Are you one of those golfers who finds themselves struggling with aim and alignment on most shots? If so, you’re not alone, as this can be one of the trickiest things to master as you work towards lowering scores.
But you can’t hit it close to the pin if, you know, you’re not actually aimed at the pin, so it’s time to upgrade your alignment in order to hit the shot you envision in your head.
For instance, I can’t tell you how many times I hit a great shot off the club, but watch it go directly into a bunker because I was aimed improperly. Talk about a major buzzkill, right? It’s deflating each time it happens, and just crushes any hope of scoring low on that hole.
While there are a number of different ways to try and dial in your aim and alignment, GOLF Teacher to Watch Todd Casabella shares a new way to do it — so take a look below and see if Casabella’s trick can help you hit shots closer to the actual target.
Try this easy trick to dial in the perfect aim
According to Casabella, the way you align yourself to the target is always a “personal thing,” with golfers using all sorts of different methods to feel comfortable before hitting a shot.
He then lists a few popular ways that golfers do this.
“Most golfers know the strategy of picking a spot out in front of the ball, about a foot or two on the target line, with the line it creates being used to set them parallel to the target line,” Casabella explains. “While most people have heard this, many of them still struggle.”
So why is aim and alignment so difficult for most players? Casabella says there’s two main culprits.
“The line is incomplete, and the line is on the front half of the body,” he adds. “I say it’s incomplete because we start behind the ball and address it first with our back foot, assuming that it’s in the correct position to the target line.”
Instead of sticking to the same old routine that keeps producing poor results, Casabella encourages golfers to try a more complete process — which incorporates finding a spot behind the ball as well (seen in the photo below).
“I think the traditional process is incomplete,” he argues. “I still want you pick out a spot in front of the ball, but I also want you to pick out a spot behind the ball. This will make it much easier to get the back foot set correctly with more consistently.”
Casabella then details how this new routine should look, which will help dial in your aim in golf.
“First, identify your target, then pick out a spot in front of the ball and behind the ball that are in-line with the target and the ball,” he says. “Now walk into the shot and place the club behind the ball, pointing directly at the spot in front of it. Then place your back foot perpendicular to the line created by the ball and the spot behind it.
“Finally, place your front foot perpendicular to the line created by the ball and the spot in front of it. If you need to move further away or closer to the ball, feel free, but be sure to move both feet equally.”
“With consistent parallel left alignment, your ability to hit solid golf shots will increase,” Casabella explains. “You’ll also start to get actual feedback on the golf course from any mishits, because you’ll be able to take misalignment out of the equation.”
