly.
It makes me aim right.

I pick a spot in front of the ball but when over the ball it looks miles left.
So I end up aiming right to compensate .

Have a look on YouTube at Dominant eye in golf ,

 

[jim8flog]

If you do not have alignment sticks (I have never owned any) just use 3 clubs,

The first club is outside of the swing area, close to the ball which shows ball to target line.

The second club is placed just inside you feet and should be parallel to the first club, this club obviously will not aim at the target but just marginally (right/left on it). With this club you can check where you feet are aiming.

The third club is placed at right angles to the ball coming towards your feet to show where the ball is in your stance. It should go across club 2 to ensure the squareness of it's position.

I.e all 3 clubs give a figure H when viewed from behind.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not quite but nearly alignment. Ball position in stance…really focus on this when on the course. I focus on it on the range and ball strike is reasonably consistently good - but I get too relaxed/careless with it when on the course. Miss-hits aplenty result.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

Great advice from Lucifer but the main problem for me is your eyesight can stop you lining up properly.
It makes me aim right.

I pick a spot in front of the ball but when over the ball it looks miles left.
So I end up aiming right to compensate .

Have a look on YouTube at Dominant eye in golf ,

Just discovered this…..and it’s a revelation. As Clubchamp says picking a spot in front of the ball when lined up makes you think you are aiming too far left, but you are not. If your right eye is the dominant eye, you are properly aiming at the target. That’s my experience being right eye dominant. Maybe the same if your left eye dominant, but not sure.
Also, for putting, line up your direction by standing behind the ball , line up with target using both eyes and pick something on the ground , a mark, a leaf , anything to line up between your ball and your target(line).
Now address the ball with the ball in your stance positioned in accordance with your dominant eye.
That is determined by doing the following.With the club in the middle of the stance ,hold a ball up to your dominant eye and then drop the ball. The place where it lands is just in front of where the ball should be in your stance when you putt. If you are right eye dominant it will be towards the back of your stance, if left eye dominant, it will be towards the front of your stance.
Hope that makes sense