Symptom: Well struck shots that are straight but off target. Your misses are very repeatable, prompting you to say things like "right again", or "&%$# can't stop pulling it left" or something similar.
Overview: Before you address the ball, stand in back of your ball and look at your distant, intended target. Pick a spot on the ground about two feet in front of your ball on your intended line. Keep your eye on this spot as you walk up the the ball to take your stance. At address, aim the clubface at your chosen spot, not the target in the distance. You might look at your distant target one more time, but before you execute your backswing, check one last time that your clubface is still aimed at the spot two feet in front of you.
Why it works: It's hard to aim at a target 200 yards away with any certainty. When your target is far away, it is easy to get off line without you knowing, which causes you to compensate during your swing, leading to shots that either "feel good" but are off line, or are off target "just like the last time". How annoying!
It's just simply much easier to aim at something that is close to you. And, since you can't put a club on the ground like you do on the driving range, it's doubly important that you use this method to ensure proper alignment.
Have a look at this distinguished threesome -- Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, and Rory McIlroy. All of them line up their shots from behind, in order to have some sort of intermediate aiming point to help them stay aligned as they set up to the ball. Have a look:
There is another, less obvious reason that keeping your focus "close in" is valuable. On the golf course, dwelling on what is "out there" can put negative thoughts in your head. You might start to focus on the bunker, or the water, or the tree, or whatever. Don't let your mind wander down those negative paths! Pick your intended target by looking "out there", but then line up and execute your swing "close in". A close-in aiming point can help you stay calmer and more focused on the course.
Watch the pros on TV -- how many of them pick a close-in aiming point? Most of them! So why do you think you don't have to?
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