How well do you Aim?

Sometimes we don't give ourselves credit for a good shot because we judge the result as right or left of the target.

In actuality, the shot may have been executed perfectly to where you were aimed (which may not have been to your target).

Instead of checking for faulty alignment, we assume bad swing mechanics and change our swing to get on-target results. Professional golfers always check their alignment first when they miss their target because they don't want to make a swing change unless they have to.. and you shouldn't either.

When giving a golf lesson I always ask the student to tell me where they are aimed. The scenario we see most often is the student who is aimed anywhere from 20 to 40 yards right of their target.

In my experience, incorrect club face and body alignment stems from a conceptual misunderstanding of what constitutes proper aim. The student gets his or her body pointed directly at the target leaving their clubface pointing well to the right of their target (for right-handed players).

When you see someone place a club across their hips pointing at the target after an errant shot to the right, it's clear that this is their concept. Some students have even heard of or feel they employ the "railroad track" image of correct alignment (outside rail=ball target line, inside rail=body alignment), but they forget that these alignment tracks do not converge in the distance as railroad tracks appear to.

With improper aim, the golfer then starts reacting to the flight of the ball, which is to the right of the target, and starts making adjustments in his or her golf swing to get the ball to the target. This often results in a downswing which is too much outside to inside relative to the target line, and delivers the clubhead in a weak, glancing blow across the ball. Not only is direction compromised, but distance as well. After all, the mind controls the body and you will figure out a way to compensate for poor alignment and direct the ball to the target without even realizing it!

To ensure that your clubface is pointed in the right direction, add aiming to an intermediate target to your pre-shot routine. Stand behind your ball (so that your eyes are parallel with the ground) and pick something like a twig or an old divot directly in line between your ball and the target. Step into the shot aiming the clubface at your intermediate target, then set your body parallel to the line established by the intermediate target.

Waggle, take a look at the target, and make a good swing right to where you are aimed...the target.

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