Lesson Tee: Ready, Set, Aim

When we play golf, we undoubtedly have many thoughts rattling around in our head.

What do I do in the backswing?

Is my grip ok?

Keep a good tempo, and so on.

The one thing that we often overlook or possibly get lazy about is our aim. I often see students setting up too open or too shut. This of course will lend itself to offline shots and then a lot of golf soul searching to find the remedy.

On the range it is easy to work on alignment. You can simply put a club or alignment stick down at your feet and set-up to it. But what do we do on the golf course? It is against the rules to use training aids or any outside agency to assist us in alignment.

I have found that the easiest way to get yourself aligned is to use your eyes. That may sound overly simple, but our eyes will tell the tale.

The next time you get ready to hit a shot, before you swing, simply turn your head and find out where you are looking. If you are set-up too open, then your eyes will be looking left of the target (right-handed player). If you are set up too shut then your eyes will be looking right of the target.

A good way to work on this and to improve your ability to aim is to work on how we get into the address position. The next time you go to hit a shot, take your righthand grip and walk into the stance from behind. Before you put your left hand on the club, turn your head to see where you are looking. If you are looking at the target, then you may put your left hand on the club and proceed. If you are not looking at the target, back off and start again.

I am confident that if you make this part of your pre-swing routine you will start to aim better and will hit more shots on target.

Good luck and keep swinging.

Alan Reese

PGA Professional

Salem Golf Club