In this video I’ll show you how I use alignment rods to check my alignment.

By placing two rods parallel on the ground and lined up so that the golf ball in the middle is aimed precisely at my target I can ensure that my club face is square. That allows me to hit much more solid drives and to find the fairway more often.

Watch the video to see the set-up.

Alignment is one of the keys to both consistency and accuracy. It’s absolutely essential if you want to play better golf.

WHERE ALIGNMENT GOES WRONG

I’ve done more playing lessons than I can count. Literally thousands. That means I’ve had the opportunity to observe golfers of all abilities in real time on the golf course to see what the real issue are.

I can tell you from first hand observation that the number one issue for mis-hit golf shots on the course is alignment. Hands down. There isn’t even a close second.

And it doesn’t matter what your skill level is.

Improper alignment accounts for 50% or more of your errors.

It can change your swing.

It can cause you to think there’s a problem with mechanics or technique.

It can cause doubts and affect your confidence.

ADD ALIGNMENT TO YOUR PRE-SHOT ROUTINE

That’s why it is critical that you have a specific step in your pre-shot routine that automatically helps you line up correctly.

And the best way I’ve found to ensure you are square is to use alignment rods and practice setting up square.

ALIGNMENT CHECK LIST

That allows me to easily check three aspects of alignment:
1. My eyes;
2. My body;
3. My mind.

EYES

Because the ball is aimed precisely at my target I know from geometry that when I put the club down and the face is perpendicular to the rods my club face is square. By looking up from my club face to the target, I train my eyes to see the club face as square to the target.

In my opinion getting the club face square and then training the eyes to see it as square is the most critical step in proper alignment.

Yet this is the step most often missed by my students!

They don’t know they are not putting the club face down square to the target. And then their eyes don’t see that the club face is not square.

If the club face isn’t square at the start and your eyes don’t see it as square, there’s almost no way you’ll be square at address.

When that happens, the rest of your swing has to have compensations. And compensations lead to inconsistency.

I always start by making sure the club face is square, then training my eyes to see it as square.

BODY

You’ll see in the video that I actually use three rods: two placed in parallel about 6″ to 8″ apart; then a third rod placed parallel to the first two, but closer to my feet.

That allows me to make sure that I have a square stance. I just have to check to see that my toes are the same distance away from the third rod.

MIND

Once I know that my club face is square, that my eyes see it as square, and that my body is in a square stance the last part of the alignment equation is my mind.

I form a mental picture of my target location by constantly looking up at the target throughout my pre-shot routine. I’m asking myself “When I look up, is the target where I think it is?”

When I can answer with absolute certaintly “Yes!” then I know I am ready to hit my shot.

I talked about the importance of knowing where my target was during the finals of the 2012 Championship. Target location and solid contact were the two big keys to helping me claim a second long drive title.

TAKE AWAYS

1. Alignment accounts for 50% of your errors on the golf course;
2. Develop a specific step in your pre-shot routine that automatically ensures you are in proper alignment;
3. Train your Eyes, Body, and Mind to know exactly where your target is.