Irons · Drill
Line Up Like a Set of Railroad Tracks
Part of our irons programs for slice, push or pull. Build a program with it
Alignment trips up good players too. Picture railroad tracks. The ball and clubface sit on the outside rail, which points at your target. Your feet, knees, hips and shoulders sit on the inside rail. That rail runs parallel to the target line. It does not point at the target. If you aim your body at the target, you'll swing across the ball. Correct alignment can feel like you're aimed left. Trust it. Practice with two sticks until it feels normal.
The drill
- Lay a stick on the ball-to-target line.
- Lay another parallel at your toes.
- Set your body parallel to that stick.
- Trust it, even if it feels left.
- Rehearse until it feels normal.
Why it works
The ball sits farther from you than your feet do, so the target line and your body line cannot be the same line. If your body points at the target, the swing path moves left of the target line, and the ball starts left or the club cuts across it. Setting your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line lets the club travel along that line through impact.
Common mistakes
- You aim your feet straight at the target instead of parallel to the line.Set the stick at your toes so it runs parallel to the ball-to-target stick, not toward the flag.
- You line up your feet correctly but leave your shoulders open.Lay a club across your shoulders in your setup and check that it points parallel to the stick on the ground.
- You aim the clubface at the target and then shift your body to match it, or the reverse.Set the clubface on the ball-to-target line first, then build your stance parallel to it.
How you'll know it's working
- Your pulls become less frequent and the ball starts nearer your target line.
- Your divots point toward the target instead of left of it.
- Your setup feels aimed left at first, then feels normal after several reps.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use both sticks on every shot and check your stance from behind before you hit.
Harder: Take away the far stick, then both sticks, and set your alignment by eye, checking with a stick only after you swing.
Common questions
Why does correct alignment feel like I am aimed left?
For a right-hander, you are used to seeing your body point at the target. A parallel stance points left of the target, but the ball is on the outside rail, so the line is correct.
How often should I use alignment sticks?
Use them for a few minutes at the start of a practice session until the setup feels normal. After that, check your alignment with them now and then.
