One of the most common mistakes amateurs make is improper
alignment. Some think they should align their feet at the target, others try to
get their shoulders parallel to it. Hey, some golfers try to align everything
at the target! They’re all wrong.
The correct way to align your shots is to always begin by
first assessing your target from behind the ball. This will give you a
perspective of the entire hole and help you aim right where you want the ball
to go. Secondly, before you make your actual stance, set the clubface behind
the golf ball and align it directly at the target. Do this before, not after,
you get into your stance. PGA Tour players have a knack for aligning the
clubhead in this fashion. Pay attention to how they do it the next time you
tune in.
After you have the right clubface alignment, then comes time
to situate the rest of your body. Most players benefit from aligning their
lower body left of the target line and their upper body parallel to the target
line. There’s actually no right answer as to what works best for you, but one
thing is for sure. Aligning your body directly at the target rarely works. It
usually leads to crossovers and over-the-top swings. Keep your body aiming left
of the target line, and experiment with what works best for you. But be sure to
align that clubface first!
TRICK 2: Choose The Right Club
Most amateurs choose what club to use based on length. On
shorter holes, they use shorter clubs. Longer holes, longer clubs; and so on.
But better players know there’s more to selecting the right club than that. It
also includes things like natural shot tendencies, wind, hazards and whether or
not hidden dangers lurk in prime landing areas.
