Alignment Drives Me Mad!!!

[Birdie]

One of the most frustrating things I find in a round of golf, is making a nice clean contact which results in the perfect ball flight, only to fine it go slightly offline. (Generally to the right.) This is all to do with alignment and is something I have problems with as I'm sure many others out there do to. Does anyone have any tips for how I should line up so that I can be confident I am aiming down the flag, and not into a sand trap or water hazard!!! I have the old trick of lying the club down on the ground parrallel with my feet, but once I do this, I get the feeling I am aiming miles to far to the left. Help?!?!?

[Birdie]

Thanks for the tip. Was wondering if you have ever experienced problems with your alignment?? Maybe its just me!!

[Birdie]

Sorry to keep bothering you but I noticed how you and most other members have all the clubs in their golf bag listed under each comment they make. Was wondering how you do this since I am a new member and am still learning the ropes?!?

[Chas]

When you've set yourself up for the shot, try laying the club across your thighs - say half-way between knee and hip. Where does it point? Of course it should aim slightly left of target (right hander). I find this method easier and more accurate than laying a club on the ground, because leg orientation mirrors shoulder orientation, and the shoulders determine the path of the club.

[Xt1ncT]

This is a constant battle for me...!!!

Here are a couple of solutions:

1. Use an intermediate target - what I mean is, pick out something on the ground about 2 or 3 feet infront of your ball and on the target line, then just line your club up square to that.

2. What I have been doing recently and it seems to have helped, is that I choose a target just to the left of the target line and line my body up with that, the target line will be parallel to that and so your club should be aimed down the target line.

Hope they help.

[rembrandt]

My swing is alot like Lee Trevinos, I open my stance and swing from the inside out. I do this for two reasons.....first it shortens my backswing some and helps my timing at the ball.....second it keeps me from healing the ball which I have a bad habit of doing. It just works for me and I'm not recommending that you do that too but alignment is something we all struggle with at times. Do what works for you!

[SubPar]

  Birdie said:

I have the old trick of lying the club down on the ground parrallel with my feet, but once I do this, I get the feeling I am aiming miles to far to the left. Help?!?!?

I always feel instinctively that I am aiming left of my intended line when I am over the ball. I have to be sure to stand behind the ball and pick a point a few feet or yards ahead, on line with the target. I align myself using that mark, not where I see or feel the target is when I am set-up to the ball.

[allin]

I have tried all of the suggestions posted and they all have some benefit. There is only one way to be sure though and that is to find a key during on course practice, range just isn't enough for this. I discovered that for me the feeling that the inside of my right elbow is aimed at the target results in the most consistent aiming. I have no idea if it actually does. Trevino pushed every shot, Snead pulled every shot, Couples lines up left of the target. All have through practice figured out what sends the ball towards the target for their swing and body type.

[Rafcin]

  Xt1ncT said:

...1. Use an intermediate target - what I mean is, pick out something on the ground about 2 or 3 feet infront of your ball and on the target line, then just line your club up square to that.

two things to remember when you do that:

- stand behind the ball when you choose the "intermediate" target - make sure it is really close to the ball, no more than 3ft, otherwise once you over the ball you might have problems alligning to it again... There is also the issue of dominent eye - everybody has one of the eyes dominant - make sure you use the correct one