The Feeling of Proper Foot Alignment

[imtomtomim]

funny thing is that my new alignment key is not to be technical where I set my feet up and pay attention to my swing path line only. Basically, aiming going into my setup and swing. I mean, yeah, I'll open and close my stance for different shots but I found out the less mechanical and technical I get, the more natural it is to hit a ball over there.

Looks like you had one of those "feel isn't real" moments. When I'm instructing swimming, I tell them to put their hand directly over their shoulder, and then I tell them to look up. It's never in the right spot. I wouldn't ask them to do that if their hand position is correct. That's why going to a teacher is so important. They get that outside view of what's going on.

[timtim]

Use the pointing drill to visualize it and then at the range use a club at your toes or heels to INGRAIN the feeling. Repetition will make setting up on the course easier.

If you are recommending that you ingrain the various and infinite feelings of standing on the side of the ball while looking at the target and therefore you are recommending that on the course you align yourself to the target based on the feeling you have when standing at the address position I absolutely and completely disagree with that method and do not believe that one single pro on tour uses that method.

The method that I use and that I described was taught by Jack Nicklaus and every teacher that I have taken from and every teacher on the golf channel that I have seen discuss this.

To set up:

[HSip]

I think we're talking about the same thing. My point is that many people "feel" that they must line up their toes to the target. Using an intermediate target to line up the club face is what most good golfers do.

[Ru$ty]

My feet tend to be lined to the target. Of course I tried to fix this but I can't. I watched on my feet and in my opinion it's parallel to a target line, but when I checked they were about 10-20 degrees right.
This caused problems in the past but not now. I just changed my irons. I used to play with GI cavity back's Callaway X12, but now I bought blended set of Titleist ZB. So my terrible push changed to the beautifull draw. That's amazing.
P.S. My club face always points at the target.

[Zeph]

10-20 degrees?

If my maths are not too far off, you'd be aiming somewhere between 35-75 yards off at a 200 yard shot. A draw may be nice, but do you really want to stand that far closed?

[shortstop20]

A closed stance hardly guarantees a draw.

[Ru$ty]

10-20 degrees?

No. I tried to solve this problem by standing more to the left than usually, but if I checked my foot allignment putting the club to my feet, I still aimed to the right. I tried practising with correct foot allignment and that was really strange. Although I felt really open stance the ball flight was straight....

Ahm... I don't even know how to manage with this....

[Zeph]

Lay down clubs every time you practice at the range. Even at the course if it's a practice round and you're alone or with someone who's ok with it.
I like to use the spot on the ground method. It's very hard to see the right line by just looking at where you want it to land. Stand behind the ball, looking down the target line, pick a spot in front of it. When you get over the ball, imagine a line from the point through the ball. Aim your feet parallell to it. Once you are set up, lay the club at your heels, step back and check if it's aimed correct. Don't bother looking at the fairway, green or whatever. just focus on your spot and these lines. If you are able to trust them, you'll get it right every time. It's just something you have to get used to, accomplishable with practice.

[Ru$ty]

Lay down clubs every time you practice at the range. Even at the course if it's a practice round and you're alone or with someone who's ok with it.

Thanks I'll try this.

Am I right that laying down the club is legal? I mean can I use this when playing tournaments? I heard that the golfer may lay down the club, but it has to be removen before making the stroke. Is that ok if I lay down the club I am going to use for the shot, place my feet and then take the club from the ground, grip and make the shot?

[Zeph]

That is legal.

8-2. Indicating Line of Play
a. Other Than on Putting Green


Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

8-2a/1 Club Placed on Ground to Align Feet

Q. A player places a club on the ground parallel to the line of play to assist him in aligning his feet properly. Is this permissible?

A. Yes, provided the player removes the club before playing his stroke. Otherwise, a breach of Rule 8-2a would occur.

[kilbyman]

Hey guys,
My biggest problem in my game is getting the alignment down pat. I tend to hit my shots pretty straight, and end up hitting them exactly where I aim (20-30 yds to the left or the right of where my target is). Do any of you have some tips on how to have proper alignment in the setup? I'm sure I could break 90 if I could just figure out how to aim properly.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Its also one of my biggest problems. Its probably the most common fault leading to bad swings, in general. If youre a righty aimed too far right (which most ametuers do) you'll come over the top to try to get the ball to the target. I also have a habit of aligning too far right. Aim too far left and you'll try to push the ball out there.

But the easiest cure for bad alignment is just using one of your clubs on the ground to align yourself. I do this every time i practice. Place the club on the ground, with the butt end pointing slightly left (but pararell) to your target. Aim the face at the target (be sure to pick out 2 or more intermediate targets to aim the face) Make some half swings and i bet the balls you hit strait at the target will feel different. It will be more effortless.

[Spec138]

I always focus on alignment the most in my pre-shot routine. Here's what I do:
1. Step behind the ball a couple feet
2. Take my club shaft and hold it infront of me vertically, passing the shaft through the ball and my target.
3. I move the club and find something a couple feet infront of my ball that was on that line.
4. Address the ball, making sure your club face is square to your target.

Hope this helps!

[Leftygolfer]

Huge problem for me. I always struggle with it. I used to pull the ball and trained my eyes that way. The thing that helps me most is picking a spot that is right ahead of where you want to start it, then aiming parrell to it. It looks so wrong to me but when I trust it, it works.

[shortstop20]

Here's what I do for tee shots, works awesome.

Align the ball on the tee just like you see the pro's do for a putt. Point the line on the ball towards the target. I get it close and then just use my best judgement when aligning my body and clubhead to make any final adjustments.

For other shots I will pick something out on the ground in front of my ball to create an imaginary line. I align myself using that line. If I can't get the line down I will error on the side of aligning open to the target. For my golf swing this is better than closed. Worst case scenario is that I hit a push that usually draws back anyways. I'd much rather hit that than my nemesis which is a hook because of a closed stance or sometimes even a pull hook(worst shot in golf I must say, ball goes "off the planet").

[Zeph]

Why don't you use an object on the ground when hitting the tee shot too?

[shortstop20]

If given the chance I will always take a real line(like on the ball) over an imaginary line.