Alignment Tips

benny79

Hi lads & ladies,

I had a lesson last week and my Pro told me my Alignment is 1 of my biggest weaknesses! I do think I'm aligned properly when I'm actually not and this causes my ott swing/slice etc.

He told me to get alignments sticks as they're better than putting 2 clubs down (I don't see how) does anyone know where to get these cheap as there €20 which I think is a bit steep for 2 poles!!

Plus do any of you guys use them and recommend them, Any alignment tips you would recommend, he reckons if I sort this my Hc will drop dramatically.

Cheers lads...

Dealerz

Re alignment sticks- buy a few canes in a gardening centre- a very cheap solution.

hades

Got these myself recently for €12 http://www.onlinegolf.eu/tour-sticks-training-aid-217234.html, picked up a multipack of gloves so the postage didn't hurt too much.

As Dealerz said, canes will work just as well.

My alignment has been a major issue, but i'm working on it. Did the pro give you any routines himself to work on? What i've had done to me is, i align in a way that i think is correct and then i get my buddy to put down the sticks. It shows i'm pointing miles right. You do that over and over again, you'll eventually feel whats right.

Also, throwing down the sticks in parallel when your at the range will get you used to how your feet align when set up. Put them in a T set up to see where your ball is positioned.

They are a great practice aid overall, whether they're the tour sticks, clubs or a few rods.

Keano

Look at any pro practising on the range and you'll see them using the rods but you'll very rarely see an amateur use them when practising!

Dr.Rieux

I was looking these up yesterday and stumbled upon some drills online. Look like they could be useful at least as a base to get started

http://www.toursticks.com/drills/

benny79

The routine he gave me was to look down the line put a coin (if in range) in front of ball (about a foot) and target, then stand behind ball look at ball, coin, target then walk in square club upto coin, square body up (using rods) then pull trigger. On the course pick something a foot in front of ball or a couple of inches (twig, leaf etc) square club up etc, mainly to always look down the line and always pick something in front off ball at target, sq club to it, then sq body.

hades

Reading that, it reminded me that i find my spot by holding up the club and lining it up with the ball and the target. Pretty much like Justin Rose.

I had a bit of piss taking at the start, but its what i needed to do to make sure my alignment was in check.

bigtimecharlie

This was my big issue at my last lesson. The train track analogy applies where one track is the ball to target track and the other is feet to distant object and keeping the tracks parallel. The teaching pro's tip was 1) if playing a par 3, aim feet at left edge of green or 2) on par 4's and 5's, take a point in the distance (a house roof or a tree) and use this to align the feet.

His point was that in tournaments, we do not see the playing pro doing this , we just see the pro going to a point they have picked out earlier for where their forward foot will be. The teaching pro is not a fan of alignment sticks as each tee box provides a different set of distant objects to aim at so that it becomes a natural thing to do.

My "Fairway's Hit" percentage has shot up with this approach. Working hard on par 3's to get that better.

benny79

Yea good idea as my point is u wont have alignment rods on course and wats the difference in using them and 2 clubs

PARlance

benny79 wrote: »

Yea good idea as my point is u wont have alignment rods on course and wats the difference in using them and 2 clubs

Because a golf club isn't straight.
It gradually gets wider from the tip of the shaft to the top of the grip. You need a straight line for proper alignment.

Montgolfier

Try the link below it explains eye dominance and how it affects alignment. Might be handy when on the course.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nPpwgnEXQxg

John Divney

Yep you need to line up to the target with your dominant eye first, then set the stance to it.

Alignment rods are good training your feet and shoulders and aiming the clubface online, but unless you get used to aiming correctly at the target first , they are just band aids on the range.