Accidentally Aiming Right

[MSchreuder]

Is it not also a question of the perspective of when you are standing over the ball. Your head is not in the same line as your shoulders, yet the left shoulder (for righties) that is the point of reference to your target once you are over the ball. This means that if you look at the target and the shoulder looks like it is pointing at the flag, then it has to be left of the flag due to the angles.

This is something that I struggle with, I really battle to convert the line on the floor that I set from behind the ball into a good setup position. I usually end up closed.

 

[JeffM]

Theoretically, one doesn't have to see where the toe line points. One could stand behind the ball, and determine the ball-target line in one's mind. Then, only look at a 6 feet length area in the vicinity of the ball and imagine a second line that is parallel to the ball-target line, but approximately 20-24" to the left of the ball-target line. Keep a memory of that line in one's mind when you approach the ball from the side, and set your feet on that line, and then place the clubface behind the ball so that it is perpendicular to the ball-target line. That's all one needs to do to be perfectly aligned.

I like to double check my alignment by making sure that my shoulders are parallel to the ball-target line and they should seem to be pointing well left of the target (approximately 7 yards left for a target that is 200 yards away). Also, at address, if one has one's head centered and looking at the ball, one should not be able to see one's left shoulder out of the corner of the left eye (using peripheral vision). If one can easily see the left shoulder, then it suggests that the shoulders are in a closed position.

Jeff.

 

[Andy75]

Chris,

I promise to do a video on this very soon.

So did Brian ever do a video on this? I have a huge problem aiming to far to the right and don't know quite how to fix it.

Is it just to practise with a club on the ground aimed at the target? Or one yard right of the target in my case since I try to soft draw it.

 

[savydan]

Get two golf clubs.

Put the first one on the target line, behind the ball about a foot or two, and point it through the ball and to the target. OK, a yard to the right of the target if it makes you feel better.

Then put the second club on the ground where your stance line would be and MAKE SURE THIS SECOND CLUB IS PARALLEL TO THE FIRST CLUB MENTIONED ABOVE.

That's it. Have fun.

 

[Andy75]

Get two golf clubs.

Put the first one on the target line, behind the ball about a foot or two, and point it through the ball and to the target. OK, a yard to the right of the target if it makes you feel better.

Then put the second club on the ground where your stance line would be and MAKE SURE THIS SECOND CLUB IS PARALLEL TO THE FIRST CLUB MENTIONED ABOVE.

That's it. Have fun.

Thanks! I'll give it a go.

 

[tgmnovice]

alignment is all about clubface control and awareness.great players know where the target is. It's all about creating a ball flight and getiing you mind wrapped around how best to use that ball flight.most players even good players use their eyes and their peripheral vision poorly when sizing up a shot.learn to bring your eyes in more from the left or from the right until you get a sense of what works best for you. do this exercise-stand behind the ball look at something 40 yds left of your target gradually bring your eyes toward the target-stop a few yards left of the target without letting your eyes look at or right of the target-set up hit a shot-hit several-use the same process coming in from the right -see(get it) which one works best-use it

 

[softconsult]

Here is my thought on this. You need a friend, preferably someone who knows something about golf, but not totally necessary. You instruct them concering where you intend to align you shoulders. So you have a flag and trees or something in the background. Pick out your exact aiming point.

Take your stance and hold a club so that the shaft touches the front of both shoulders. This is a very, very old method. So you instruct your friend that you intend to aim this club at a specific point in the background. Have them stand exactly behind you on your shoulder line.

Now go through you normal setup routine. Ready? Have them step in with the club, they put it in place across your shoulders. They hold it still and you step away. Observe where you are actually aimed.

Adjust your aim. Now the next step is too correct the compensations that you are used to making given your alignment to the right.

Another way to check is whether you can see your left shoulder at address. If you can, then your shoulders may be closed.

 

[spktho]

So did Brian ever do a video on this? I have a huge problem aiming to far to the right and don't know quite how to fix it.

I would also love to see a video on this.

 

[Shot Limit]

Bump.

 

[jake2]

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.

I agree that this is part of the problem.

I think that one other issue may be that many players are not tilting their heads down enough to look straight at the ball and/or not turning head around neck (lifting the head) when looking at the target. For me Geoff Magnums Mt Fuji concept seems to work well for checking the alignment for long shots as well as puts.

Of course you still need to check alignment of feet-hips-shoulders relative to each other.

 

[DCgolf]

I think golfers of every level aim away from the their predominant ball flight. No other reason; show me a straight hitter and I'll show you someone who can usually aim pretty well. All the parallel alignments drills will not help if you can't stop the hook or pull. It's always a reaction to the shot you just hit or the shot you usually hit.