Alignment. Always aimed right without realizing

[Sai-Jin]

I was reading similar threads  about this in the forum and I have tried some of the tips, but the result is similar.

So I'm pretty ok when aligned with irons, due to shorter distances.

But when it comes to driving, apparently I kept aiming right and I hit right. At first I thought it was a push,

but my friends told me I kept lining right.

I tried aiming to the left trees / houses, which scares me, and for some reason, my mind remember where the target is, and I ended up

slicing the ball. Once in a while if I forget where the target is and just align left and trust it, it works... but I need to get rid of this problem.

Somehow it feels like my body just auto corrects what it believes ... help?

[JetFan1983]

Use the alignment aid on the golf ball to correctly align yourself off every tee box -- the same way a pro uses the line to line up his putts. Stand behind the ball and make sure its where you want it to be pointing. Then take your setup and trust that the line is correct. This should fix this.

For approach shots and pitch shots, I use an intermediate target, like a patch of dirt of a small divot or something a few feet in front of where I want to aim.

Once you take your setup though, it's important that you trust the alignment and then forget about it. Now focus on the shot itself.

[Sai-Jin]

Thanks for the tip. It's mainly my driving that's problematic right now.

So it still comes down to trusting my line and try to ignore my mind when it says "Oh dear... I'm aiming to the houses on the left".

Correct?

Well, I hope one day my eyes will be trained enough to see the flaw...

[arogolf]

This is a very common problem and I see it a lot, it is also related to "coming over the top" ie you are pointed right then come over the top back to the left to hit it straight. The problem relates to how your two eyes "see" the line when you are over the shot. At the range put down two clubs, one outside your ball one just in front of your feet. They should run parallel towards your target as if on train tracks. Focus on the alignment of your feet and practice swinging down the parallel lines, bringing your natural swing more inside and down the line, as opposed to outside and then over the top.

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

So it still comes down to trusting my line and try to ignore my mind when it says "Oh dear... I'm aiming to the houses on the left".

Correct?

You already know you aren't aimed left at the houses though -- because the line is aimed where you want it to be. Yes, it will feel very left of center, but it isn't, simply because you know the line isn't pointed too far left.

[Sai-Jin]

Originally Posted by arogolf

This is a very common problem and I see it a lot, it is also related to "coming over the top" ie you are pointed right then come over the top back to the left to hit it straight. The problem relates to how your two eyes "see" the line when you are over the shot. At the range put down two clubs, one outside your ball one just in front of your feet. They should run parallel towards your target as if on train tracks. Focus on the alignment of your feet and practice swinging down the parallel lines, bringing your natural swing more inside and down the line, as opposed to outside and then over the top.

Ah yes, you are very correct. When I align to the right, my body auto corrects the line by swinging out to in / a pull. Resulting in a centered shot with a fade or big fade.

So with your tip, this will train my eyes to recognize the actual alignment soon or later?

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

You already know you aren't aimed left at the houses though -- because the line is aimed where you want it to be. Yes, it will feel very left of center, but it isn't, simply because you know the line isn't pointed too far left.

I will take a leap of faith again on this. I did once on a course and it worked wonders,

and now I'm back to habits. It felt like my feet and my arms just won't trust it and my swing becomes really whacked.

I'll remember your words to make me trust the line though.

[arogolf]

Yes, in this case do not let your eyes deceive you when you are over the shot. Work on aligning your feet in the right direction and trusting a more on plane swing. You may experience a lot of pull shots at first, so try and work on the factors that help you bring the club more inside.

[Sai-Jin]

Yes, you are correct about my pulls again.

Will do, will try to just trust the feet alignment and swing ahead.

It's amazing how much a forward tilt makes a vision difference

[jcm011]

If you find a good way to get over this, let me know. Imagine this: your friend is about to hit his tee shot, the flag (or whatever target it should be) is 12 o'clock, his body and club are aimed at 3' o'clock, he pushes AND slices but for some reason he believes that he closes the club face SO MUCH that he would end up at about 10 o clock. I have a friend that does this.

Do yourself a favor... exaggerate the aim to the left and FOCUS on it. Don't think "Ok, I'm aiming at this tree to the left but my target is really waay over to the right". Actually try to hit that proverbial tree to the left.

[Stretch]

Maybe try using an intermediate target on the ground? When you stand behind your ball to see your target in the distance, pick out a divot or broken tee or some other visual reference that's directly on that line and a few feet ahead. Aim the face at that spot, set your feet square and then just concentrate on driving the ball straight over it.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Set up an alignment box when you go to the range, with one clubshaft just outside the ball, pointing to the target, and another against your heels parallel to the first. Hit every ball from inside this box, and pretty soon you will learn where the target is in the "picture" as you look downrange when you are properly aligned.

[adam3205]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Maybe try using an intermediate target on the ground? When you stand behind your ball to see your target in the distance, pick out a divot or broken tee or some other visual reference that's directly on that line and a few feet ahead. Aim the face at that spot, set your feet square and then just concentrate on driving the ball straight over it.

This is what I just started doing for every shot, even putting, because I was lining up to the left naturally (left handed).  I pick out something about a foot in front of the ball.  Then I address the ball and just take a few seconds staring at the ball and my designated aim assist, drawing a line through the ball, to kind of forget where my actual target is.  After I set up along the line I look at my target to get a feel for how proper alignment should look relative to down range.  Then look back at your ball and imaginary line for a few seconds before swinging to help prevent yourself from making swing adjustments.  I've had to weaken my grip pretty significantly to avoid hooking the ball (speaking relative to my left handedness).

[Sai-Jin]

Aro, Jetfan, I just got back from the course today.

So what I did is stand behind the ball, make an imaginary line to target, pick a spot infront of ball around 5 inches or so and try to square the club to it.

Well, I'm pretty accurate with the occasional pull draw. So it's working great. Thanks for the tips.

Now the problem is getting used to actually squaring my feet and knowing how my driver squared face look like.

I think once I get over the illusion, it'll be even better.

[Sai-Jin]

Aro,

I got to play again today... so yea, I'm pulling more than I used to.

But I was also rather tired though, mainly in my legs and hips... was a long training day today.

Tips for me?