How to line up your golf shot square to your target seems to be one of the most common mistakes that beginner and even some advanced golfers make. They often line up right of their target (for righties, or left for lefties). Their feet and shoulder line will end up pointing directly at their target and their clubface will be pointing in a direction that is parallel to their feet and shoulder line, which will cause the ball to go directly right of where they intended. In order to hit that ball directly at your target, you need to make sure you are lining up square to your target.
Have you ever hit a perfectly straight golf shot that just happened to go perfectly right of your target? The main reason why this happens is that people get into the habit of assuming that since their body is swinging the club, that their body is what gets lined up to the target. They get into a routine of setting up to the ball and looking over their front shoulder to see their target. In theory, this does make sense because the body is swinging the club. But, it is the clubface that actually determines the direction of the ball flight. That is why your swing path becomes so important to hitting straight shots as well, because your body is responsible for keeping the clubface facing your target at impact. It is the combination of your swing path and your square alignment to your target that create straight ball flights. But first, you need to make sure you are aligning yourself correctly to your target.
In the diagram to the left (click on it to see a larger image), you will notice how the feet and shoulder line are lining up parallel to the clubface line, which will be pointing directly at your target. This theory even applies to putting, which is where the error most commonly takes place. If you are having trouble with this, there are a few things you can do to quickly improve how you visualize your setup and help you to make sure you are doing this every time.
How to correct this problem
1) You need to practice your new setup at the driving range in order to develop a new pattern and routine. Take two golf clubs and lay them parallel to each other. One will be laying just outside the ball your are hitting and will be facing towards your target. The other club will be laying on the ground at your feet line. When you are hitting balls at the range and practicing pre-shot routines, and grabbing different clubs, and putting more balls down, it is easy to walk yourself right into an incorrect alignment. The clubs on the ground will make sure you are stepping right into a square alignment every time.
2) Whether you are on the practice range or on the golf course, find a target that is parallel to the actual target you are aiming for. Using a tree or something to line your shoulders up to can help you visualize your parallel lines. One imaginary line will be running from your feet and shoulder line, and another imaginary line will be running from your clubface to your target.
*Side note: Just remember that according to The Rules of Golf, on the golf course, you can lay down clubs on the ground to help you with alignment, but you must pick them up before hitting your shot. This Rule is covered under Rule 8, which deals with Advice and Indicating Line of Play. See Decision 8-2a/1 for details.
Once you have mastered the basics of this task, try taking your game to a new level by learning how to hit a draw and a fade. These two advanced golf shots are executed by simply adjusting a square target line. Click here to read about how to hit a draw and a fade.
As you can see, learning how to line up your golf shot square to your target is essential to hitting straight golf shots. Breaking old habits can be as easy as developing good new habits by practicing at the driving range. Always remember... Practice does not make perfect... Practice makes permanent.
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