| Many newer golfers (and a few older ones, too) have | | | | determine what your target alignment really is. |
| a tendency to misalign themselves when they take | | | | Take a stance (your usual stance), aim at a target that |
| their stance. Normally, what they will do is aim way | | | | you would hit at, and then lay a club down on the |
| right of the target and they do this for a reason. | | | | ground from toe to toe. Now step back about 8 or 10 |
| Players who are misaligned from the get go and aim | | | | paces behind the ball and club that you laid down and |
| right are usually players who try to swing with their | | | | sight down the club. Sighting down this club will reveal |
| arms. When they do this the ball will almost always | | | | your alignment. |
| take off to the left. So what they are doing with this | | | | If the club is a bit left of the target, then you're fine. But |
| "right side" target trick is trying to fix a problem before | | | | if it's to the right of the target, you are out of alingment. |
| it even happens! | | | | Simple but effective. |
| In theory, this shouldn't be a problem...but this is not | | | | If you discover that you are out of alignment (that the |
| theory, it's golf. When an "arm swinger" forces his ball | | | | club on the ground is pointing to the right of the target) |
| back on the fairway by overcompensating his | | | | then you need to work on squaring up your stance. |
| alignment, he thinks he's doing himself a favor. But on | | | | Being square to the target is one of the most |
| those occasions when he actually makes a good, solid | | | | important tips in golf. Every ball you hit will be effected |
| full body swing, his ball zips off into the trees on the | | | | by this stance--either in a good way or (if you're in a |
| right or into a right side bunker and he gets mad, and | | | | misaligned stance) a bad way. It really is that simple. |
| what's worse is that by using this misaligning method | | | | Now when you are certain that you are in a square |
| he's never going to reach his full potential as a golfer. | | | | stance, hit a few balls. If the ball goes way left of the |
| These players need to work on the basics of their | | | | target, you know you are pulling it by trying to use too |
| swing, using their body as a whole and not just their | | | | much of your arms. If the ball goes way right, you |
| arms. But they also need to know what their alignment | | | | know you are allowing your body to slide too much |
| is. | | | | through impact. |
| So how can you (or anyone else for that matter) see | | | | By being in a square stance and evaluating a few |
| what your alignment is to the target? | | | | practice shots, you can determine a lot about your |
| Well, here's a simple and very effective tip to | | | | swing and those areas that you need to work on. |