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How To Use Golf Training Aids To Get Your
Alignment Dead On
If you are hitting the ball
well, but suffer from consistency in shot direction or shape, you
may be suffering from alignment problems at address. This is an
extremely important but very underrated factor in the golf swing,
and most amateurs pay far too little attention to getting it right.
Are your feet, hips, shoulders, and clubface aligned properly for
each shot? Here's a short test that will help you find out:
Firstly, are your feet lined up parallel to the target line? This
one is easy. Just address the ball as if you were going to hit a
shot, then put a longish iron on the ground so that the shaft
touches both of your toes. Then take another iron and carefully line
it up just behind the ball with the grip end of the shaft pointing
toward the target.
Now, step back and see if the shaft by your feet is parallel with
the shaft behind the ball. If the shaft points to the left (for
right handers) then you will tend to swing on an outside to in swing
path, which will predispose you to hitting pulls, fades, slices. If
the shaft points to the right of parallel, then you will tend to
push, hook, or draw.
Second, check your hips and shoulders. This is a little tougher.
Leave the clubs from step 1 in place and address the ball again.
Have a friend stand behind you and lay a club across your hips and
shoulders to tell where they are lined up. If they are pointing left
or right of parallel to the target line the same problems from step
1 apply.
Third, check your clubface. Believe it or not, this can be the
toughest one. Tape a 12" plastic ruler or other straight object to
the clubface and then address the ball normally. This will
exaggerate any errors and tell you where you are aiming. If the
clubface is aimed left of square (closed) you will tend to hook and
if it is aimed right (open) you will tend to slice, depending on
your grip and other factors in your swing.
Now, if the results of this test show that your alignment needs
work, I suggest you check out some golf training aids that are
designed to help you line up correctly. Several affordable training
aids are available that really make practicing your alignment easy.
Here are some tips for finding a golf training aid that will
maximize your results.
1. Make sure your golf training aid is easily portable and easy to
set up. If it's not convenient to use, you won't use it.
2. Get one that not only has a 'T' setup for aligning your feet and
ball position, but also includes a mirror that will help you get
your hips, shoulders, and head position right. Otherwise, why
bother?
3. Use your golf training aid whenever you hit at the range, but
make sure you practice without it as well. Hit 10 shots with, 10
without and alternate. Develop a feel for setting up square without
the device, since you can't use it on the course.
When you get a good golf training aid and use it consistently, you
should see rapid improvements in your direction and ball striking
consistency. Good luck!
Improve Your Swing
Looking for better consistency? Need to improve your accuracy?
Desperately want some more yards? Or possibly you just want your
swing to look a little better so your buddies won't tease you
anymore. These are all great reasons for doing some work on your
swing, but what is the best way to go about it?
Improve Your Chipping
The 18th hole is a lengthy par 4 with a tricky elevated green.
You've missed the green to the right on your approach. Your ball
sits about 8 feet off the green in the first cut of rough. The lie
isn't too bad, but it's a tricky shot.
Improve Your
Putting
Drive for show, putt for dough. Relax the nerves, trust your
line. Eyes over the ball, smooth take away. Accelerate through the
ball, and...
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