Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
The easiest ways to lower scores for most recreational golfers come from establishing the basics – and the simple ones at that. That means you have to set your grip, ball position, aim, stance, etc. It may not be fun to work on these things, but putting them in a consistent spot will do wonders for your game.
Purpose is perhaps the most consequential of these fundamentals once you get into the course. If you’re not aiming where you think you are, you’re putting yourself in a bad position before you even swing the club.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve hit a terrible shot on the course, only to find out you were aiming right there. Sometimes our brains will trick us into making you feel like you’re facing one way, when in reality you’re standing in a completely different spot.
If that sounds like you, check out the video below. It teaches you a simple alignment trick so you never have to worry about where you’re aiming again.
Try this aiming trick
There are only two areas where you can place your ball before taking a shot (assuming you play it): the green and the tee box. When you’re on the green, you always align your ball when you put it down, so why not do the same on the tee box?
When I go to serve my ball, I always point the logo or my sharp line along my target line. It doesn’t have to be super accurate, but having that line pointing along my target line allows me to take my position with confidence, knowing I’m properly aimed.
If you want to align your ball even more precisely, try choosing an intermediate target between your ball and the far target. I like to find a discoloration in the grass or turf and then use that as an intermediate target. Now that I’ve picked that spot, I line my ball up and aim straight at it.
If you have problems with aiming, you sometimes place the ball with a good aim, but then you notice that it feels completely wrong when you step towards the ball. That’s okay! As long as you orient the ball correctly when you place it, you can swing away knowing you’re focused on your target.
Alignment ball
Nearly 20 feet of retractable cable! With the Alignment Ball you can easily and quickly work on the starting line on the putting green. Built-in spokes make installation simple and efficient. Whether it’s straight putts or breaking putts, this retractable string can do it all! Includes carrying bag. User manual
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