Aim and alignment are certainly hot topics in golf lessons and schools. Many golfers assume that they should be naturally able to do this, rather than realizing that it is a learned and acquired skill that improves with practice.
Here are five things to remember that will improve you aim and scope.
1. Golf is played sideways
One reason aiming can be challenging is that golf is played side-by-side, rather than down the line, like darts or bowling. This creates a natural optical illusion that makes accurate aiming more difficult. Because of this, golfers not only need a clear aiming plan, but also constant practice to train their eyes and body to connect properly.
2. A stretching stick can make a big difference
When you look at professional practice players, they almost always have some sort of lay aid on the ground. Practice with feedback dramatically increases your chances of improving.
A simple method is to place an extension rod just outside the golf ball, parallel to your target line. Use it as a reference to check your setup. This habit helps you aim more accurately and also reveals if your shots are starting where you think they are. If you aim incorrectly but still try to force the ball to hit the target, you may unknowingly develop compensations to compensate for the poor setup.
While two wrongs can sometimes produce a right score, this approach rarely holds up under pressure on the golf course. So make sure your alignment is sound when you practice.
3. The club is key
Your clubface should be aimed where you want the ball to start, making it the most important factor in the initial drive.
The first step in your setup should be to position the clubhead behind the ball so that the leading edge of the club is perpendicular to the target line. Because clubs have different lofts, the top line can sometimes create visual confusion. This is why it is important to rely on the leading edge, which provides the most accurate reference for aiming. You can also use the alignment rod next to the ball to check that the leading edge is square.
4. Place the body on the club
Once the clubface is aligned correctly, you can then position your body entering the shot.
Your finger line should be relatively parallel to your target line ( stretching stick). Your shoulders, knees, hips, and forearms should also be relatively parallel if you’re trying to make a flight to the ball. These alignments can be adjusted when you want to intentionally curve the ball.
Your feet also help establish proper stance, separation and ball position, so take the time to set them up correctly.
5. Train your eyes
As you practice aiming and lining up, spend time looking at the target and checking your alignment so your eyes learn what accurate aiming looks like. If you’ve struggled with alignment in the past, using exercise aids at first can make correct alignment seem wrong.
For example, when I aim correctly, it often looks a bit left to my eye. I’ve learned that this is just how the correct alignment looks to me. When I play, I use an intermediate target a few meters in front of the ball. This helps me get the clubface right on target and keep my body parallel.
Although it still seems a little left to me, I trust the process because practice has trained my eye to recognize it as accurate.
