==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 34 Date 09/04/07 ==================================================== ==================================================== Golf Tip : Alignment and Setup ==================================================== If anyone has a golf question that they would like answered, please email your question to: teachingpro@bataviacc.com and I'll do my best to answer it in an upcoming newsletter. In the last two issues I answered questions about slicing and hooking, so this week I'm going to get back to basics a bit with some thoughts on alignment and setup. I seen it written that 85% of the golfing population slices the ball, and my experience bears that out. Many times the way a player aligns their body in relation to the target sets them up for failure right off the bat. Like the majority of golfers, you probably align your body to the target and then the club to your body. The problem that develops is that aligning your body to the target is harder than aligning your club, because you have a better frame of reference from the visible clubhead than you do with body part references. If your body alignment is off just a few inches, then your clubface will also be a few inches to the left or right of your target. This difference in angle on a 150-yard shot can result in your ball ending up as much as 20 or 30 yards left or right. Another mistake many golfers make is aligning their body at the target, then aligning their clubface at the target too. This promotes an outside in slice swing more than almost any other factor. Your body should be aligned to a point to the left of the target (righties) and your clubface should be aligned square to the ball-target line, which should be at the target. Use the railroad track analogy, you are standing on the inside rail, and the ball-target line is represented by the outside rail. This represents the "parallel left" position for your body, which is where it should be for a normal shot that you are not trying to shape one way or the other. Here's a very specific alignment and setup procedure that you should use for every shot, every time; if you do I'll guarantee you more accurate shots than you are hitting now: 1) from behind the ball, pick out an intermediate target that you will use for your ball-target line. 2) away from the ball, get your grip, take one or two practice swings and envision a perfect shot in your mind. 3) step up to the ball with your feet close together and set the clubface up square to the ball-target line. If it's an iron shot setup, make sure that you use the scored lines at the bottom of the clubface for reference, not the top of the clubhead. I've had many students think they should the top of the clubhead and as a result were setting up with a very closed clubface. 4) align your toes parallel to the ball target line, so that your body is now parallel left to the target, and adjust the spacing of your feet according to where you want the ball placement. Move your left foot first, then your right. 5) remember to align your shoulders so that they're on a parallel plane to your toes. If they are aligned on the same plane, they will serve the same purpose. Don't forget this step - it's important. Do this before every shot, every time. Practice this procedure 25 times a day for two weeks and I will give you the TCT (that's me) guarantee that the results will amaze you.