Never underestimate alignment...

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I'm a Single figure player and have been very inconsistent the last 8 weeks, does this series of bad shots ring a bell with anyone...
Pull hooks-low flight
Snap hooks-low flight
Blocks to the right-high
Occasional push fades/slice-high flight
Occasional shanks with irons
Occasional low skittery hosel shots with woods
Thins

I was convinced I wasn't turning properly and the hands/arms were overtaking etc etc

So I spent 4 hrs at the range and over 700 balls, after about 200 I then put down alignment clubs for direction and ball position(yes I should have done that at the beginning) and setting up square to that I started hitting solid shots with good launch and contact.

I then aimed at the target and ignored the alignment clubs to see where I thought I was aiming and to my horror I saw my driver ball position was near my back foot even though it felt near my front foot, re-positioned my stance using the clubs and it felt I was aiming miles left of the target but the shots were straight at it and solid contact with good launch.

Aiming my body so far right with ball position so far back I feel can be attributed to pretty much all the bad shots as hips will get stuck, arms will come over the top, hands will flip to catch up etc etc

Now I just need a proper pre-shot on the course to ensure I'm square to target as my current pre-shot was all wrong.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to share as it might help others in a similar predicament.
 
Thanks chap, always good to remind us of the difference between feel and real.

When I started getting lessons the pro told me all my weight was on my left side. He spent ages balancing me out. A few lessons came and went. Then a gap due to injury. Got back, played a bit and when I went back to him I was all on the left again, he pushed me into balanced and I thought I was going to fall over on my right foot, that I was leaning back so far the clubhead must be a foot ahead of my hands. None of it. Perfectly balanced and aligned straight, shaft angle was right but looked bizarre to me.

I had allowed that poor set up feeling become the norm again and my mind accepted it, putting my body in a terrible stance without ever realising it. Now I practice whenever I can with a reflective surface nearby, I need to see myself set up right, just like a pro, before I start hacking at it like a fool. :)
 
Never underestimate alignment
Click to expand...

The majority of golf's problems stem from either the aim, the grip or both.
People aim too far right, so they have to hook it back, or they are too far left so have to weaken the grip.

Get the fundamentals correct and you'll stand a chance of getting a fairly good swing. :)
 
Alignment is one of my biggest problems. Always end up shuffling round and find myself aiming way too far to the right. Dunno why, it just feels more comfortable that way. I guess it's the familiarity that has crept in over time.
My worst shot is the horrible, low pull left. Soul destroying.
I'm playing later on today and will try (try) to establish better alignment before giving it a clobber.
Thanks for the reminder.
;)
 
Yes I'll second this, had terrible trouble with repeated shanked wedges which then crept down the other clubs.

Stance felt right to me but when checking the alignment (over 2 weeks) I was way way too open. Instant remedy and much kicking off myself.

Alignment crucial, you can't check it too often.
 
I'm playing later on today and will try (try) to establish better alignment before giving it a clobber.
Thanks for the reminder.
;)
Click to expand...

Noooooooooooooo

Your rubbish aim and wonky swing balance out sometimes. Dont fix it :( ;)
 
Agree with everthing said. Sounds just like I use to be. Now I spend atleast an hour a day infront of the bedroom mirror just practicing my set up. Hope it will sink in to my wooly brain!
 
Couldn't agree more, I had a lesson today and my main problem was my two shoulders weren't square. The pro said that is the reason for various slight pulls and hooks etc
 
glad its been useful to a few including me :cool:

I'd be interested in a good way to align myself square on the course apart from picking a spot in front and squaring up to that as thats what I thought I was doing.
 
Its a problem with me. I have a habit of aiming well right even though Im convinced everything is aligned. Tours sticks help on the practice ground but its an issue I need to work on regularly. That is a problem with ranges where the square mat helps you line up better but isn't much help on the course
 
Agreed this is a good post and like others I line up too much to the right.
Lee Westwood covers our alignment problem on page 85 of this months GM.
Read it yesterday and made it today's must check on the course. It made a great difference coupled with a slower swing due to a sore back.
The problem remains that we are trying to align shoulders, hips and feet on the target line whilst facing at right angles.
 
it still amazes me the amount of people on the range just hitting balls aiming at nothing no V-easy down to make sure there feet are line up just parallel left of target no club down to check ball position. You are as well of doing nothing. Pick a target get everything square to it as Bob says its a great place to start.
Mike
 
Count me in on this!! Have a bad case of aiming right while thinking im straight!! Then I start aim left as the brain kicks in and reminds me I should feel like I'm aiming left and then go too far!!
 
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