How To Use Golf Alignment Sticks
- Putting Pace. This is a brilliant drill for tuning yourself into the pace of the greens. Place an alignment stick on...
- Shot Shaping. If you have access to a grass range, this is a great way to practice your shot shaping. Place an...
- Chipping strikes. Here is a similar drill for chipping. Place the alignment stick on the ground...
How do you use alignment sticks in golf?
“Place the alignment stick down beside the club grip, take your normal address and the alignment stick should be in contact with you a little bit above your belt line. In the backswing, rotate your body and the alignment stick is still in contact with your side.
Why you should practice with golf alignment sticks?
Top drills with alignment sticks
- Beginner’s alignment drill. “Put two sticks down… Here’s the mistake people make: they aim themselves too much. ...
- Simple swing plane drill. “Set your stick in the ground at the shaft angle of the club you’re going to use. ...
- Alignment stick drill for correct hip turn. ...
- Alignment stick drill for correct body rotation. ...
- Summary of alignment stick drills. ...
How to properly use alignment sticks when practicing?
Three Parallel Lines Drill
- Keep one alignment stick on the ground, laying down your feet line.
- Then, have your friend take the second stick and hold it down your forearms and shoulders.
- Those two lines ought to be parallel to the alignment stick on the ground.
How to set up alignment sticks?
Your alignment will depend on your shot shape
- Straight shot. Train tracks. Aim your clubface at the target, and your feet/body parallel left.
- Push draw. Aim your clubface slightly right of the target, and your feet/body further to the right. ...
- Pull fade. Aim your clubface slightly left of the target, and your feet/body further to the left. ...
Do golf alignment sticks help?
There's so much that goes into a golf swing that sometimes we drift, which could cause you to hit the ball wrong. So, it's important to get grounded in your alignment. Alignment sticks, or aiming sticks, are designed to do just that. They also help improve your swing path and aim, making them a great golf training aid.
How do you use a golf alignment tool?
0:000:32How to Use Alignment Tools on Your Golf Ball to Improve Putting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJohn here has used his alignment tool to point the align directly at the hole. He's gonna have hisMoreJohn here has used his alignment tool to point the align directly at the hole. He's gonna have his eyes slightly forward. And watch the ball coming off the putter.
Should you line up your ball when putting?
Some golfers should use a line on their putter when they putt and others should not depending upon their putting style. If a golfer likes to pick a specific point to putt to — a small target six inches right and three feet short, for example — then go ahead and use a line.
Can I use alignment sticks on the course?
Of course, you can't use these on the course during an actual round of golf, but they are great for practice sessions where you can train your eyes to see the proper alignment. Once you put in enough practice time with the sticks, lining up successfully on the course should be a breeze.
Why are alignment sticks used in golf?
What makes alignment sticks powerful is that they can be used for all different skill levels to improve your golf game.
How to use alignment sticks?
The most common way to use these alignment sticks is by simply laying them on the ground to see your body alignment at address and impact. Simply lay them on the ground in a straight line towards your target to align your body along that line. After using the sticks for a while you can then remove them from your line and test whether you naturally ...
Why do golfers put their putting strokes perpendicular to their feet?
In addition to aligning your putting stroke, you may see some golfers putting it perpendicular to their feet to help measure the angle of attack that they are striking the putt with. This is not as common, but it is something that alignment sticks can be used for on the practice green.
How to make sure your alignment is correct?
One way to make sure your alignment is correct when you take your stance on the tee box or at any point during play is by using an alignment stick. The sticks are placed behind and in front of the ball so that it will be positioned directly over the target line on which you’re aiming.
How to take your golf club back in slow motion?
For the purposes of this drill, you want to take your club back in slow motion and low to the ground right over your alignment stick. You want to make sure that your clubhead travels directly backward on the alignment stick because starting it offline in either direction will most likely not result in consistent shots.
Where are the sticks placed on a golf ball?
The sticks are placed behind and in front of the ball so that it will be positioned directly over the target line on which you’re aiming. These deceptively simple tools will help you line up properly before taking a shot and ensure that your clubhead meets the ball on point.
Can you use alignment sticks on the ground?
Alignment sticks are helpful in this nature because even though you may be able to align your feet by laying a club on the ground, you cannot literally stick a club into the ground to help align your swing path. Even if you found an actual stick to use, they will not grab your eye like an alignment rod or if you hit it on accident odds are ...
