Chris Sturgess
New member
I tend to accidentally aim right, and I've noticed that I'd say about three fourths of all golfers aim right without knowing it. Why does this happen and how can it be prevented?
Accidentally Aiming Right
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A golfer usually aims right because he stands alongside the ball and aims his shoulders at the target, instead of aiming his shoulders at a point well left of the target.
See - http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/GolfEncy-alignmentlines.jpg
A golfer should first aim by standing behind the ball, and see a straight line directed toward the target (point X). He should then imagine a second line for his feet that is parallel to the ball-target line, and which is aimed at point Y. Then he should address the ball making sure that his feet/hips/shouders are parallel to the ball-target line and along a line pointing at point Y.
A second check - at address, if the golfer looks out the corner of his left eye, he shouldn't be able to see his left shoulder. Then, if he turns his head a lttle to the left so that he can see his left shoulder, it should appear that the shoulder is directed to a point well left of the target.
Jeff.
See - http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/GolfEncy-alignmentlines.jpg
A golfer should first aim by standing behind the ball, and see a straight line directed toward the target (point X). He should then imagine a second line for his feet that is parallel to the ball-target line, and which is aimed at point Y. Then he should address the ball making sure that his feet/hips/shouders are parallel to the ball-target line and along a line pointing at point Y.
A second check - at address, if the golfer looks out the corner of his left eye, he shouldn't be able to see his left shoulder. Then, if he turns his head a lttle to the left so that he can see his left shoulder, it should appear that the shoulder is directed to a point well left of the target.
Jeff.
Chris Sturgess
New member
That makes sense about aiming the shoulders at the target instead of left of it. But what kind of blows my mind is that if a parallel line is running the whole way to the target from the shoulders and feet it will only be two feet or so left, which is hard to even distinguish. It seems like it maybe should be about ten yards left but I'm not standing ten yards from the ball. Even if people were aiming their shoulders at the target they should still just be 2 feet right, but most people including me sometimes get to be about 15 yards right or more even. What's up with that?
Chris Sturgess
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Brian Manzella
Administrator
Chris,
I promise to do a video on this very soon.
I really don't like Jeff's idea much.
Sorry, Jeff.
I promise to do a video on this very soon.
I really don't like Jeff's idea much.
Sorry, Jeff.
vjcapron
New
A high percentage of the time this is purely a reaction to a closed clubface and undesired ball flight (either pulls or hooks).
Sometimes, simply the FEAR of going left can lead to aiming right. The EXPECTATION of straight golf shots is just as important as the ability to hit straight shots.
Sometimes, simply the FEAR of going left can lead to aiming right. The EXPECTATION of straight golf shots is just as important as the ability to hit straight shots.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Great Post Vic.
An unbelievable number of Hall-of-Fame golfers did not aim where they wanted to hit it.
They AIMed so that their shot would finish at their target.
Chris
Do this simple experiment.
Take a golf club and put in on the ground so that the butt end of the clubshaft points at a distant target. Stand about 6' behind the club so that you are absolutely certain that it is perfectly aimed at the target (which should be about 150-200 yards away). Then set another golf club on the ground about 2' from the first club and to the left of the first club, but parallel to the first club. Where does the butt end of the second club point? I suspect that it points at a distant point (roughly 150-200 yards away) that is about 10-20 yards left of the target.
Brian - don't apologize. I learn from disagreements, especially when I am proven wrong.
Jeff.
Do this simple experiment.
Take a golf club and put in on the ground so that the butt end of the clubshaft points at a distant target. Stand about 6' behind the club so that you are absolutely certain that it is perfectly aimed at the target (which should be about 150-200 yards away). Then set another golf club on the ground about 2' from the first club and to the left of the first club, but parallel to the first club. Where does the butt end of the second club point? I suspect that it points at a distant point (roughly 150-200 yards away) that is about 10-20 yards left of the target.
Brian - don't apologize. I learn from disagreements, especially when I am proven wrong.
Jeff.
Chris Sturgess
New member
Brian, a video would be cool.
vjcapron, I buy what you're saying to a large degree, but I see a lot of slicers aiming right too.
