Alignment problems

[bdbl]

Be grateful for some simple advice here.

If, when practicing I lay a club down on the target line and set up to it then (ignoring mishits) my shots end up down the fairway after a gentle fade - not necessarily booming long but, you know, the shots you look at and smile quietly to yourself , pick up your tee and stroll off.

Without the alignment aid I get much the same shape but the shot starts off right (r-hander) - given the above I'm assuming, rightly or wrongly that its not a push.

I try standing behind the ball and picking an intermediate spot etc but all in vain.


Any thoughts? - other than aiming left!

[ChadCash]

Re: Alignment problems

I am a lower handicap player but alignment is one problem I have to deal with constantly. I don't have a lot of luck picking out an intermediate target either. One thing I have found that helps me is to adjust my alignment for good misses. This is my concentration when I play golf, when I practice I work on correct alignment but I have found that when I play I try to make my alignment for good misses. I know this isn't the answer you were looking for but golf is about scoring and this helps me.

[GregJWillis]

Re: Alignment problems

With any alignment aid, you are going to get used to it in your vision. Going without it will cause you to look elsewhere for something similar, and there really is not anything similar to a big club lying on the ground. So you have to start to use a different aid in practice. Start with simple tees in the ground as your targets (from ball to the tee about 2 feet in front). This gets you closer to the actual playing conditions you need to get to, like a rock or clump of discolored grass.

Another option is to plum-bob from behind the ball and then your intended feetline. Getting your feet aligned is sometimes more important then then blade. Then pick spots for your feet to light up to.

[bdbl]

Re: Alignment problems

Thanks guys.

[msklar92]

Re: Alignment problems

remeber, set your club first and then your feet.

[ph_kingston]

Re: Alignment problems

I've been working on my alignment recently as I have the same problem. My pre-shot routine used to involve standing behind the ball and picking the line and then attempting to line the clubhead up with that before lining my body up with the clubhead. However, I noticed the same thing, that in general my shots would end up right of the target. I now pick a feature on the ground a couple of feet in front of the ball and line the clubhead up with as it's much more accurate than a remote target. At first it felt like I was aiming well left but it works brilliantly.

[GreeBoman]

Re: Alignment problems

At first it felt like I was aiming well left but it works brilliantly.

because of they way we approach the ball (from behind to the side) it will always feel that you are pointed way left, make sure to look up and the pin/target again once you are lined up with the intermediate target, this will help your body to remember what it feels like.
Final warning, I fell into the habit (and see if from lots of people) of as I was getting my feet "comfortable" I would actually be moving out of alignment... just something to watch out for if it all starts going wrong
After a wayward shot, drop the club so that its running along your toes then get behind and see where its pointing...