Driving · Drill
Use a Spot in Front of the Ball to Aim Your Driver
Part of our driving programs for slice, hook, not enough distance. Build a program with it
Being off by a few degrees doesn't feel like much. But down the fairway it can mean 20 or 30 yards. Lots of golfers feel lined up and aren't. The fix is simple. Choose a mark on your line, just a short way past the ball. It's much easier to aim at something close than something far away. Square the clubface to that spot. Then set your feet and shoulders to match the face. On the range, a stick on the ground helps you check your work.
The drill
- On the range, set a stick down at the target.
- Find a spot a few feet ahead on that line.
- Aim the clubface at the spot.
- Then set your feet to match the face.
- Use the same routine on the course without the stick.
Why it works
A small error in aim, or in face angle at address, gets magnified over the length of a drive. A spot a few feet ahead is easy to see and easy to square the face to, so your aim is far more accurate than when you pick a distant target. Once the face is aimed, setting your feet and shoulders to match it gives you a body line that agrees with the clubface, and that removes the compensating swing moves that often produce a hook.
Common mistakes
- You aim the face at the far target and then look at the spot only as an afterthought.Stand behind the ball, pick the spot first, then walk in and square the face to that spot.
- You set your feet first and then fit the clubface to your stance.Aim the face first, then build your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to that line.
- Your feet and shoulders point right of the stick, which leads you to swing across the line or close the face to correct it.Lay a second stick along your toes and check that it runs parallel to the target stick.
How you'll know it's working
- Your ball starts on the line of your spot and does not start left or right of it.
- Your hook shots become less frequent because the face and your body line agree at address.
- When you step back and look from behind, the face, feet and shoulders all sit parallel to the target line.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a ball on a tee on a flat lie with the stick on the ground, and take your time to set the face to the spot before every swing.
Harder: Take the stick away and pick a spot by eye, then check your aim by laying the stick down after the shot.
Common questions
Why do I aim the wrong way with my driver even when I feel lined up?
Aiming at a far target makes small errors hard to see, and your eyes and shoulders can fool you at address. A close spot and a stick on the ground give you a clear reference to check against.
How far in front of the ball should the aiming spot be?
A few feet ahead on the target line is enough. It should be close enough to see clearly while you stand over the ball, such as a leaf, a divot mark or a patch of different grass.