Jeff, I will do that, but if it were truly parallel wouldn't it have to run 4' left of the target? Seems like it would have to, but again, I tend to aim right if I'm not careful so I don't trust even my basic math at this point, haha.
vjcapron, I buy what you're saying to a large degree, but I see a lot of slicers aiming right too.
Jeff, I will do that, but if it were truly parallel wouldn't it have to run 4' left of the target? Seems like it would have to, but again, I tend to aim right if I'm not careful so I don't trust even my basic math at this point, haha.
Chris
If one stands between a set of railroad tracks they appear to get closer together as one looks into the distance and they eventually appear to converge on a single point in distant space - even though they actually remain about 3 feet apart. However, if one stands behind each railroad track independently, and if one is allowed to only see 3' feet of track directly in front of one's eyes, and one projects in one's mind's eye where it is aimed, you will get a totally different result. It's a result of the mind's mental projection into distant space.
Don't trust me on this point. Take two golf clubs to a golf practice facility and try the experiment.
Jeff.
If one stands between a set of railroad tracks they appear to get closer together as one looks into the distance and they eventually appear to converge on a single point in distant space - even though they actually remain about 3 feet apart. However, if one stands behind each railroad track independently, and if one is allowed to only see 3' feet of track directly in front of one's eyes, and one projects in one's mind's eye where it is aimed, you will get a totally different result. It's a result of the mind's mental projection into distant space.
Don't trust me on this point. Take two golf clubs to a golf practice facility and try the experiment.
Jeff.
...
Sorry Jeff, but that must be wrong..
If the "feet line" club is truly parallel to the "ball-target" line club, then the feet line club will point to a place 2-feet left of the target, not 20 yards...
This is simply to prove..
Simply look down on the golfer's "rail lines" from 500 feet directly above....
You will see this:
___________________________________________________ A
___________________________________________________ B
So when you stand behind "A" you see you "ball-target" rail pointing right at your target (the flag), and viewed from "B" the "feet--line" rail must point at a spot 2-feet from the flag..
So if the feet-line rail appears to be pointing 20 yards left of target, it cannot be truly parallel to the target-line rail, but pointing too far to the left...
Sorry Jeff, but that must be wrong..
If the "feet line" club is truly parallel to the "ball-target" line club, then the feet line club will point to a place 2-feet left of the target, not 20 yards...
This is simply to prove..
Simply look down on the golfer's "rail lines" from 500 feet directly above....
You will see this:
___________________________________________________ A
___________________________________________________ B
So when you stand behind "A" you see you "ball-target" rail pointing right at your target (the flag), and viewed from "B" the "feet--line" rail must point at a spot 2-feet from the flag..
So if the feet-line rail appears to be pointing 20 yards left of target, it cannot be truly parallel to the target-line rail, but pointing too far to the left...
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mgranato
New
Puttmad is correct. If a golfer has his clubface AND his shoulders aimed at the flag form 200 yds., he would be aligned much better (only a 2' "misalignment") than if his shoulders were aiming "well left" of his target. Regardless of perception, reality dictates that the shoulders should be aimed slightly (relative to 200 yds) left of the flag if the the goal is to setup with dead straight parallel lines.
Puttmad
You are absolutely correct to say that it should point 2 feet left of the target when viewed from high above.
However, a golfer is limited to his perceptions as seen from the position of the ball.
Think of it this way.
Imagine looking at a target 200 yards away - for example, the flagpole on a distant green. Then place a club on the ground so that the butt end of the club points at the flagpole. Then get a person to stand on the green 2 feet to the left of the flagpole, and place another club alongside the first club (but two feet to the left) and point it at the person, instead of the flagpole. Do you really believe that those clubs will be parallel to each other?
The point that I am making is that when one looks at a distant object 200 yards away (point X), a difference of 2 feet (point X + 2 feet laterally = point Y, which is also 200 yards away) is so small as seen from the viewing position, that it appears that one is aiming at the same distant point (point X and point Y seem to be roughly at the same point when viewed from the position where one places the clubs on the ground).
Jeff.
You are absolutely correct to say that it should point 2 feet left of the target when viewed from high above.
