Golf Alignment Tips

By Published: Last updated:

The worst way to miss a golf shot is by not lining up correctly. If you miss this crucial step, no matter how perfect your shot is, you’ll miss your target. In this guide, I’ll provide some simple tips to make sure you’re lined up for any type of shot.

golf shot alignment diagram
Golf shot alignment: Note that I’m aiming just left of the pin, as I’m staying away from the water, and the green has a slight left-to-right slope.

Lining Up Drives & Shots from the Teebox

One big benefit of a shot from the tee box is you can place the ball and use this to help your alignment. To pick a spot that will help you aim at your target:

  1. Pick a specific target. This could be the center of the green, a spot in the fairway, a tree, a sandtrap, or other landmark in the distance.
  2. Pick a noticeable spot about 6 inches to 1 foot in front of the tee box on the line to your target. This could be a divot, a broken tee, or an area of darker grass.
  3. Place your ball in a straight line with the intermediate target spot and your end target.
  4. Now, when you line up, make sure your club face points to your intermediate target and your feet run parallel to the target line.
light bulb - tip icon

If your golf ball has a line on it, you can set this line so it’s pointed at your target, making it easy to ensure your club face is pointed in the right direction.

Approach Shot Alignment

Unless you’re playing a scramble, you won’t be able to place your approach shots, but it’s still important to have a specific target to aim at. And if the target is more than just a short chip where you can see the flag, I recommend picking a spot about 6 inches to 1 foot in front of your ball in line with the target and using that to aim.

light bulb - tip icon

When picking a target, be as specific as possible. Instead of aiming for the fairway, the bunker, or the right side of the green, be precise. Find a specific tree, a stake in the ground, or a curve in the landscape. You’d be surprised how often a small target results in a smaller miss or unexpectedly precise shot.

How to Line Up Putts

You can follow very similar directions for lining up your putts. Just like on the tee box, you can place your ball, and in this case, I find it helpful to use a line on the golf ball to point directly at your target.

putting alignment diagram

If you have a longer putt, also try picking a close spot in your path to putt through. While I line up to this spot, I find it helpful to keep my mind focused on the end target to ensure I hit the putt at the correct speed.

Related Article: How to get better at putting

Tips for Checking Your Alignment

If you’re having trouble making sure you’re aligned correctly, here are a few quick tips:

  1. Have a friend stand behind you and tell them where you’re aiming so they can verify for you.
  2. Put a club across your legs and ensure it’s pointing parallel along your target path.
  3. When on the range, set up to a target and place your club at your toes along your path. Step back and ensure it’s pointed parallel to the target.

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *