Aiming shots

[Reid Jones]

I'm having trouble aiming my shots. I always try to line my feet up towards where i'm hitting, and usually i end up hitting to the left or to the right. i can't seem to get the aiming down. help!

[pherg]

The simplest way is to pick a spot about a foot in front of the ball and align your clubface to it.

If you're still not going where you're aiming it's time to hit the range and lay some clubs on the ground to see whether your feet are aligned properly.

[Scottydoint]

Do not aim your feet at where you want to hit it. That is a common mistake. Thinks about it this way... There is a rail road track. There are two tracks that run parallel to each other. your feet are on one of the tracks and the ball and clubface is on the other. Now if you hit the ball straight the ball will go straight down the track it is on, but not where your feet are aimed. Your feet are just supposed to be parallel to the target line. the only target line is the line the ball is on. If you aim your feet at the target, your ball will be going to the right of the target. you may hit it left of it it you pull it trying to hit it where your feet are aimed.

edit: I found an illustration of what I was saying. Notice his feet are left of the target, but the ball is on the right line.

[Zeph]

Look at my thread here on this topic: http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23353

[deafheaven]

take your club, hold it parallel to the ground against your chest and you'll see where you are really aiming. You'll be surprised at how often you think you are aimed properly when you are not.

[billm408]

Not sure why this is such a hard concept for a lot of people. The train tracks are a great visual- thanks for posting.

Do not aim your feet at where you want to hit it. That is a common mistake. Thinks about it this way... There is a rail road track. There are two tracks that run parallel to each other. your feet are on one of the tracks and the ball and clubface is on the other. Now if you hit the ball straight the ball will go straight down the track it is on, but not where your feet are aimed. Your feet are just supposed to be parallel to the target line. the only target line is the line the ball is on. If you aim your feet at the target, your ball will be going to the right of the target. you may hit it left of it it you pull it trying to hit it where your feet are aimed.

[ugottabjoshinme]

take your club, hold it parallel to the ground against your chest and you'll see where you are really aiming. You'll be surprised at how often you think you are aimed properly when you are not.

This is a great point. You can have your feet lined up correctly but still have your sholders way open or closed. keep your shoulders parallel to the target line and that should help

[TN94z]

take your club, hold it parallel to the ground against your chest and you'll see where you are really aiming. You'll be surprised at how often you think you are aimed properly when you are not.

I never liked this way of doing it. My playing partner uses this. It is too easy to move your upper body to aim and never move your feet, which does nothing really. If you can do it without this problem, then it can be useful.

Not sure why this is such a hard concept for a lot of people. The train tracks are a great visual- thanks for posting.

The train tracks pick is perfect!! Also, at the range you can lay down one club that is your target line. Lay down another club parallel to this line and that is your feet line, which will be a little left of target. The illustration makes it easy for people to see in their minds.

[TN94z]

This is a great point. You can have your feet lined up correctly but still have your sholders way open or closed. keep your shoulders parallel to the target line and that should help

Or you can have you feet lined up incorrectly and adjust your shoulders using the club which will not help

[Leftygolfer]

This is huge problem for me. I used to be a big puller of the golf ball. I am trying to get away from that. I use the tiger/jack method of picking a spot but it looks so wierd. The thought of "how am I going to hit it there" goes through my head. It is really hard to train your eyes differently and that what I am in the process of doing.

[mdvaldosta]

Definately best to pick a spot just in front of the ball, and use that as a line to set your clubface first then your feet. That's what I do. If you do this every time, you're aiming properly. At that point, it's just about alignment (use sticks or clubs and do the railroad track thing).

[Zeph]

It's as simple as that, yes.

1: Find a spot.
2: Align the clubface square through this spot.
3: Align your feet parallell with the line you draw through the spot and the ball.
4: Relax the body and the shoulders will square up automatically.

I don't like to hold the club by the shoulders, a small adjustment will make a huge difference. I align myself from the ground up.

[Mark E. Wallace]

Don't aim your shot. Set your body and club face (per the recommendations in this thread) and then put a good sound swing on the ball. If you set up correctly and still don't get the desired results, it's most likely not your aim/setup; it's your swing.

- Mark