Symptom: Your swing worked fine on the range. But when you take it to the course, you have erratic shots, slicing, hooking, pulling, pushing. All manner of grief and woe. And you can't figure out how you could hit it so pure on the range and so bad on the course...
Overview: At the range, lay a club you are not using on the ground, and aim it at your intended target. Line your toes up to the club, and keep the club between you and the ball. You are now aligned properly, and can execute your swing.
Why it works: It is actually very difficult for you to tell if you are aligned properly. It is easy to "feel" like you are aligned well, when in fact you are systematically aligned to the left or right of the target. This misalignment will cause a natural slice/pull or hook/push. But you will not be aware of your misalignment, because you have become comfortable with your (incorrect) setup on the driving range. Or worse, you may compensate your swing to hit it straight despite your (mis)alignment, which won't allow you to improve.
All good players, of course, know this. Almost every PGA Tour pro will use a club on the ground to help their alignment on the range. Let's have Anthony Kim demonstrate for us. Notice that he is using an additional club on the outside of the ball for extra guidance:
The goal of the driving range session is to prepare you to play on the course. On the golf course, you can always aim at a spot right in front of you to help your aim, but you can't use a club on the ground to help you with your alignment. That's why it's crucial that you do so on the range, like Anthony Kim, so that you teach yourself the way proper alignment feels. Hopefully you can take that feeling out on the course, and eliminate those wayward shots that cost you strokes!
Adam Scott knows this too--have a look at his sweet swing, and notice the stick on the ground aiming to the left of the white tent in the distance:
Think this tip will get you aimed in the right direction? Then be like Anthony Kim and Adam Scott the next time you are on the range, and share the knowledge with your friends -- Share, Like, Tweet, or Email below!
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May all your putts roll true -- GolfTipEditor
