When you’re struggling with a jab or slice, it can seem almost impossible to aim your shots. So, like most golfers, you do what seems natural: aim for your putting form.
Depending on the severity of the curve, this could mean aiming anywhere from a few feet off the line to the width of an entire fairway to compensate for your exaggerated ball flight. But, Cameron McCormick, a GOLF Top 100 Teacherssays that habit can actually be what keeps you from hitting it straight.
Stop aiming for your missus
“Most golfers aim for their loss,” says McCormick.
What it means: players whose shots usually curve left aim to the right of the target, while those who have a tendency to curve the ball to the right aim to the left. Unfortunately, what seems like a simple fix, McCormick explains, is often making the issue worse.
“The problem is that (aiming for your loss) only makes the mistake worse,” he says, “it increases the chance that you’ll hit the shot you’re trying to avoid.”
Aim harder for straighter shots
If you want to reduce your mistakes and tighten up your distribution, McCormick recommends using an intermediate target when lining up your shots. Having a small reference point a few feet in front of your ball will help make sure you’re on line every time.
Your intermediate target can be anything from a dead patch of grass to an old split, and practicing your distance with one will help you incorporate it into your routine so that it becomes second nature when you use it on the course.
To test it, simply place a tee about three to four feet in front of your ball, directly on your target line. Then, stand up to the ball and set up as usual.
Remember: face, then feet
The key to aiming correctly—whether you’re using an intermediate target or not—is how you position your clubface and body. Many golfers don’t realize that the order in which you aim the club and your feet actually matters. As McCormick points out in the video above, the proper sequence is: first the face of the club, then the body.
“I’ll force myself to aim straighter by stretching the clubface with the tee, then spacing my feet,” he says.
Now that you’ve aimed properly, go ahead and pull the trigger. It may seem strange at first, but with a little practice, you should start to see your distribution window narrow.
“My brain is telling me to accommodate my mistake, but I’m going to fight it and learn to hit the ball a lot straighter,” McCormick says.
By breaking the habit of aiming for your loss, you’ll curb your shots and be able to play confidently toward the target, not after your mistakes.
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