How to Align Your Body for a Golf Swing

Many recreational golfers fail to properly align their bodies while taking a shot. Some golfers start out with poor body alignment during the address, while others change their alignment during the swing. Some alignment problems, like shuffling your feet in the backswing, are easy to spot. Others, like poor hip alignment when the club head contacts the ball, are less conspicuous. With a little work, you can learn to align your body properly for a great golf swing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nine iron
• Five iron
• Driving range
• Golf balls

1. Go to the local driving range and rent a bucket of balls. Use a range on which you can hit the ball off grass instead of a mat. Bring along a nine iron and a five iron (or a six iron if you use a hybrid in place of the five iron). Warm up with a few stretches and practice swings.

2. Hit three or four range balls with your normal setup, paying attention to the ball flight.

3. Set a ball down and take your normal address position, just as you did with the other swings. Aim at a specific target, like a flag.

4. Hold the golf club with your left hand (for right-handers) in the same position as when you addressed the ball. Walk around behind your club and look to see where the club head is in relation to the ball and the target. Don't move the club.

5. Move the club head in relation to the ball, so that the ball is in the middle of the head and in a direct line to the target.

6. Hold the club in place and return to your starting address position. Notice how the ball looks in relation to the club face. The ball should appear to be too close to the hosel from the address position, even though it is in the middle of the club head.

7. Note how you align your feet for the swing. Address the ball, holding your five iron but having your nine iron within reach. Place the nine iron in front of your shoes so that it forms a straight line from the tip of one shoe to the tip of the other shoe.

8. Stand behind the nine iron to look down the shaft to see if it points to the flag, three feet left of the flag (good) or somewhere else (not so good). If you slice the ball, you probably naturally line up with your feet pointed well left of the target, promoting a slice (for right-handers).

9. Move the shaft of the nine iron to point it a foot left of the target (for right-handers).

10. Address the ball with the five iron in hand and your toes along the edge of the nine iron, which is resting on the ground. Pay attention to how you are aimed.

11. Take your normal swing to hit the ball. Don't worry about where the ball goes.

12. Hold your position at the end of the swing and look down at your feet to see where they point now. Your front foot should still be near the shaft of the nine iron, as should your back foot. It's all right if your back heel is up in the air.

13. Hit some balls until your feet remain in position. You may need to reposition the nine iron on the ground after hitting.

14. Address the ball with your toes touching the club on the ground. Without turning your hips, knees or shoulders, move the five iron so that it runs across your body at your hips. Adjust your body as needed to make the five iron on your hips parallel to the nine iron on the ground.

15. Move the five iron across your chest (near your shoulders) and position yourself so that the five iron is parallel to the nine iron on the ground. Don't adjust your hips. Instead, keep them in the same position they were in during the previous step.

16. Hold your body in position and move the five iron back to the ball. Now swing. For each subsequent shot, check your body alignment at your toes, hips and shoulders.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a friend to help you check your alignment at the driving range. Return the favor by renting a bucket of balls for your friend and checking his alignment.
• Make checking your alignment a part of your pre-shot routine for every shot you take.
• Bad alignment also makes you miss putts.

Who Can Help:

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[Swingthoughts]

on 2/22/2008 Hello! I understand about alignment, but I have been stuck on the two different forms of shaft and clubhead alignment. One version states to play all iron shots from the middle of your stance. Others state the club should have your hands in front of the face at address and impact. I am confused and would like to figure out which is beneficial. I also notice that Pros seem to have their hands and shaft BEHIND the ball at address.

I hope you can read this, and if you have any suggestions, I will appreciate them.
Thanks,
Swingthoughts
Brian