Use Alignment Tricks

Using alignment tricks is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve accuracy and consistency in golf. Most amateur golfers miss their target not because of a bad swing, but because they aimed incorrectly before even swinging. Here’s a breakdown of alignment techniques:

Why Alignment Matters

• Proper alignment ensures your swing path matches your intended target line.

• Poor alignment leads to compensations in your swing (e.g., slicing or pulling to correct aim).

Key Alignment Tricks

1. The Club-on-the-Ground Drill

• Place a club or alignment stick parallel to your target line on the ground.

• Set your feet along that club to make sure you’re square to the target.

• Use a second club perpendicular at your lead foot to ensure ball position is correct.

2. Intermediate Target Method

• Pick a spot (a leaf, divot, or discoloration) 2–3 feet in front of your ball on the target line.

• Align your clubface to that spot first, then set your feet parallel.

• This short target is easier to aim at than a distant flag.

3. Shoulder and Hip Check

• After setting up, place a club across your shoulders, then your hips.

• Make sure they’re parallel to the target line, not open or closed.

• Many golfers aim their feet correctly but leave shoulders misaligned.

4. Closed-Eye Test

• Set up as usual, then close your eyes and swing.

• Open your eyes after impact and see where the ball went.

• If it’s consistently offline, your alignment likely needs adjustment.

5. Pre-Shot Routine

• Always aim the clubface first, then build your stance around it.

• Many amateurs do the opposite, causing the clubface to point off target.

Bonus: Visualization Trick

• Imagine railroad tracks:

  • The outer rail (ball to target) is your clubface line.

  • The inner rail (feet, hips, shoulders) is parallel to that line.

• This mental picture keeps everything square.