Lining up to the target

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

Seems that everytime I hit an iron, and it goes straight, it is off target.

When I line up, it looks ok to me, but when I hit it ,it goes off line. (not slicing or hooking) just off line.

Is there a way to tell, that you are lined up to the target from a distance?

It usually happens at over a 100 yards. Shorter shots stay pretty much on target.

[jojosasser]

Which way are you missing? It helps to aim your iron towards the target first and then set your feet. A lot of my problems with aiming is usually when I line myself up to the target instead of the ball, which is completely opposite of what you should do.

Joey

Originally Posted by tn-golfnut-from-nj

Seems that everytime I hit an iron, and it goes straight, it is off target.

When I line up, it looks ok to me, but when I hit it ,it goes off line. (not slicing or hooking) just off line.

Is there a way to tell, that you are lined up to the target from a distance?

It usually happens at over a 100 yards. Shorter shots stay pretty much on target.

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

It helps to aim your iron towards the target first and then set your feet.

Are you talking about facing the target first, and then stepping to the side?

[Eracer]

There is a difference between shots that go straight, but are offline because of alignment issues, and shots that go straight, but are offline because of swing issues. The former can be fixed by learning how to align yourself properly. The latter, the results of which are properly called a pull or a push, are more difficult to fix, as they require analysis of your swing. Before I started taking lessons at GolfTec, my main error was a consistent pull. I thought it was an alignment error, or maybe a problem with my lie angles, but video and launch monitor analysis proved that I was swinging the clubhead outside-in with the clubhead square to the swingline. It's taking me a lot to overcome that over-the-top move that I'd had for 25 years, but I'm getting there.

My point is this - you should see a pro for this one. You can try fixing your alignment, but you may not be addressing swing problems that alignment can't fix.

As far as alignment goes, it's simple. Go to the range. Put a tee in the ground about three feet in front of your address position. Step back and lay a club on the line formed by the tee and your target (pick a SPECIFIC target). Put a ball a couple of inches towards you, about in the middle of the shaft. Then lay another club down, parallel to the first, about where your feet will be. You now have a set of parallel lines pointing directly at the target that you can align your feet and shoulders to. As part of your routine, you should learn to get behind the ball, sight from the ball to the target, and pick out an intermediate target (a blade of grass or something) that is on that line. During play you can align yourself to that intermediate target. During your range sessions, use the parallel shafts to reinforce that the intermediate target is aligned with the target. Don't just start hitting balls one after the other. Step back, see the line, pick the target a couple feet out (at the range it's the tee you first put down) , align yourself to it (using the shafts to help) and make your shot.

If you are still seeing your shots go straight left and/or straight right, then there are other issues.

Sorry for being so wordy. Hope this helps.

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

Thanks guys..I'll try it.

[SiberianDVM]

You can also use a line on the ball: it's very helpful for alignment on the tee as well as for putting. Both of those uses are completely legal. In the fairway it is not legal in competition, but if you are just practising, I don't see why not.

[rob0225]

I have a similiar issue with alignment, what looks that I'm aimed at my target to me, but is usually aimed right in reality. What works for me, is I pick a spot on the ground about 6-12 inches in front of the ball that is inline with my intended target line (piece of grass, divit, etc). I then set my club to this line and then step in and set my stance.

Robert

[Pa Jayhawk]

Just if you use a shaft to align you feet parallel to the target, and go right against the shaft, do so with your heels and not your toes. Because you normally will point out your front toe, if you use your toe you will likely be aiming at the target and not parallel. I personally use the ball with the line as Doc mentioned. Seemed much simpler to assure alignment when simply lining up and looking down.

Also if you are talking about wedges, it is common to pull them as you are more over the ball and have the tendency to have a more over the top swing. My instructor when I started told me to stand with a more open stance, which to me seem contradictory to logic but is more in relation to the swing and not the stance. Although I choose to simply adjust through aim, because the swing felt unnatural to me.

[jojosasser]

I'm talking about holding the club in your right hand (if you're right handed) and squaring up the club to the target, then assume your stance. Your eyes can deceive you into thinking you're lined up, when you actually have your body lined up to the target; which means your club and the ball is aimed to the right. Just a thought.

Joey

Originally Posted by tn-golfnut-from-nj

Are you talking about facing the target first, and then stepping to the side?

[cypressperch]

when first starting out is that they line up the ball towards the target and then line up their bodies towards the same target. Out there somewhere the body line intersects the target line. This is the beginning of the over-the-top move that can plague a golfer forever. The remedy is usually in correcting alinement. So we come to the railroad track method. You establish the target line; next, you line up your body parallel to the target line. The target line is now the top rail; the body line is the bottom rail. When you are lined up well and raise your left arm straight up from your side so that that arm is parallel to the target line, if you point your finger, it will point a little LEFT of the target. Before this correction (using the railroad track) that finger would have been pointing at the target.

Next most common alinement problem. Many folks get to the railroad system, but make the mistake of placing emphasis on the feet being lined up parallel to the target line. You can get the feet lined up pretty well, but the problem is the shoulders. They are almost always still open. When you go to a pro, he will correct your problem with the open shoulders because he can see it, you can't. If this is your problem, any second pair of eyes can tell you if your shoulders are still open. It does not have to be a pro. I would get a golfing buddy to check you out at the range, and this might solve your problem.

The little trick I mentioned about raising the left arm actually works pretty well. If your left finger points way to the left, you have your shoulders open. My favorite method when I cannot access someone else's eyes, is to imagine a person way down the target line looking back at me. He should not be able to see my right arm since if my shoulders were parallel to the target line, my left arm would hide my right arm. When you address the ball and swivel your head toward the target, you can pretty much tell if someone down there could see your right arm. If he saw your right arm to the left of your left arm (from his point of view), your shoulders are open. If he saw your right arm to the right of your left arm, your shoulders would have to be closed.

The good news about your particular problem is that even though you are probably lined up wrong, you are making square contact with the ball since you are not slicing or hooking the ball. If you get lined up correctly and remember that the clubhead makes an arc in which coming back to the ball you have a from the inside, to square to the target line, to back to the inside path, I think you will see more and more shots going straight at your target. As always, do not be surprised that changes feel awkward at first. Loosen up, swing smooth. Also, swing considerably slower until the new idea starts to take hold. Then gradually speed up to a regular, useable swing speed.

Best of luck with your game. Sincerely, Cypressperch

[JEFF4i]

Hmmm. What used to help me, and is just part of my setup now, is setting my club on my hips to line up.

[dave.]

It could be feet,hips or shoulders,or a combination.Or,you could be lined up and your swing is at fault.I think you need a pro to check your out

[Horseballs]

OP,
Here's what I used to do when I had alignment/setup problems. Use the toe of your club to draw a line in the grass from your ball to the target. Draw a parallel line where your feet should be. Hold a club to your shoulders and square them to the line, same with your hips. You are set up square. You'll get used to this feeling in a few shots. Try to figure this out on your own before you break down and get a lesson, as it is more rewarding than paying some dude to figure it out for you.

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

Thanks for all your help guys..I feel like I should be paying for all this good advice.
The check is in the mail .

[cypressperch]

with a full, double-your-money back guarantee for any advice that I receive payment for and which does not work.

Cypressperch