Many newer golfers (and a few older ones, too) have a tendency to misalign themselves when they take their stance. Normally, what they will do is aim way right of the target and they do this for a reason. Players who are misaligned from the get go and aim right are usually players who try to swing with their arms. When they do this the ball will almost always take off to the left. So what they are doing with this "right side" target trick is trying to fix a problem before it even happens!
In theory, this shouldn't be a problem...but this is not theory, it's golf. When an "arm swinger" forces his ball back on the fairway by overcompensating his alignment, he thinks he's doing himself a favor. But on those occasions when he actually makes a good, solid full body swing, his ball zips off into the trees on the right or into a right side bunker and he gets mad, and what's worse is that by using this misaligning method he's never going to reach his full potential as a golfer.
These players need to work on the basics of their swing, using their body as a whole and not just their arms. But they also need to know what their alignment is.
So how can you (or anyone else for that matter) see what your alignment is to the target?
Well, here's a simple and very effective tip to determine what your target alignment really is.
Take a stance (your usual stance), aim at a target that you would hit at, and then lay a club down on the ground from toe to toe. Now step back about 8 or 10 paces behind the ball and club that you laid down and sight down the club. Sighting down this club will reveal your alignment.
If the club is a bit left of the target, then you're fine. But if it's to the right of the target, you are out of alingment. Simple but effective.
If you discover that you are out of alignment (that the club on the ground is pointing to the right of the target) then you need to work on squaring up your stance.
Being square to the target is one of the most important tips in golf. Every ball you hit will be effected by this stance--either in a good way or (if you're in a misaligned stance) a bad way. It really is that simple.
Now when you are certain that you are in a square stance, hit a few balls. If the ball goes way left of the target, you know you are pulling it by trying to use too much of your arms. If the ball goes way right, you know you are allowing your body to slide too much through impact.
By being in a square stance and evaluating a few practice shots, you can determine a lot about your swing and those areas that you need to work on.
That way, the next time you go play, if you have a dogleg right or a dogleg left, or the wind's blowing from the left or wind's blowing from the right, you'll be able to curve the golf ball that will be beneficial towards you.
Let's say I'm going to play a hole that has a big dogleg to the left, and I think that I can get it out and around the corner. I'm going to give you a couple of ideas on how to draw the golf ball.
After you go through your routine, make sure that you aim the golf ball further right than normal, than you're used to.
The second thing is I'm going to give you some golf grip instruction. You should turn your grip a little bit to the right. This will encourage the face to curve over.
And lastly, make sure that you're aiming with your shoulders, knees and hips to the right. And if you'd like to and you feel comfortable, you can put the right foot back a little bit.
This will encourage the golf club to swing a little bit more underneath you from the inside.
Now let me give you a little bit of information on how to make the golf ball fade.
After you've gone through your routine and you've aimed down the left side of the fairway, another golf trip instruction is to make sure that before you draw the golf club back that you turn your grip to the left a little bit. And this will delay the face from closing opposite of the draw, and the face will return more open than it will square or closed. And then swing away and that will help the golf ball fade.
Now let's spend a minute correcting a hook. If you've been struggling, really hooking a lot of your tee shots, all you have to do is check your grip. The golf grip instruction is to make sure that it's over to the left a little bit and that will encourage the face to stay open.
If you've been slicing the ball, make sure you turn your grip a little bit further to the right, and that will help the golf club close and bring the ball back to center instead of slicing so much.
Both Robert Partain & David Nevogt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Robert Partain has sinced written about articles on various topics from Interest, Golf Guide and Health. Robert Partain has been an avid golfer for over 40 years. He publishes a golf blog that is updated 4 times a week with , techniques, and information:. Robert Partain's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
David Nevogt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Golf Guide and Golf Guide. David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from toda. David Nevogt's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.