Alignment
is a skill that must be practiced. The best practice routine involves
hitting full shots with a guide on the ground to help your visualization.
The
comments in this lesson are based on the straight shot. There are
many reasons why the ball doesn't go straight when you hit it but
we will assume that you plan to hit it straight when you are aligned
to it. Most shots go wrong because of poor alignment. This lesson
will be about alignment on perfectly flat ground in a practice environment.
The
best way to think about alignment is to imagine a set of railroad
tracks heading toward the target. You are standing on one track
with both feet and your ball is on the other track. As you can see
this is a perfect pair of parallel lines. Two lines go toward the
target and many others are perpendicular to them. In order for you
to stand on one of the tracks you need to be balanced. When balanced,
on the rail of your tracks, you will have your feet, knees, hips,
shoulders and elbows all parallel with the track. Your arms will
hang comfortably under your shoulders.
At
the range, put a club on the ground pointing to a target of your
choice. Put down a ball on your side of this club like you are going
to hit it to the target you have picked out. Take your stance and
hit a smooth 3/4 shot towards your target and note where it lands.
Before you hit another ball, get another club and put it in front
of your feet, right at the toes. Step back and see if the two clubs
are parallel to each other. If not, adjust them. Make your own "tracks".
Notice that the club at your toes is pointing left of your target.
This is the correct way to align yourself to the ball so trust it.
Hit the second ball and note where it lands. Hit 2 more balls and
see if all 3 are near each other. If they are then your swing is
basically sound and may be repeatable. If not, your swing or grip
has a problem that needs identified and fixed.
Notice
I have not said that the ball should have gone towards your target.
This lesson is about "planning" to hit the ball straight.
Are all 4 of your balls in the same spot? Are they in two different
places? If they are pretty close then that counts toward good understanding
of alignment. If they are not then perhaps you have seen something
that will help you.
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