Where to place alignment sticks in golf?
Some golfers prefer to place one alignment stick at the bottom of their toes and one closer to the ball while others prefer to place an alignment stick behind their heels. This Michael Breed video will give you some insight into how to use golf alignment sticks.
Why put a golf ball in the center of the alignment stick?
Placing a golf ball in the center of the alignment stick will enable you to push it back parallel to the alignment stick and ensure that the follow-through of the putting strike remain s straight and parallel to the alignment stick . Furthermore, alignment sticks can assist in tweaking your speed control on the green.
How to tell if you are standing up on a golf swing?
To see whether you are standing up or bending too far over during your swing, place one of the alignment sticks across your shoulders and lay the second one on the expected swing path where the golf ball is positioned. If your swing is too upright or you are standing up, the alignment stick will point outside of the alignment stick on the ground. ...
What does it mean when a divot is too close to the alignment stick?
If the divot is too close to the alignment stick nearest your body, you are likely to make a toe impact while a divot that is closer to the furthest alignment stick will indicate heel impact. Narrowing the distance between the alignment sticks will provide quick feedback on your swing. If you strike either of the alignment sticks ...
What happens when you swing too far over?
If your swing is too upright or you are standing up, the alignment stick will point outside of the alignment stick on the ground . A Swing that is too steep or you bend too far over, the alignment stick will follow a path where the shoulders point to the inside of the alignment stick on the ground.
Why are alignment sticks called alignment sticks?
Although extremely versatile and has many applications, alignment sticks were originally designed, and named after their primary goal. To assist you in improving your alignment. With practice the alignment process becomes automatic, but it is still beneficial to revisit the process regularly to ensure that you have your alignment correct.
What is alignment in golf?
Last Updated: by Nick Lomas. Alignment is a critical part of your setup. No matter how good your swing and compression of the golf ball is, without proper alignment you are unlikely to get the golf ball close to the target. Getting your alignment sorted out will have a positive impact on your ability to make birdies and par scores.
1. For A Bigger Turn
On most practice days, I lay one on the ground, straight out from the instep of my front foot. The alignment stick reminds me to turn behind it and get my weight over to my trail foot on the backswing, then shift my weight to just in front of the alignment stick on the way through.
2. For Better Ball Position
But weight shift isn’t the only thing I use an alignment stick for. The thing is great for getting me into a solid setup position. Setting the stick inside my left foot is a foolproof way to ensure the exact same ball position for my driver every time.
3. For Better Balance
The stick helps with balance at address, too. If my stance gets too narrow, I can feel my upper body drift in front of the rod; if it’s too wide, I’ll quickly sense that my head is too far behind the stick. A final checkpoint: When my ball position and stance width are in good, balanced spots, my left ear lines up with the stick on the ground.
4. For A Squarer Clubface
If nothing else, laying a stick on the ground like I do helps give you a visual representation of where the clubface is at address—and where it should be at impact. Square-to-square, just like mine. Soon, you’ll be the stick.
Why use two alignment sticks?
The reason that I strongly prefer using two alignment sticks is that it’s much easier to have consistent ball position with a consistent target line.
How to use alignment rods?
As with ball position, you can do this with one stick but two or three is better. Start out by setting a stick along your toe line aimed just left of your target. Then take a second stick, place it a few inches behind the ball or in front of the ball, and aim it along your desired swing path.
How to get feedback on your swing?
All that said, it’s a great way to get immediate feedback on where your swing is. Start by putting one alignment stick down on your toe line. Next, set up to a ball so you know where your club will be.
How to check your ball position?
To check your ball position, you need one alignment stick but two is preferable. With one stick, place the rod between your feet pointed at the ball. If you have two sticks, place one along your toe line, aimed just left of your target. Place the second stick perpendicular to the first, aimed at the ball. The reason that I strongly prefer using two ...
Where to place a stick in tennis?
You can also place a stick along your heels, inside the ball, behind the ball, or in front of the ball. A couple thoughts on setting up the sticks.
Do alignment sticks affect swing?
Do keep in mind that the alignment sticks will be an exaggeration of your actual swing path . This is not only OK, it’s necessary if you’re making a big change. Moving the sticks 2 degrees from parallel won’t be noticeable, plus you’ll need to exaggerate the feel if you’re trying to change your swing.
Where is Matt from Plugged In Golf?
He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
