Aiming: Lesson 1

Hi, this is Craig Hunt, PGA golf Professional and this is the first in a series of lessons on aiming.


It has been so hot and humid here...and then rainy...that I have not completed a single golf instruction video. However, I have written scripts for four videos now and the weather is getting milder, so it won't be long. I also did a trial run or rehearsal and I found out that it is very hard to create a good golf instruction video. I take my hat off to anyone who has done so.

My first videos will be on aiming or alignment, which is the most important thing in golf because it obviously affects where the ball goes AND it not so obviously affects your swing, too. Here is the first aiming lesson (without the video, of course).

This first lesson is a very important one. I just want to make a small disclaimer that this particular lesson does not take into account any fine tuning such as angle of attack adjustments, D-Plane, etc. 

 

I also will not discuss feet that may be pointed outward instead of straight ahead or the special cases of open or closed stances. I am only going to talk about basic aiming...but it may change your life if you have been aiming incorrectly.

Many of you already know that for a normal straight golf shot your body should be aimed parallel left of the target (if you are right handed) so that your body line and target line are like two railroad tracks. If you didn't know that, now you do. Your body lines should be parallel left of the ball to target line. Here is the kicker...even if you know that it is how you are supposed to do it, you probably are not doing it.

I WANT TO SAY THIS AGAIN IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE TERMS BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER. FOR A NORMAL GOLF SHOT, YOUR BODY MUST NOT POINT AT THE TARGET; IT MUST POINT LEFT OF THE TARGET...YOUR BODY MAY POINT AT THE LAKE, BUNKER, CANYON, OR WHATEVER OTHER NASTY PLACE THAT IS LOCATED JUST LEFT OF THE TARGET IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT YOUR BALL TO GO AT THE TARGET.

Before you do anything else, you must test your aim to see if there is a problem. This is pretty easy to do, but you should be very careful...like a scientist...because the slightest carelessness could prove disastrous.

First, choose a target in the distance and lay an alignment tool of some kind (a rod or straight edge of some type) on the ground pointing at that target. Reflective driveway markers available at Lowe's Hardware for about $2 each are great for this.

Second, rest your club on the alignment tool as though there were a ball there (or behind a ball that is almost touching the alignment tool) in a way that should hit the ball straight at the target.

Third, take your stance so that your toe line is parallel left of the line on which the club, ball, and target lie.

Fourth, take a second alignment tool and lay it along the toes of your shoes. Be careful that the alignment tool is the same in relation to each toe. Don't have it farther from one toe than the other or underneath one shoe (that happens a lot).

Finally, leave both alignment tools on the ground being careful not to move them and walk back behind the ball 10-15 feet and carefully observe the relationship of the two lines (bend down to see even better). They should be EXACTLY parallel (like railroad tracks) with the one on the right pointing at the target and the one on the left pointing left of the target. The two alignment tools should be exactly the same distance away from each other along their entire lengths, which is one of the definitions of a two parallel lines. 

If you are like most people, the line on the right (the ball to target line) might point at the target correctly but the line on the left (your toe or body line) will NOT point parallel LEFT of the target the way it should. The line on the left may even point directly at the target which is incorrect, or to the right of the target, which is even worse.

So how do you fix it?

(Note: The alignment rods should be on the ground where you placed them.)

First, make sure that the right alignment tool is pointed directly at the target.

Second, point the left alignment tool so that it is perfectly parallel to the right alignment tool and points parallel left of the target.

Then take your stance so that your toes are touching the left alignment tool or are equidistant from it and set your club so that it points at the target on the right alignment tool.

Now look toward the target without changing either alignment tool and get used to the way that proper alignment feels and looks.

You should now be aimed properly.

Repeat this procedure for two weeks to learn it and always check it before making any other changes to your game for the rest of your life. It is that important!

When you go live with your practice by hitting range balls, make sure you have some alignment tools placed on the ground as guides. Put one outside of the ball where you will not hit it and make sure it is pointed just to the right of the target because it is just to the right of the ball. Place another guide a couple of inches in front of your toes and parallel to the other alignment tool. These lines are not exactly on the target line or toe line but they will help you visualize the true lines and keep you parallel.

Take the time to check your alignment tools frequently during your live practice to make sure they haven't shifted.

Also change your target frequently, adjusting your alignment tools each time you change your target.

The only time you should hit a ball without these alignment tools on the ground is during actual play (that would be against the rules) but even on the course you should use a similar aiming strategy and follow a procedure that will ensure proper alignment. But that is another story and a future lesson in this series. 

It has been an honor to talk to you and I hope that this helps your golf game.