Everyone has their own unique pre-shot routine. From choosing a club to making practice swings to addressing the ball, everyone has their own idiosyncrasies. But no matter the routine, it normally ends the same way: aligning and aiming at the target.
When it comes to alignment and aim, there are two schools of thought. The first being someone who aims at an intermediate target not far out in front of the ball and then look up to the target in the distance and connect the two. The second is someone who only looks into the distance at the target to get their aim and alignment.
GOLF Top 100 Teacher Eric Alpenfels set out to test these two strategies to see which is more effective. Alpenfels, who is also the Pinehurst Director of Instruction, explains that they also added a third method for their trials, having players aim at an intermediate target and not look up to align with the distant target.
ADVERTISEMENT
The findings of the study were surprising. Using the intermediate target and not looking up resulted in a dispersion to the target 6.13 yards closer to the target and their distance increased by an average of 3.11 yards. The method also ended up slightly increasing the players swing speed and smash factor.
The method seems uncomfortable on first thought, and it would certainly take some getting used to, but the payoff could be worth it. Next time you’re out practicing, try all three methods, you never know what will work best.
To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.
ADVERTISEMENT