However, a golfer is limited to his perceptions as seen from the position of the ball.
Think of it this way.
Imagine looking at a target 200 yards away - for example, the flagpole on a distant green. Then place a club on the ground so that the butt end of the club points at the flagpole. Then get a person to stand on the green 2 feet to the left of the flagpole, and place another club alongside the first club (but two feet to the left) and point it at the person, instead of the flagpole. Do you really believe that those clubs will be parallel to each other?
The point that I am making is that when one looks at a distant object 200 yards away (point X), a difference of 2 feet (point X + 2 feet laterally = point Y, which is also 200 yards away) is so small as seen from the viewing position, that it appears that one is aiming at the same distant point (point X and point Y seem to be roughly at the same point when viewed from the position where one places the clubs on the ground).
Jeff.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Geez...
The illusion is approx 10 feet left for every 100 yards.
The illusion is approx 10 feet left for every 100 yards.
One of the best (actually the best)things I've ever read on alignment was by David Orr talking about thinking about (and I may phrase this wrong so forgive me) was to think perpendicular to target line rather than parallel to it.(you'd really have to read the whole thing to get it)
And after seeing some of the stuff that Jeff has posted here and on other sites...... Copying pics out of books, doesn't make you a golf instructor, you'd come out well ahead to spend more time listening and less time giving advice that doesn't jive. No offense meant. Sorry.
And after seeing some of the stuff that Jeff has posted here and on other sites...... Copying pics out of books, doesn't make you a golf instructor, you'd come out well ahead to spend more time listening and less time giving advice that doesn't jive. No offense meant. Sorry.
Jared Willerson
Super Moderator
Geez Louise
You seem to have to say that a lot with these threads. Guys.....listen to the man and learn something.
I wholeheartedly agree with mcflog.
You seem to have to say that a lot with these threads. Guys.....listen to the man and learn something.
I wholeheartedly agree with mcflog.
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mcflog
I am definitely not a golf instructor. I see myself as being a relatively unbiased "reporter" and my continually-being-updated opinions reflect what I have learnt at a certain point in time. When I learn something new, I add it to my reportorial comments (acquired from books, golf instructors, and golf discussion forums). For example, I previously learnt that the shoulder-line points well left of the target. For a target 200 yards away, I guesstimated that the left shoulder was pointing about 10 yards left of the target. Brian states that it is probably 10 feet for every 100 yards, which works out to 20 feet (~ 7 yards) for a target 200 yards away. Therefore my previous guesstimation was wrong, and I will now "report" a figure of ~7 yards in my next commentary on this issue.
I am always learning, as I am new to the game of golf. I never resent being corrected if the "correction" is understandable, logical, and seemingly valid. I have no reason to believe that Brian's figure of 10 feet for every 100 yards is not valid.
Jeff.
I am definitely not a golf instructor. I see myself as being a relatively unbiased "reporter" and my continually-being-updated opinions reflect what I have learnt at a certain point in time. When I learn something new, I add it to my reportorial comments (acquired from books, golf instructors, and golf discussion forums). For example, I previously learnt that the shoulder-line points well left of the target. For a target 200 yards away, I guesstimated that the left shoulder was pointing about 10 yards left of the target. Brian states that it is probably 10 feet for every 100 yards, which works out to 20 feet (~ 7 yards) for a target 200 yards away. Therefore my previous guesstimation was wrong, and I will now "report" a figure of ~7 yards in my next commentary on this issue.
I am always learning, as I am new to the game of golf. I never resent being corrected if the "correction" is understandable, logical, and seemingly valid. I have no reason to believe that Brian's figure of 10 feet for every 100 yards is not valid.
Jeff.
Chris Sturgess
New member
Jeff, I layed down the clubs today, definitely looks like the left one is going more than 2 feet left. The ten feet every hundred yards sounds about right, maybe even a little more. So why does this illusion occur? It baffles me. I thought about it for a couple minutes or so and I got nothing.
Chris Sturgess
New member
what I see lining up...
Here's
Chris Sturgess
New member
So right now when I play I am resorting to aiming just a little left of what I feel is straight and that is actually about right. Is there a more iron clad method than this? Seems like there has to be.
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