Alignment...SOB!

Out at the range this morning working on my tempo and balance when one of my friends noticed something. Apparently, what I *thought* was square to the target line I was actually open - and I've been this way for a couple months! Once I got myself squared properly, it felt like I was really closed to the target. I honestly am not sure why I started gravitating toward the open stance but it definitely was the culprit to me coming over the top and even battling the shanks every now and then.

Is there some mental issue where one starts moving toward a closed or open stance?

sucks dont it? get yourself an alignment rod. will really help you

Happens all the time, i will go from square to aiming right, it does take a mental check to really focus in on this. For me its gradual, so it sneaks up on me, then it throws my whole swing out of wack..

I found the same thing.  I had been hitting a fade, which turned into a slice.  I think i started aiming left to adjust for the fade, and as that became "normal" I think i started getting big slices because i was now standing more open.   It wasn't until I used a video from DL that i realized what i was doing.

$4 for two driveway markers at the local home depot/lowes really helped me with this problem.

The fade is a key to great golf. I say, keep that open stance!

But to answer your questions about mental issues, I'd say it just has to do with being comfortable. If you don't keep yourself in check, your body will probably trend back to what feels good. And there is nothing wrong with that. Fred Couples sets up with an open stance, he's done pretty good for himself. Ben Hogan suggests a different stance (in relation to open v closed) depending on what club you have in your hand. Your buddy pointed out that you were open to your target, but were you hitting your shots to your target? Ultimately that is the goal of this game. Everyone is going to double cross a shot, or even shank a shot every now and then. Count those as anomalies. If you were happy with where your ball ended up, that's what matters...

But I digress, if it really erks you that much, those alignment sticks do come in very handy. $4 at Home Depot, like Dad-2-3 mentioned... And keep up with the practice!

Alignment is certainly something to check up on.  I have seen a couple of my friends struggle with their alignment here recently.  It is one thing to be able to hit a fade, but if your eyes keep tricking you and your alignment gets more out of whack than normal that is when some undesirable shots can sneak in....and its the same if not worse with alignment being the difference between a draw and a hook....so just check up on it, maybe get some alignment sticks.  If you are comfortable with your current alignment and the shots it produces then remember where you are at, but if you are getting a little too far one way or the other and are hitting bad shots then straighten out that alignment.

Oh, and the most important thing to check on...probably on video...is where your shoulder line is going.  That will greatly influence where your swing path is.  It is nice to have your footline, knee line and hip line going in the same direction, but isn't as critical as your shoulder line.

Thanks for all the replies!

I do like the fade but the kicker is in my head I'm naturally wanting to hit a hook (draw for you pros). So I have to consciously tell myself I am going for a fade swing and execute it; and what ends up happening is when I am working on other things (tempo, balance, path, etc) I haven't been focused on my alignment at all - stupidly I admit.

Had a good session today, I was making correct aim and alignment for both slices and hooks and I'm now more aware of where the hell I'm actually trying to go with the swing.

And no, I wasn't hitting shots at the target, I was slicing bad or even shanking. I might make the one good compensation move to get a ball to the target but it was not consistent by any means.

I had this problem for quite some time... I'd line my feet up square but have my hips and my shoulders way open. Don't know if it was the only cause of it, but once i squared my hips and shoulders up i got rid of the OTT swing.