Aim and Alignment |
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Editor's Note: The following is the first in a continuing series of bi-weekly instruction articles and is collaboration between Mr. Irvin and Golfer's Guide's Online Editor, Brandon Underwood. These two words are often used in golf, but what do they really mean? If you have poor aim and/or alignment, this will force you to manipulate to achieve an acceptable result. If not, well, you know the outcome.
As we get started,
the first thing you should always do prior to striking your first golf ball in
each training session is set up a workstation. The best players in the world
never assume they are “aimed/aligned” properly.
They will always have references
lying on the ground insuring they are correct! That said, I highly advise that
you set a shaft down in front of the hitting area representing your intended
target line. Then you can lay another shaft down that is parallel to the target
line for a body reference.
Keep in mind that
everything you do in your setup and swing is in reference to the intended
target line. Most reference their toe-line when working on alignment. Reality
is that the club dictates where the ball goes; not your body. Those that align
their toe-line, knees, hips and shoulders in the direction of the target are
actually aimed way to the right of the target. Given this scenario, you must
literally pull the ball back (or strike the outside of the golf ball) to the
target to achieve success. I love the saying “If you have poor aim, you’d
better not have a good swing!” This saying pretty much sums it up. The first thing you should do when setting up the golf ball is “aim” the clubface at the target.
To help insure that the face is pointing where you would like the
ball to go, try picking out a spot that is 12” to 18” in front of the ball.
This is commonly referred to as an “intermediate target”. This allows you to
take a target that could be up to 300 yards away and make it 18” away from the
ball! You and I both know that it will be much easier to align to something 18”
away versus 300 yards. As well, it forces you to reference the clubface in
aiming rather than the body. The next step is to “align” the body to the pre-set club.
Note: Once you have the
clubface aimed, freeze the handle and hands, and then set your body up to the
club. Do not let the handle move as you align your body to the club as it will
change the aim of the clubface. In nearly 22 years of teaching golf, I have never had to show someone how to setup to a golf club! What’s my point? If you aim the clubface first then align the body to the club, you will improve your direction as well as your swing! Due to poor aim and alignment, your swing will have to be a series of manipulations to achieve the result you so desire. Example: If you are aiming way to the right (right-handed golfer) then you must come across (pull) the ball to get it back to the target. We both know this won’t be possible to do all day, hence the word “inconsistency”.
About Jim Irvin: Mr. Irvin is in his first year as Director of Instruction at Belfair Country Club. He has been a PGA member since 1993 and studied under renowned instructor Jim Flick for a number of years. Flick coached notables such as Jack Nicklaus and Tom Lehman. Irvin was named "Teacher of the Year" for the Southern Ohio Section of the PGA in 2000 and 2005. He has been a participant on the NIKE and Buy.com Tours. Irvin is a 4-time winner of the Northern Ohio PGA Match Play tournament ('89, '91-'93) and has won 15 PGA Section events. At Ohio Wesleyan University, he was a two-time All-American and was named NCAC Conference Player of the Year in 1987. He was also selected to the conference's All-Decade Team (1984-1993).
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By Jim Irvin, Director of Instruction Belfair Country Club
